Johnny Vander Meer

Infobox MLB retired
name=Johnny Vander Meer
position=Pitcher
bats=Switch
throws=Left
birthdate=birth date|1914|11|2
city-state|Prospect Park|New Jersey
deathdate=death date and age|1997|10|6|1914|11|2
city-state|Tampa|Florida
debutdate=April 22
debutyear=by|1937
debutteam=Cincinnati Reds
finaldate=May 7
finalyear=by|1951
finalteam=Cleveland Indians
stat1label=Win-Loss record
stat1value=119-121
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=3.44
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=1,294
teams=
* Cincinnati Reds (by|1937-by|1943, by|1946-by|1949)
* Chicago Cubs (by|1950)
* Cleveland Indians (by|1951)
highlights=
* 4x All-Star selection (1938, 1939, 1942, 1943)
* World Series champion (1940)
* Threw back-to-back no-hitters on June 11 and June 15, 1938

John Samuel Vander Meer (November 2, 1914 - October 6 1997) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1937 through 1951, he played for the Cincinnati Reds (1937-1949), Chicago Cubs (1950) and Cleveland Indians (1951). Vander Meer threw left-handed and batted as a switch hitter. He was born in Midland Park, New Jersey.

A four-time All-Star, Vander Meer compiled a 119-121 record with 1294 strikeouts and a 3.44 ERA in 2104.2 innings over a 13-year Major League career. He had 29 career shutouts, but two of the three he recorded in 1938 will be remembered most.

Vander Meer is the only pitcher in major league history to pitch two consecutive no-hitters. On June 11, 1938, he no-hit the Boston Braves at Crosley Field. Four nights later, in the first night game played at Ebbets Field, he no-hit the Brooklyn Dodgers. One of two balls [http://seth.com/coll_histbseballs_15.html] that survives from this historic game is in the Seth Swirsky collection. After his double no-hit achievement, Reds' management wanted Vander Meer to change his uniform number to "00." He politely refused.

In 1952, having washed out of the majors, Vander Meer was still hanging on to the game, pitching in the Texas League for Tulsa. Fourteen years after he made history in the majors, Vander Meer no-hit Beaumont 12-0.Vander Meer was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1958. He died in Tampa, Florida, at 82 years of age.

ee also

* List of MLB individual streaks
* List of Major League Baseball strikeout champions
* List of Major League Baseball no-hitters

External links

*baseballstats |mlb= |espn= |br=v/vandejo01 |fangraphs=1013350 |cube=V/Johnny-Vander-Meer
* [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/featsjv.shtml Baseball Almanac Account]