Never Forget Milt Pappas Got Fucked Out Of A Perfect Game 48 Years Ago
Maybe I’m biased because I’m a diehard but there’s literally no amount of time or space that would allow me to forgive a home plate umpire for that atrocity. At least Jim Joyce had a bang-bang play when he bodybagged Armando Galarraga. At least he could argue it was a brain fart in the moment and he fucked up. In this case though Milt gets hosed by the homeplate Ump. The one he’d been pumping strikes to all afternoon. No walks. No bullshit. Just a quick game for the umpires so they can get back to the hotel then out for a night on the town in Chicago for steaks and hookers. And be there no doubt - in 1972 that kinda shit plays. If you’re the homeplate umpire OF COURSE you love Milt Pappas throwing a quick gem. OF COURSE you owe him borderline strike calls to wrap up the historic occasion. If you could go back and overturn some complete fuck jobs in MLB history, it would be hard not to put this near the top of the list.
Elsewhere I wonder how much you can celebrate a no hitter when there’s underlying disappointment at the end result. Like you thought you were losing your virginity but you got a blowjob. That was probably disappointing in the moment but you can’t complain because we’re talking about a blowjob. Same thing here but with a Milt Pappas no hitter. It could always be worse
Anyways happy anniversary to one of the worst missed calls of the 2nd half of the 20th century and RIP to the legend himself. Milt would love how good the Cubs have gotten. Rest well my friend. You’d be happy to know we’re all still kinda pissed about this. That will never change.