Deceased Name: Ex-baseball umpire Neudecker dies
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. - Jerry Neudecker - the last major league umpire to wear a balloon chest protector - has died of cancer at age 66.
Neudecker, who died Saturday at Columbia-Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, was an American League umpire from 1965 to 1986. His balloon protector - grandfathered in after the AL began requiring the type of inside equipment long used in the National League - was sent to the Hall of Fame after his retirement.
"He had a big heart," said Bruce Ravan, a friend and fellow umpire. "He was very much into charitable events, bringing in celebrities and things to be auctioned."
Foremost among the highlights of Neudecker's career was working home plate when Oakland's Catfish Hunter pitched a perfect game in 1968. Neudecker also called balls and strikes in Game 7 of the 1979 World Series at Baltimore, where the Pittsburgh Pirates rode Willie Stargell's sixth-inning home run to a victory that enabled them to overcome a deficit of three games to one.
Neudecker was quick to act immediately after the homer.
"When everyone was celebrating, he had the presence of mind to pick up the bat and bring it home," Ravan said. "It's sitting in his case at home right now."
Neudecker was born Aug. 13, 1930, in Marine, Ill. He lived in the Fort Walton Beach area after moving from Lake Worth 21 years ago.
He owned a sporting goods store called Pro Sports Inc., and had worked since his retirement for the Umpires Development Association of major league baseball.
A funeral Mass is set for 10 a.m. CST Monday at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Fort Walton Beach. Burial will be at Beal Memorial Cemetery
(The Advocate, Baton Rouge, LA - January 13, 1997)
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. - Jerry Neudecker - the last major league umpire to wear a balloon chest protector - has died of cancer at age 66.
Neudecker, who died Saturday at Columbia-Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, was an American League umpire from 1965 to 1986. His balloon protector - grandfathered in after the AL began requiring the type of inside equipment long used in the National League - was sent to the Hall of Fame after his retirement.
"He had a big heart," said Bruce Ravan, a friend and fellow umpire. "He was very much into charitable events, bringing in celebrities and things to be auctioned."
Foremost among the highlights of Neudecker's career was working home plate when Oakland's Catfish Hunter pitched a perfect game in 1968. Neudecker also called balls and strikes in Game 7 of the 1979 World Series at Baltimore, where the Pittsburgh Pirates rode Willie Stargell's sixth-inning home run to a victory that enabled them to overcome a deficit of three games to one.
Neudecker was quick to act immediately after the homer.
"When everyone was celebrating, he had the presence of mind to pick up the bat and bring it home," Ravan said. "It's sitting in his case at home right now."
Neudecker was born Aug. 13, 1930, in Marine, Ill. He lived in the Fort Walton Beach area after moving from Lake Worth 21 years ago.
He owned a sporting goods store called Pro Sports Inc., and had worked since his retirement for the Umpires Development Association of major league baseball.
A funeral Mass is set for 10 a.m. CST Monday at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Fort Walton Beach. Burial will be at Beal Memorial Cemetery
(The Advocate, Baton Rouge, LA - January 13, 1997)
Deceased Name: Ex-baseball umpire Neudecker dies
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. - Jerry Neudecker - the last major league umpire to wear a balloon chest protector - has died of cancer at age 66.
Neudecker, who died Saturday at Columbia-Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, was an American League umpire from 1965 to 1986. His balloon protector - grandfathered in after the AL began requiring the type of inside equipment long used in the National League - was sent to the Hall of Fame after his retirement.
"He had a big heart," said Bruce Ravan, a friend and fellow umpire. "He was very much into charitable events, bringing in celebrities and things to be auctioned."
Foremost among the highlights of Neudecker's career was working home plate when Oakland's Catfish Hunter pitched a perfect game in 1968. Neudecker also called balls and strikes in Game 7 of the 1979 World Series at Baltimore, where the Pittsburgh Pirates rode Willie Stargell's sixth-inning home run to a victory that enabled them to overcome a deficit of three games to one.
Neudecker was quick to act immediately after the homer.
"When everyone was celebrating, he had the presence of mind to pick up the bat and bring it home," Ravan said. "It's sitting in his case at home right now."
Neudecker was born Aug. 13, 1930, in Marine, Ill. He lived in the Fort Walton Beach area after moving from Lake Worth 21 years ago.
He owned a sporting goods store called Pro Sports Inc., and had worked since his retirement for the Umpires Development Association of major league baseball.
A funeral Mass is set for 10 a.m. CST Monday at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Fort Walton Beach. Burial will be at Beal Memorial Cemetery
(The Advocate, Baton Rouge, LA - January 13, 1997)
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. - Jerry Neudecker - the last major league umpire to wear a balloon chest protector - has died of cancer at age 66.
Neudecker, who died Saturday at Columbia-Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, was an American League umpire from 1965 to 1986. His balloon protector - grandfathered in after the AL began requiring the type of inside equipment long used in the National League - was sent to the Hall of Fame after his retirement.
"He had a big heart," said Bruce Ravan, a friend and fellow umpire. "He was very much into charitable events, bringing in celebrities and things to be auctioned."
Foremost among the highlights of Neudecker's career was working home plate when Oakland's Catfish Hunter pitched a perfect game in 1968. Neudecker also called balls and strikes in Game 7 of the 1979 World Series at Baltimore, where the Pittsburgh Pirates rode Willie Stargell's sixth-inning home run to a victory that enabled them to overcome a deficit of three games to one.
Neudecker was quick to act immediately after the homer.
"When everyone was celebrating, he had the presence of mind to pick up the bat and bring it home," Ravan said. "It's sitting in his case at home right now."
Neudecker was born Aug. 13, 1930, in Marine, Ill. He lived in the Fort Walton Beach area after moving from Lake Worth 21 years ago.
He owned a sporting goods store called Pro Sports Inc., and had worked since his retirement for the Umpires Development Association of major league baseball.
A funeral Mass is set for 10 a.m. CST Monday at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Fort Walton Beach. Burial will be at Beal Memorial Cemetery
(The Advocate, Baton Rouge, LA - January 13, 1997)
Inscription
The American League of Professional Baseball 1965-1985; Last umpire to wear outside protector; Umpired World Series 1973 and 1979
Gravesite Details
Section - Prayer
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
