Johnny Vander Meer – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Johnny Vander Meer really stands out as one of baseball’s most unique figures. He pitched left-handed from 1937 to 1951, and his career included one of the sport’s most remarkable achievements.

Born in New Jersey in 1914, Vander Meer spent most of his 13-year Major League career with the Cincinnati Reds. He also had brief stints with the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians before retiring in 1951.

Vander Meer made history as the only pitcher to throw consecutive no-hitters, pulling off this wild feat in June 1938 against the Boston Bees and Brooklyn Dodgers. Nobody’s matched it in more than 75 years since. His second no-hitter happened during the first night game ever played at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, which just adds to the legend, doesn’t it?

Besides those famous no-hitters, Vander Meer collected four All-Star selections and appeared in the World Series with Cincinnati in 1940. His story—going from a high school dropout who almost died from peritonitis at 14 to baseball immortality—honestly reads like a movie script.

He struggled with wildness on the mound early on and even served in the military during World War II. Vander Meer’s path through pro baseball really reflected both the challenges and triumphs that defined his generation of players.

Early Life and Path to the Major Leagues

Johnny Vander Meer started life in a working-class Dutch immigrant family in New Jersey. He nearly saw his baseball dreams end before they started due to a life-threatening illness.

His road through the minor leagues showed off his talent, but control problems kept him from reaching Cincinnati as soon as he might have.

Childhood and Family Background

John Samuel Vander Meer was born on November 2, 1914, in Prospect Park, New Jersey. His parents, Jacob and Kathy Vander Meer, were Dutch immigrants.

The family was religious and eventually settled in Midland Park, New Jersey, about 30 miles from New York City.

Vander Meer fell in love with baseball early. At 8, he listened to games on the radio, especially when the New York Giants swept the Yankees in the 1922 World Series.

By age 10, he played first base at Stumps Oval, a local field named for the tree stumps left after clearing the land.

When Vander Meer was 14, he contracted peritonitis, a serious illness that almost killed him. He spent eight weeks in the hospital and another five weeks recovering at home.

He couldn’t return to school in time for the new year, so he dropped out of high school.

After recovering, he started working as an apprentice engraver at the same factory as his father. His weight shot up from 110 pounds to 175 by age 17, and he eventually grew to 6 feet 1 inch and 190 pounds.

Minor League Development

Vander Meer began his minor league career in 1933 at 18 years old. He failed his initial tryouts with the Giants, but people took notice when he was picked as a “typical American boy” for a baseball promotional film.

That led to a shot with the Dodgers organization and, eventually, a contract with the Dayton Ducks in the Class C Middle Atlantic League.

His first pro season showed both promise and trouble. He went 11-10 with a 4.28 ERA, striking out 132 but walking 74 in 183 innings.

His control issues were already showing up.

Key Minor League Stops:

• Dayton Ducks (1933): 11-10, 4.28 ERA
• Scranton Miners (1934-1935): Improved to 11-8, 3.73 ERA but suffered a shoulder injury
• Durham (1936): Breakout season at 19-6, 2.65 ERA, named Minor League Player of the Year

His 1936 season in Durham was just wild. He walked 116 batters in 214 innings but struck out 295, setting a Piedmont League record.

The Sporting News named him Minor League Player of the Year and said his fastball made the ball look like “hummingbird eggs” flying in.

Debut with the Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds invited Vander Meer to spring training in 1937 after his standout year in Durham. The Atlanta Constitution even ran a headline: “Johnny May Cause Fans to Forget about Bob Feller in ’37.”

Vander Meer made his MLB debut on April 22, 1937, at age 22. But his first stint didn’t go well.

He clashed with manager Charlie Dressen and felt he didn’t get enough work, pitching only once every ten days.

His 1937 stats showed the struggle:

• Record: 3-5 in 19 games
• ERA: 3.85
• Strikeouts: 52
• Walks: 69 in 84 innings

The Reds sent him back to Syracuse in the International League. There, he posted a 5-11 record but improved his ERA to 3.34.

He still walked 80 batters in just 105 innings and called his wildness “the old bugaboo.”

That winter, Vander Meer wrote to Reds GM Warren Giles, declaring, “I know I’m a better ballplayer than the showing I made during the past season.” His determination earned him another shot at spring training in 1938, this time under new manager Bill McKechnie.

Legendary Back-to-Back No-Hitters

Johnny Vander Meer pulled off baseball’s most unbreakable record in 1938 when he threw consecutive no-hitters against the Boston Bees and Brooklyn Dodgers.

Nobody else in Major League Baseball history has come close to matching it.

First No-Hitter Against the Boston Bees

On June 11, 1938, Vander Meer tossed his first no-hitter at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. The 23-year-old lefty dominated the Boston Bees for the first half of his legendary achievement.

He walked three and struck out four, allowing zero hits. No Boston player even reached second base.

Game Statistics:

• Walks: 3
• Strikeouts: 4
• Hits allowed: 0
• Farthest base reached: First base

The performance didn’t really hint at what was about to happen next. The Reds won easily, and Vander Meer’s control looked better than usual for him.

