| Jim Joyce | |
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Joyce in 2011. |
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| Born | October 3, 1955 Toledo, Ohio |
| Occupation | Baseball umpire |
James A. "Jim" Joyce III (born October 3, 1955) is a Major League Baseball umpire who has worked in the American League (AL) from 1987 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues since 2000. He wears uniform number 66 (he wore uniform number 6 while in the American League). His strike call is extremely loud and enthusiastic (Joyce's call is "StriEEEEEk!"), similar to that of now-retired umpire Bruce Froemming. He became infamous for Armando Galarraga's near-perfect game in 2010. Despite this, an ESPN The Magazine poll of MLB players called Joyce the best umpire in the game.
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Joyce was born in Toledo, Ohio. He grew up in Toledo where he graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1973.[1] He then attended Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, where he played baseball.[1] In 1977, he graduated from Bowling Green with bachelor of science degree in education.[1] Joyce, who lives in Washington County, Oregon, is married and has two kids.[2] In 2000, he was inducted into his high school's sports hall of fame.[1]
Joyce has umpired in the All-Star Game (1994 and 2001), the Division Series (1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, and 2003), the League Championship Series (1997, 2004, 2006), and the World Series (1999 and 2001). After graduating from Bowling Green State University in 1977, he umpired in the Midwest League (1978–1979), the Florida Instructional League (1978), the Texas League (1980), the Pacific Coast League (1981–1986, 1988), the International League (1987), and the Dominican League (1983). ESPN The Magazine released an anonymous poll of 100 current MLB players that voted Joyce the best overall umpire in baseball.
On June 2, 2010, Joyce made an incorrect call, as the first base umpire, which cost Armando Galarraga a perfect game. Joyce tearfully spoke with the media following the game and admitted he made a mistake: "I just cost the kid a perfect game." Joyce and Galarraga received praise throughout the sports world for the manner in which they handled the situation.
In 2011, Joyce, Galarraga, and author Daniel Paisner collaborated on a book based on the game, Nobody's Perfect: Two Men, One Call, and a Game for Baseball History. Due to the book's release, MLB has not allowed Joyce to work any games where Galarraga would be playing in to avoid any appearance of impropriety due to their business relationship. [3]
Coincidentally, Joyce had been on the crew for Dallas Braden's perfect game less than a month earlier.
In 2009, Joyce was inducted into the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame.