- GM has awarded Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga a 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible.
- The Corvette was a consolation prize after a blown call by an umpire thwarted Galarraga's perfect game on Wednesday night.
DETROIT — Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga may have been robbed of a perfect game on Wednesday night after a blown call by an umpire, but he was handed the keys to a cherry red 2010 Chevrolet Corvette today for what the automaker called a "great performance."
GM North America President Mark Reuss showed up at Comerica Park on Thursday to present the car to Galarraga prior to a game against the Cleveland Indians. Galarraga got the keys — and a standing ovation.
"The way the pitcher had handled the incredible events deserved to be recognized regardless of what record books would ultimately show," said GM in a statement attributed to Reuss.
The car was on the field, behind home plate, as Galarraga handed the lineup card to Jim Joyce, the umpire whose blown call cost Galarraga a spot among the baseball elite who have thrown perfect games. A tearful Joyce admitted that he erred on the call at first base with two outs in the ninth inning on Wednesday. "Pitcher knows it was a perfect game," trumpeted the headline in the Detroit Free Press on Thursday morning.
GM recounted the dramatic turn of events during the controversial game in a statement.
"The 27th and final batter, Jason Donald, hit a routine ball in the hole between first and second base," GM said. "Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera fielded the ball and threw to Galarraga, who stepped on first base, apparently before Donald touched the base and was called safe. Galarraga kept his cool, returned to the mound and retired to record a one-hit, 3-0 shutout, throwing just 88 pitches."
GM stopped short of adding to the chorus of media and fans calling for Major League Baseball to reverse Joyce's call.
Inside Line says: A classy move by GM — and a brilliant PR stroke — as it basks in a little reflected glory from a real baseball hero. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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tbone85 says:
05:14 AM, 06/08/2010
I don't think GM was trying to be nice, I think they were looking to generate publicity to build more interest for their vehicles. I don't know why this would cause someone else to buy a Corvette--or not buy one for that matter. I leave that in the hands of the PR experts.
There have been far more tasteful and far more tastless examples of PR campaigns. At this point GM and Toyota will be criticised for acknowledging that the sky is blue. I'm certain both organizations are thick-skinned enough to take it. Hopefully they will double down and come up with improved vehicles.
rossofiorano says:
08:36 PM, 06/04/2010
wow, GM. that's nice--how about you console the neighborhood kid's soccer team that was one game away from a perfect season by buying their parents Corvettes too.
look--it was a nice thing for GM to do, no doubt. i'm sure it helped Galarraga feel a little bit better about the game, but the real question here is why? is GM trying take advantage of the situation just to play the emotion card here and pull a little PR stunt that the fans will eat with a spoon? like i said, it was a nice thing to do, but i'm not sure if handing out cars for athletic achievements is the way to go... Galarraga might find that game a difficult one to forget, but he handled it well and so did the rest of the team. the umpire apologized sincerely. there was no excessive drama. my point: GM, just stay out of this stuff--you're only going to draw criticism from people who aren't getting free corvettes (everyone else)
tbone85 says:
11:00 AM, 06/04/2010
I think many of these comments are strange and "off base". GM didn't call the pitcher a hero, the WRITER did. GM made a public relations move and in no way denigrated the service of any person serving in the military. GM does offer discounts to military service people, but it's not even close to reasonable to expect them to give a car to every person serving in the military.
Our military people do deserve more than they get, but it's up to their employers (that would be all of us) to give them a raise, car, or whatever else we believe they deserve.
Trying to link GMs PR move to military pay and benefits is a strange leap in logic. You might disagree with the effectiveness of GM's PR attempt, but their competitors, and most major businesses for that matter, run PR campaigns. Why wouldn't all of their campaigns be the object of scorn? Why aren't all companies be expected to give their products away to military people?
jlflemmons says:
10:59 AM, 06/04/2010
Well, the pitcher is showing class in all of this. It isn't about the money, or the win/loss, but to be in the elite field of those who throw the perfect game, score a hole in one, roll a 300 game...
Shame to be denied by a bad call, but I can appreciate the ump manning up to it.
Truth be told, I was more impressed with Hyundai for giving a new car to a common folk guy who had just make the last payment when an idiot driver put her BMW suv on top of it in a parking lot, then drove away. You can't buy THAT kind of PR.
dbostondriver says:
08:22 AM, 06/04/2010
Corvette convertible? I would have thrown the keys into the stands to make a statement. He will be able to afford his own dealership after he resigns.
fuhteng says:
07:38 AM, 06/04/2010
rodger_victor - No, pandering for PR by giving a car to a 'hero' (using the term for an athlete like this makes me puke) is distasteful no matter who does it. I would think it funny if Toyota or Honda gave him a car since he's a DETROIT Tiger. GM really earned your buisness by giving a car to a man who is paid more in a year than you will make in your lifetime? Wow. I really have nothing to say to that.
I take issue with Anita calling someone who throws a ball a hero as well.
mklrivowner says:
06:39 AM, 06/04/2010
I'd be more impressed if the Tigers bought the Corvette for him. I'd be even MORE impressed if the umpire paid to upgrade to a Z06. In the end, Armando is paid to pitch as best he can, Jim is paid to call the game as best he can. When a bad call happens, it happens and you move on with life. Maybe Armando should donate the Corvette to donor organ transportation or something.
Let's think about another situation for a bad call:
Let's say instead of getting a clean connection, that Jason Donald clipped the ball and it dropped between the plate and the catcher. Umpire calls a strike instead of a foul ball and Jason is out. Armando has a perfect game.
Do we give Jason a free Corvette for the bad call?
icecubefosho says:
05:42 AM, 06/04/2010
Bodyblue is getting at the fact that Athletes (and possibly entertainers like Actors) do not deserve most of the praise from the world that they get. Sure they can kick a ball harder, knock a man out faster, act as a man who fights bad guys in a robot suit, better than anyone else. But are those traits to be promoted? Do they really help society in a direct fashion?
Then the discounts for armed forces soldiers, you'd think they could at least get a compact car for a damn near steal but they don't. Instead they go and give people who can probably already afford a Corvette, a Corvette, when they don't really deserve one as much as the Soldier who might get medals and praise for his courage, possibly an increase in his pay rank, but when he gets back home, he is pretty much just another man. You don't see men who get medals for risking their lives for their squadmates getting free vehicles, which they do deserve to an extent.
05stangdriver says:
12:40 AM, 06/04/2010
Someone needs to send a note to GM... "You'd make more money if you SOLD your cars, instead of giving them away!"
Why does a professional baseball player deserve to be given a Corvette free of charge anyway?
rodger_victor says:
11:32 PM, 06/03/2010
I'm surprised at the negetivity from bodyblue and fuhteng. I guess if Honda or Toyota gave him a car, it would not be a PR stunt, RIGHT? Good for you GM. You have earned my business away from Japan