That first no-hitter set up one of baseball’s most incredible records. It was still Vander Meer’s first full season in the majors.

Few people expected him to do it again just four days later.

Historic Second No-Hitter at Ebbets Field

On June 15, 1938, just four days later, Vander Meer made history at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. The game was the first night game ever played at that famous ballpark.

The extra pressure and unique setting made his accomplishment even more impressive.

This second no-hitter was way more dramatic than the first. Vander Meer walked eight batters and struck out seven in the 6-0 win over the Brooklyn Dodgers.

His teammates made some spectacular defensive plays to keep the no-hitter alive.

The ninth inning nearly broke the streak. Vander Meer walked the bases loaded, and Brooklyn threatened to score.

A crowd of over 38,000 watched, tense, as each batter stepped up.

Leo Durocher popped up to end it, securing the historic achievement.

Vander Meer stood alone as the only pitcher to throw back-to-back no-hitters in Major League Baseball.

Second Game Statistics:

• Walks: 8
• Strikeouts: 7
• Hits allowed: 0
• Final score: 6-0 Reds

Lasting Impact of the Double No-Hit Feat

Vander Meer’s back-to-back no-hitters set a record nobody has broken. To top it, a pitcher would need three straight no-hitters—honestly, who thinks that’s possible?

He became the first pitcher to throw two no-hitters in one season. He also set a National League record for consecutive hitless innings with 21.2.

That record still stands in the NL.

The fame completely overwhelmed the young pitcher. Vander Meer later admitted, “All the publicity, the attention, the interviews, the photographs, were too much for me.”

He never threw another no-hitter in his 13-year career.

Only five pitchers have thrown two no-hitters in the same regular season: Allie Reynolds (1951), Virgil Trucks (1952), Nolan Ryan (1973), and Max Scherzer (2015). None did it back-to-back.

Baseball historians still rank this as one of the sport’s greatest achievements. More than 9,000 men have pitched in major league games, but only Vander Meer pulled off this double no-hit feat.

Career Highlights and Achievements

Johnny Vander Meer’s back-to-back no-hitters in 1938 remain one of baseball’s most jaw-dropping feats. He also collected four All-Star selections, three straight National League strikeout titles, and a World Series championship with the Cincinnati Reds.

All-Star Game Appearances

Vander Meer made four All-Star Games: 1938, 1939, 1942, and 1943. His most memorable showing came in the 1938 All-Star Game at Cincinnati’s Crosley Field.

Just weeks after his no-hitter heroics, he started for the National League and threw three scoreless innings, allowing only one hit. The NL beat the AL 4-1.

He repeated his strong All-Star performance in 1942, again tossing three scoreless innings, though the NL lost 3-1 that year.

Those consistent All-Star nods from 1938 to 1943 really marked him as one of the NL’s top pitchers during his peak.

Strikeout Titles and Pitching Records

Vander Meer led the National League in strikeouts for three straight seasons from 1941 to 1943. In 1941, he struck out 202 batters, went 16-12, and threw six shutouts.

His best year was probably 1942, when he notched a career-high 18 wins against 12 losses. He again led the NL in strikeouts and earned his third All-Star selection.

In 1943, he won his third consecutive strikeout title, finishing with a 15-16 record for the second-place Reds. Only six NL pitchers since 1930 have led the league in strikeouts three years in a row.

Vander Meer wrapped up his career with 1,294 strikeouts and 29 shutouts. His 1,251 strikeouts with Cincinnati stood as the club record when he retired in 1951.

World Series Championship Season

The 1940 season finally brought Vander Meer a World Series ring. He struggled with control early that year and got sent to the Indianapolis Indians in the minors in June.

Cincinnati called him back up in September, and he posted a 3-1 record down the stretch.

His biggest moment came on September 18, when he pitched 12 innings against Philadelphia to clinch the NL pennant for the Reds.

In that game, Vander Meer hit a double in the 13th and eventually scored the winning run. The Reds won and locked up their first NL pennant since 1919.

During the World Series against the Detroit Tigers, Vander Meer pitched once in Game 5. He entered in the fifth inning with the Reds trailing 7-0 and tossed three scoreless innings, though Cincinnati lost 8-0.

The Reds went on to win the series in seven games for their first championship since 1919.

Major League Career Overview

Johnny Vander Meer played 13 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1937 to 1951. He became one of the most memorable pitchers of his era.

He spent the majority of his career with the Cincinnati Reds, then had brief stints with the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians.

He finished with a career record of 119 wins and 121 losses and a 3.44 ERA.

Performance with the Cincinnati Reds

Johnny Vander Meer stepped onto the MLB stage with the Cincinnati Reds on April 22, 1937, when he was just 22. That rookie season wasn’t easy. He went 3-5 with a 3.85 ERA in 19 games, and the Reds sent him down to Syracuse so he could sharpen his skills.

Things took a sharp turn in 1938. Manager Bill McKechnie worked closely with Vander Meer, helping him overhaul his pitching mechanics. He switched from a side-arm to an overhand delivery, and it made all the difference.

He ended up with a 15-10 record and a 3.12 ERA that year, racking up 125 strikeouts. The Sporting News named him Major League Player of the Year, which, honestly, he deserved.

