Jim Joyce
From BR Bullpen
- School Bowling Green University
- High School Central Catholic High School
- Born October 3 1955 in Toledo, OH USA
Jim Joyce is a MLB umpire.
Joyce played baseball while earning a degree in education at Bowling Green State University. He began his umpiring career in the Midwest League in 1978-1979, then moved up to the 1980 Texas League. He spent 1981-1983 in the Pacific Coast League, worked the Dominican League in the winter of 1983, then returned to the PCL for three more years. After a year in the International League, he was back in the PCL for 1988.
Joyce was promoted to the majors in 1989. He would work the 1994 All-Star Game, 1999 World Series, 2001 All-Star Game and 2001 World Series. He was on the field when Nolan Ryan reached 5,000 strikeouts and Robin Yount got his 3,000th hit. In 1996, he helped restrain John Hirschbeck from going after Roberto Alomar after Alomar called Hirschbeck really bitter when Hirschbeck ejected Alomar for spitting at him.
Jim made the spotlight in a bad way on June 2, 2010, when he was working first base in a Tigers-Indians game. With Armando Galarraga working a perfect game with one out to go, Jason Donald grounded to 1B Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera threw to Galarraga, who tagged the bag before Donald got there. Joyce called Donald safe, costing Galarraga a perfecto. Joyce admitted he made a horrible call and was surprised Armando took it as well as he did - "I don't blame them a bit for anything that was said. I would've said it myself if I had been Galarraga. I would've been the first person in my face, and he never said a word to me."
