A few days ago, an extraordinary event occurred in Major League Baseball – an event that has dignity and inspiring leadership written all over it.
In the 9th inning, Armanda Gallarraga of the Detroit Tigers was about to pitch a perfect game, which is a game where the pitcher gives up no hits or runs or bases on balls. There have been only 20 perfect games thrown in the entire history of baseball.
On the last out, the umpire blew the call. He called the runner safe on a ground ball. As you can see from the enclosed picture, the runner was out. Veteran umpire Jim Joyce erred on that first base call robbing Galarraga of a moment of baseball greatness. Upon seeing the video, Joyce immediately stepped up, took full responsibility for the error and apologized directly to Gallarraga. While the media tried to vilify the umpire, there was nothing more to be done.
But that is not the significant story from a leadership standpoint. It was Gallarraga’s response. Baseball immortality was stolen from him and he completely forgave the umpire and said he could have made the same error given the high level of intensity in that moment. His maturity, dignity, and humanity were beyond compare.
In the face of anger and resentment, Gallarraga offered understanding and forgiveness.
How often have we heard that the mark of great leaders is how they act in the face of mistakes or failure? Joyce made a monumental mistake, which robbed Gallarraga from an exalted record. Instead, the dignity and aplomb that Gallarraga demonstrated puts him squarely in the Gracious Hall of Fame.
I remember the moment during the recent winter Olympics where during a gold medal performance for speed skating, the coach mistakenly guided his athlete to the incorrect lane, causing an immediate disqualification. The athlete was enraged and berated the coach, publicly. It was an honest mistake, and we all make them. We can all understand this athlete’s response, for it was a huge disappointment. His response was common.
It appears to me that Gallarraga’s actions were uncommon, and will have far greater impact then having pitched a perfect game. Instead, his response was pitch perfect in my view. Graciousness is the mark of great leadership and none more telling then in the face of failure.
I am reminded for the umpteenth time of Rudyard Kipling’s words from the poem, IF.
“If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster,
And treat those two impostors just the same…
then you will be a man my son.”