17 Facts About Jerry Meals

Gerald William Meals was born on October 20,1961 and is an American Major League Baseball umpire.

Jerry Meals has been a full-time MLB umpire since 1998 after serving as an MLB reserve umpire from 1992 to 1997.

Jerry Meals worked in the 2008 NLCS between Philadelphia and Los Angeles and the All-Star Game in 2002 and 2015.

Jerry Meals has worked in nine Division Series and the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

Jerry Meals was a 1979 graduate of Salem High School, where he played second base and briefly competed on the wrestling team.

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At age 21, Jerry Meals received his first minor league umpiring assignment in the Class A Appalachian League.

Jerry Meals worked in Triple-A baseball from 1990 to 1997 before receiving a full-time promotion to the major leagues.

Jerry Meals spent the 2014 season as an interim crew chief while regular crew chief Gary Darling was on the Disabled List.

Jerry Meals was officially promoted to permanent crew chief upon Darling's retirement.

Jerry Meals was struck in the mask by a Wood fastball on his first pitch of the game, but was not injured.

In Game 2 of the 2010 American League Division Series between the Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays, Jerry 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, Jerry Meals ruled that Young had held up, and Young's at bat stayed alive.

On May 7,2011, Jerry Meals worked behind the plate for Justin Verlander's second career no-hitter.

Jerry Meals received criticism for the call and the Pirates issued a public complaint.

MLB executive vice president for baseball operations Joe Torre responded to the complaint and officially acknowledged that Jerry Meals' call was an error.

On September 8,2012, Jerry Meals incorrectly ruled Mark Teixeira of the New York Yankees out on a game-ending double play at first base against the Baltimore Orioles.

On July 29,2013, Jerry Meals incorrectly ruled Daniel Nava of the Boston Red Sox out at home plate in the 8th inning against the Tampa Bay Rays which would have tied the game.