Joe Decker, baseball player, 1969-1979

Joe Decker

Born: 6/16/1947 in Storm Lake, IA, USA

Died: 3/2/2003 in Fraser, MI, USA

MLB Debut: 1969-09-18 | Final Game: 1979-07-07

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 180 lbs

Full name: George Henry Decker

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Biography

Joe Decker was a professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1969 until 1979. Born in 1947, Decker made his debut during a transitional period in baseball, as the sport was shifting from the deadball era into a more offensively oriented time. Over the course of his career, he compiled a record of 36-44, with an earned run average (ERA) of 4.17. Known for his competitive spirit and pitching finesse, Decker struck out 458 batters, showcasing his ability to challenge hitters and contribute to his team's efforts on the mound. Despite never recording a save in his career, Decker was a reliable presence on various rosters throughout the 1970s. His playing style reflected the evolving strategies of the game during his time, as pitchers adapted to the increasing power of hitters. While he may not have reached the lofty heights of some of his contemporaries, Decker's contributions to the teams he played for were significant, and he remains a notable figure in the annals of baseball history. He retired on July 7, 1979, leaving behind a legacy as a determined competitor in a dynamic era of the sport.

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
36 44 152 105 19 4 0 710.0 702 329 58 377 458 4.17 0

Career ERA 4.17 vs. league average 3.65 across their career seasons — 14.2% worse than league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year Team Lg W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER BB SO ERA Lg ERA Pitcher PIV
1969 CHC NL 1 0 4 1 0 0 0 12.3 10 4 6 13 2.92 3.61 (+19%) -
1970 CHC NL 2 7 24 17 1 0 0 108.7 108 56 56 79 4.64 3.89 (-19%) -
1971 CHC NL 3 2 21 4 0 0 0 45.7 62 24 25 37 4.73 3.47 (-36%) -
1972 CHC NL 1 0 5 1 0 0 0 12.7 9 3 4 7 2.13 3.26 (+35%) -
1973 MIN AL 10 10 29 24 6 3 0 170.3 167 79 88 109 4.17 3.75 (-11%) -335.0
1974 MIN AL 16 14 37 37 11 1 0 248.7 234 91 97 158 3.29 3.63 (+9%) -844.2
1975 MIN AL 1 3 10 7 1 0 0 26.3 25 25 36 8 8.54 3.71 (-130%) -2222.3
1976 MIN AL 2 7 13 12 0 0 0 58.0 60 34 51 35 5.28 3.51 (-50%) -1868.7
1979 SEA AL 0 1 9 2 0 0 0 27.3 27 13 14 12 4.28 4.00 (-7%) -233.6

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
153 46 5 8 2 0 1 3 0 3 22 0.174 0.224 0.283 0.507 0.0

Career AVG .174 vs. league average .254 across their career seasons — 31.6% below league average.

Career OBP .224 vs. league average .322 across their career seasons — 30.4% below league average.

Career SLG .283 vs. league average .373 across their career seasons — 24.2% below league average.

Career OPS 0.507 vs. league average 0.695 across their career seasons — 27.1% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1969 CHC NL 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.000 — — — — 0.0
1970 CHC NL 24 34 3 6 1 0 1 3 0 2 16 0.176 — — — — 0.0
1971 CHC NL 22 8 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 5 0.250 — — — — 0.0
1972 CHC NL 5 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 — — — — 0.0
1973 MIN AL 29 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 — — — — 0.0
1974 MIN AL 37 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 — — — — 0.0
1975 MIN AL 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 — — — — 0.0
1976 MIN AL 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 — — — — 0.0
1979 SEA AL 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
P 152 105 58 87 8 3

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1969 CHN P 4 1 1 0 0 0
1970 CHN P 24 17 4 14 3 0
1971 CHN P 21 4 0 11 0 0
1972 CHN P 5 1 1 0 0 0
1973 MIN P 29 24 24 20 3 0
1974 MIN P 37 37 19 20 1 2
1975 MIN P 10 7 1 3 0 0
1976 MIN P 13 12 4 13 0 0
1979 SEA P 9 2 4 6 1 1

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 152