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244:, where he played second base and briefly competed on the wrestling team. After umpiring local baseball for four years, Meals graduated from the Joe Brinkman Umpire School in 1983. At age 21, Meals received his first minor league umpiring assignment in the Class A Appalachian League. By 1985, Meals had moved to the South Atlantic League, where he was partnered with 20-year-old future MLB umpire
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In Game 2 of the 2010 American League
Division Series between the Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays, Meals was involved in a controversial call of a checked swing by Michael Young. Replays on television appeared to show that Young had gone around on his swing, but when asked for an appeal, Meals ruled
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that Young had held up, and Young's at bat stayed alive. One pitch later, Young hit a 3-run home run to put Texas ahead 5–0. The
Rangers won the game 6–0, and won the series 3 games to 2, ending Tampa Bay's season. Rays manager Joe Maddon came out to argue the play and was ejected from the game.
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Following the incident, Meals and his family received death threats at their home. Meals' wife reported that their children, who ranged between 14 and 23 at the time of the incident, were also "approached" by irate and confrontational fans, as
Pittsburgh is only 70 miles away from the Mealses'
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responded to the complaint and officially acknowledged that Meals' call was an error. However, other commentators have stated that the call was not obviously incorrect and that it may not have been overturned under MLB's current instant replay rules.
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three feet in front of home plate but Meals called him safe and the Braves won the game. Meals received criticism for the call and the
Pirates issued a public complaint. MLB executive vice president for baseball operations
232:. After serving as an NL reserve umpire from 1992 to 1997, he became a full-time umpire in 1998. Meals was promoted to crew chief in 2015, and worked the World Series in 2014 and 2020. He retired following the 2022 season.
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tied a major league record with 20 strikeouts in a 1998 game. Meals was struck in the mask by a Wood fastball on his first pitch of the game, but was not injured.
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in the eighth inning prevented
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Meals and Major League
Baseball both acknowledged that he missed a call in the 19th inning of a game between the
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was on the
Disabled List. Meals was officially promoted to permanent crew chief upon Darling's retirement.
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in 1989, Meals was featured in an ESPN documentary on minor league umpires. His family and fellow umpires
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821:"Jerry Meals' blown call in 9th inning dooms Yankees to 5-4 loss against Baltimore Orioles"
848:"Jerry Meals Admits to Blowing Call at Home Plate, Says Daniel Nava Should Have Been Safe"
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which would have tied the game. Instead, the Rays held on to win 2–1. Red Sox manager
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The Worst Call in MLB History -- Why It Might Have Been
Correct l Baseball Bits
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on July 26, 2011. During the play in question, a ground ball, Pirates catcher
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was ejected for arguing the call, which Meals later admitted was incorrect.
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In his first full-time MLB season, Meals was the home plate umpire when
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Salem grad and umpire Meals says he missed call in
Pittsburgh loss
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are the shortest umpires in Major League
Baseball as of 2012.
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Umpire Jerry Meals' family receives death threats over call
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out on a game-ending double play at first base against the
299:'s second career no-hitter. The umpire's ball four call on
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Pirates issue statement: Jerry Meals “got this one wrong”
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On April 22, 2014, Meals was the home plate umpire when
413:. He is married to Robyn Meals and has five children.
759:, The Associated Press (via ESPN.com), July 28, 2011.
318:received a throw and appeared to tag Braves runner
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295:On May 7, 2011, Meals worked behind the plate for
657:"Justin Verlander tosses second career no-hitter"
370:out at home plate in the 8th inning against the
479:"Sources: 10 MLB umps retiring, most since '99"
343:On September 8, 2012, Meals incorrectly ruled
225:(born October 20, 1961) is an American former
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630:"Chip Caray: Wood Had Goods From The Start"
260:also appeared in the film. Meals worked in
389:hit his 500th career home run against the
362:On July 29, 2013, Meals incorrectly ruled
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724:"MLB needs to wake up and expand replay"
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578:
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460:List of Major League Baseball umpires
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874:"Better Know An Umpire: Mark Wegner"
791:Foolish Baseball (August 25, 2018).
532:"Jerry Meals, Bell Umpire in Minors"
16:American baseball umpire (born 1961)
872:Malinowski, Erik (June 28, 2012).
557:"Sports Roundup: ESPN Follows Ump"
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861:Reaction to call a sad reflection
948:People from Butler, Pennsylvania
628:Hirsley, Michael (May 8, 1998).
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505:"Salem's Meals Gets Assignment"
722:Passan, Jeff (July 27, 2011).
530:Miller, Mark (July 21, 1985).
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928:Major League Baseball umpires
769:Moore, Jack (July 27, 2011).
683:"MLB acknowledges blown call"
240:Meals was a 1979 graduate of
93:Career highlights and awards
757:MLB acknowledges blown call
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176:League Championship Series
611:"Three New Umpires Hired"
332:hometown of Salem, Ohio.
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416:At 5'8" tall, Meals and
953:People from Salem, Ohio
938:National League umpires
411:Columbiana County, Ohio
248:. While working in the
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208:World Baseball Classic
116:Wild Card Games/Series
40:Meals umpiring in 2011
726:. Yahoo! News Network
561:Youngstown Vindicator
536:Youngstown Vindicator
509:Youngstown Vindicator
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236:Early life and career
227:Major League Baseball
617:. February 20, 2015.
391:Washington Nationals
270:International League
223:Gerald William Meals
98:Special Assignments
62:Butler, Pennsylvania
826:New York Daily News
485:. December 29, 2022
339:Meals in April 2014
903:Profile at MLB.com
563:. October 12, 1989
387:Los Angeles Angels
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308:Pittsburgh Pirates
74:September 14, 1992
908:The Baseball Cube
661:The Sporting News
586:"Umpires: Roster"
353:Baltimore Orioles
266:Triple-A Alliance
242:Salem High School
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79:Last appearance
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405:, just outside
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274:Gary Darling
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194:World Series
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943:1961 births
771:""Obvious""
418:Mark Wegner
364:Daniel Nava
254:Chris Jaksa
28:Jerry Meals
922:Categories
913:Retrosheet
466:References
320:Julio Lugo
286:Kerry Wood
264:baseball (
246:Wally Bell
52:1961-10-20
885:April 20,
776:April 18,
325:Joe Torre
69:MLB debut
879:Deadspin
730:July 27,
693:July 27,
667:July 19,
641:July 19,
595:July 27,
567:July 15,
541:July 15,
515:July 15,
483:ESPN.com
424:See also
310:and the
268:and the
262:Triple-A
615:MLB.com
590:MLB.com
385:of the
366:of the
357:AL East
347:of the
230:umpire
64:, U.S.
407:Salem
47:Born:
887:2018
834:2012
778:2020
732:2011
695:2011
687:ESPN
669:2012
643:2012
597:2011
569:2012
543:2012
517:2012
491:2022
256:and
212:2009
202:2020
198:2014
188:2021
184:2017
180:2008
170:2020
166:2019
162:2014
158:2011
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128:2022
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110:2015
106:2002
409:in
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