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Johnny Vander Meer’s “Double No-Hitter”
There are some records that are not meant to be broken. Babe Ruth’s single season home run title was eventually broken, as was Ty Cobb’s career hits record and Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games played streak. But Johnny Vander Meer’s consecutive no-hitters in June, 1938 will never be broken. It may be tied someday, but broken? Never! Think about it: In order to break this record, a pitcher would have to pitch three consecutive no-hitters!
In the featured photo below, the date is June 15, 1938. The scene is the start of the first night game ever played at Ebbetts Field with 38,000 fans on hand. On the mound is 23-year old Reds’ fireballing southpaw Johnny Vander Meer, who had pitched a no-hitter at Crosby Field against the Boston Bees just four days earlier. It’s the fifth inning and Buddy Hassert is at the plate. Two and a half hours after the start of the game, Vander Meer became the only pitcher in major league history to record back-to-back no-hitters!
In the first no-hitter played on June 11, 1938 in front of only 5,214 fans, Vandy struck out only four, but walked only three. Catcher Ernie Lombardi picked off two of them, so Johnny didn’t have to throw from the stretch much as no runner reached second base. He had a reputation for losing some of his stuff when holding runners. He became the first Reds’ pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Hod Eller in 1919.
The scene before the second game on June 15, 1938 was entirely different. 38,748 fans packed into Ebbets Field for the first night game in Brooklyn history. The pre-game festivities, staged by Brooklyn GM Larry MacPhail, included a band and a drum and bugle corps. Jesse Owens was invited to put on an exhibition of his track skills, running a 100-yard dash against Ernie Koy of the Dodgers and Lee Gamble of the Reds. Recently retired Babe Ruth was on hand to congratulate Vander Meer. The Babe received a royal welcome as he appeared on the field during the Dodgers’ infield practice. The mayor of Midland Park, New Jersey – Vander Meer’s hometown — presented Johnny with a gold watch. With all the delays the first pitch didn’t come until 9:45 after the starting pitchers had warmed up three times!
The second no-hitter was one of the weirdest ever, with eight walks and seven strike-outs. In the ninth, Vander Meer got the first batter on a bouncer back to the mound. Then he seemed to lose his composure, as he walked the next three batters in succession. Manager Bill McKechnie ambled to the mound to give words of encouragement. It worked! He got the next batter to hit into a force play at home, followed by light-hitting Leo Durocher’s lazy fly ball to center. The only back-to-back no-hitters in major league history were now in the record books!
In his next start, Vandy added three and two-thirds more innings to his streak, until Deb Garms banged out a single. Following this unprecedented feat, Vander Meer picked up the nick-names “Double No-Hit” and the “Dutch Master.”
A four-time All-Star,Vander Meer had a 119–121 record with 1,294 strikeouts, 3.44 ERA, and 29 shutouts over a 13-year major league career. He is one of only five National League pitchers since 1931 to lead the league in strikeouts in three straight seasons (1941–43). After retiring as a player at the age of 40, Vander Meer became a minor league manager in the Cincinnati Reds.organization for ten seasons before retiring in 1962. He was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1958.
-Gary Livacari
Photo Credits; All obtained through Google search
Information: Excerpts edited from the Johnny Vander Meer Wikipedia page.
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