Hey, Armando Galarraga! You didn’t get a perfect game. But you did get a car.
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Less than 18 hours after Mr. Galarraga’s effort was spoiled by an admittedly wrong call by umpire Jim Joyce, Mr. Galarraga, a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, received a red Chevrolet Corvette convertible with a beige rag top in a ceremony before Thursday afternoon’s game. The car, whose sticker price starts at $53,580, was driven onto the field at Comerica Park by Mark Reuss, the president of General Motors’ North American operations, who jumped out from behind the wheel to shake Mr. Galarraga’s hand.
Chevrolet is a sponsor of the Tigers, whose outfield features the ivy covered Chevrolet Fountain. The park stands within view of G.M. headquarters on the Detroit River.
Mr. Galarraga did not speak, but he grinned and patted the top of the car as he posed with it for photographers. A teammate, first baseman Miguel Cabrera, looked even more excited than Galarraga, peering inside the driver’s side window as other Tigers grouped around the car.
Mr. Reuss said the pitcher deserved the car for the way he handled himself after Mr. Joyce’s call at first base, which took away Mr. Galarraga’s perfect game. Mr. Joyce said after the game that he made the wrong decision and apologized to Mr. Galarraga, who hugged him. Major league baseball officials are reviewing the call.
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Mr. Reuss, the son of former G.M. president Lloyd Reuss, said in a statement that he had known the Illitch family, owners of the Tigers and the Detroit Red Wings, his entire life. “It is only fitting we give back for all the Illitches have done for Detroit, and to celebrate Armando’s pitching and sportsmanship during one of the most captivating evenings in Detroit history,” Mr. Reuss said.
