Jerry Neudecker
Jerome August Neudecker was an American Major League Baseball umpire who worked in the American League from to. He wore number 6 when the league adopted uniform numbers in 1980.
Early career
Born in Marine, Illinois, Neudecker attended Johnson's Umpire School, run by former NL umpire Steamboat Johnson. After attending the umpire school, Neudecker began working in the Georgia–Florida League in 1950. In 1951, he moved to the Evangeline Baseball League. While serving in the Air Force, stationed in Valdosta, Georgia, Neudecker returned to the Georgia-Florida league in 1954 and 1955. In 1956, he began work in the South [Atlantic League (1946–63)|South Atlantic League], before returning to the Air Force and serving until 1960.Neudecker resumed working in the South Atlantic League in 1960 and continued on through 1962. The league's name was then changed to the Southern League, and Neudecker continued umpiring there through 1965, before being called up to the American League at the end of the 1965 season.
Major league career
Neudecker worked in three All-Star Games four American League Championship Series and two World Series. He was the home plate umpire in Game 7 of the 1979 Series, which the Pittsburgh Pirates won after Willie Stargell's sixth-inning home run gave them a 2–1 lead and propelled them to a third straight victory over the Baltimore Orioles, who had led the Series three games to one. Neudecker also officiated in four no-hitters, including being the home plate umpire for two: Joe Horlen's on September 10, and Catfish Hunter's perfect game on May 8,.Neudecker was the last full-time Major League umpire to use a "balloon" chest protector. After his retirement, his chest protector was sent to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Neudecker's final game behind the plate was October 5, 1985, when the Toronto Blue Jays clinched their first American League East division championship by defeating the New York Yankees at Exhibition Stadium. The next day, in his final game, Neudecker worked at third base as Phil Niekro pitched a complete-game shutout for the Yankees to notch his 300th career win.
Neudecker then became the assistant supervisor of American League umpires in 1986, working under Marty Springstead.
Neudecker also owned and operated Pro Sports, a sporting goods store with his wife, Lujane Neudecker
At the time of his death, he was working in the Baseball Umpire Development program.
Neudecker died of cancer at age 66 at Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and was buried there at Beal Memorial Cemetery.
Jim Joyce wore No. 6 in the American League following Neudecker's retirement through 1999, the last year the American and National Leagues retained separate umpiring staffs. Bruce Froemming, who had worn No. 6 in the National League since 1979, was awarded the number when umpires were unified into a single MLB roster in 2000 and wore it through his retirement in 2007. As of 2025, Mark Carlson wears No. 6.