John Samuel Vander Meer was born in Midland Park, New Jersey on November 2, 1914. He is famous for being the only pitcher in baseball history to record two consecutive no-hitters.
Vander Meer was signed as an amateur by the Brooklyn Dodgers before the 1933 season. In 1934 the Boston Braves purchased him from Brooklyn. Coincidentally, these are the two teams he would throw the consecutive no-hitters against. The Cincinnati Reds purchased Vander Meer from Boston in 1935 and he would make his Major League Debut on April 22, 1937. He was a four-time All-Star. He started and won the 1938 game which was played at Crosley Field.
His consecutive no-hitters were also thrown in 1938. The first was against the Boston Braves at Crosley Field on June, 11. He no-hit the Dodgers four days later in the first night game at Ebbets Field. Vander Meer lead the National League in strikeouts three consecutive seasons from 1941-43. Only two other National League Pitchers have accomplished this. Warren Spahn did it from 1949-52 and Randy Johnson accomplished it from 1999-2002. In his 13-year career, Johnny Vander Meer had a 119-121 record with 1,294 strikeouts and a 3.44 ERA. He was also part of the 1940 World Champion Reds.
After being released by the Indians midway through the 1951 season Vander Meer's Major League career came to a close. He pitched in the Texas League in 1952 and pitched another no-hitter. This time it was against Beaumont.
He was among the first class to be inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1958. Johnny Vander Meer died on October, 6, 1997 in Tampa Florida. He was 82.
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