1976 Topps #636 - Joe Decker

• Joe Decker pitched in the majors from 1969-1976 and again in 1979. Decker was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1965. Joe pitched in the minors from 1965-1969. Decker pitched in four games for the Cubs in 1969 and was 1-0 with a 2.92 ERA.
• Decker was with the Cubs for most of the 1970 season and was 2-7 with a 4.64 ERA in 24 games (17 starts). Joe split time between Chicago and AAA in 1971. Decker had a 3-2 record with a 4.73 ERA in 21 games (4 starts) for the Cubs in 1971.
• Joe was in AAA Wichita for most of the 1972 season. He pitched in five games for the Cubs in 1972 and was 1-0 with a 2.13 ERA.
• After the 1972 season Decker, Bill Hands, and a minor leaguer were traded to the Minnesota Twins for  Dave LaRoche.
• Decker had two successful years with the Twins. In 1973 Joe was 10-10 with a 4.17 ERA in 24 starts. Decker was 16-14 with a 3.29 ERA in 37 starts in 1974.
• In April of 1975 Decker sustained an injury and was never the same pitcher after that. Joe was 1-3 with an 8.54 ERA in 10 games (7 starts) in 1975.
•  Joe was 2-7 with a 5.28 ERA in 12 starts in 1976. Decker was released on June 25, 1976. He was signed by the Detroit Tigers three days later and pitched in AAA Evansville, but the Tigers didn't bring him  back to the majors and released him after the season.
• Decker was signed by the Chicago Cubs in 1977 and pitched in AAA Wichita for a few months before being released on July 4. Joe pitched in the Mexican League for the rest of the 1977 season.
• The Seattle Mariners signed Decker before the 1978 season. Joe pitched in AAA San Jose in 1978 and in AAA Spokane for most of the 1979 season. Decker spent a couple of months with the  Mariners in 1979 and was 0-1 with a 4.28 ERA in 9 games.
• Decker tried to come back in 1982 and in 1983 for Seattle's AAA Salt Lake City club but didn't make it back to the majors. After his career Decker was a pitching coach in the Detroit Tigers' system.
• Joe died of a head injury in an accident at his Michigan home (he fell down a flight of stairs) on March 2, 2003. Here is his grave.

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