Key Reds Statistics (1937-1949):

• Wins: 119
• Losses: 121
• ERA: 3.44
• Strikeouts: 1,294
• Shutouts: 30

Between 1941 and 1943, Vander Meer led the National League in strikeouts three years running. He played a big role in getting the Reds to the World Series in both 1939 and 1940, and they took home the championship in 1940.

Stints with the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians

After a dozen seasons in Cincinnati, Vander Meer landed with the Chicago Cubs in 1950. That stint didn’t go well. By then, his skills had faded a lot, which isn’t too surprising for a pitcher in his mid-30s.

The Cubs barely used him, and his performance showed it. His control issues, which he’d always battled, only got worse.

In 1951, Vander Meer signed with the Cleveland Indians for one last shot in the majors. He made his final MLB appearance on May 7, 1951, closing the book on a 14-year pro career.

The Indians cut him partway through the season. He finished out 1951 with Oakland in the Pacific Coast League, going 2-6 in 13 games before he finally walked away from professional baseball.

Overall MLB Statistics and Noteworthy Games

Vander Meer’s numbers show both his raw talent and his wild streak. He struck out 1,294 hitters but also walked 1,132, which says a lot about his powerful fastball and his tendency to lose the zone.

His claim to fame came in June 1938, when he tossed back-to-back no-hitters. On June 11, he blanked the Boston Bees 3-0 at home. Four days later, he shut out the Brooklyn Dodgers 6-0 at Ebbets Field.

That second no-hitter happened during Brooklyn’s first night game. The tension was real—Vander Meer walked eight batters. In the ninth, with the bases loaded, Leo Durocher hit a fly ball to center and Vander Meer escaped.

Career Highlights:

• Only pitcher to throw back-to-back no-hitters
• 30 career shutouts
• Two-time All-Star (1938, 1939)
• Led NL in strikeouts three consecutive years (1941-1943)

His hitless streak reached 21⅔ innings before Boston finally broke through in his next start. No one has matched that record in Major League Baseball, and honestly, it feels untouchable.

Military Service and Wartime Baseball

Johnny Vander Meer joined the military on March 3, 1944, enlisting in the United States Navy during World War II. He worked at the Sampson Naval Training Center in New York, then later traveled the Pacific with the Fifth Fleet baseball team before coming back to pro baseball in 1946.

Service in the United States Navy

Vander Meer signed up for the US Navy in March 1944, which forced him to put his baseball career on pause at age 29. He had just wrapped up three straight National League strikeout crowns from 1941 to 1943.

They sent him to the Sampson Naval Training Center in New York, where he worked with the Welfare Recreation Department.

At Sampson, Vander Meer regularly pitched for the base’s baseball team. That squad dominated in 1944, finishing with a wild 26 wins and 1 loss record.

Later that year, he moved to Hawaii. He stayed in the service through 1945, touring the Pacific with the Fifth Fleet team.

He spent most of 1945 stationed at Guam. The Navy discharged him on December 20, 1945.

Playing Baseball During World War II

Baseball stayed front and center for Vander Meer while he served. On June 5, 1944, he pitched for Sampson against the Boston Red Sox in an exhibition game.

The Navy team beat the Red Sox 20-7. Vander Meer had a rough first inning, giving up three runs, but then he settled in and held them scoreless until the eighth.

He also got three hits that day, not bad for a pitcher. After that rocky start, he really shut down the big leaguers.

In September 1944, he pitched in the Army-Navy World Series in Hawaii. He started Game Two and beat the Army team 8-2, allowing just seven hits.

He took the mound again in Game Five and won, giving up only five hits in a 12-2 blowout. Thanks to his strong pitching, the Navy won the series.

The teams kept playing exhibition games for the troops. Vander Meer finally lost in Game Nine, 6-5, but only because his team made five errors, even though he allowed just five hits.

Return to Professional Baseball

Vander Meer came back to the Cincinnati Reds for spring training in 1946. At 31, he faced the tough job of picking up his career after two years away.

He finished that first season back with a 10-12 record. Being away from the game clearly took a toll at first.

He slowly found his groove again over the next few years. In 1948, he put together his best post-war season, going 17-14 with a 3.41 ERA.

“I might’ve had a shot at the strikeout crown for about five consecutive years,” Vander Meer once said, reflecting on how the war interrupted what could’ve been his prime.

He stayed with Cincinnati through 1949, then wrapped up his career with the Cubs in 1950 and the Indians in 1951. The war years really changed his career path.

Retirement and Legacy in Baseball History

Johnny Vander Meer retired from MLB in 1951, closing the chapter on a career that included the jaw-dropping feat of back-to-back no-hitters. His impact didn’t just fade away—he made a mark through managing, and his unbreakable record still fires up baseball fans.

Final Years and Retirement in 1951

Vander Meer’s last MLB season came with the Cleveland Indians in 1951. He pitched just one game on May 7, then the team released him on June 30, when he was 36. That was it for his big league days after 13 seasons.

The lefty finished with a 119-121 record and a 3.44 ERA, striking out 1,294 batters. He left with 29 career shutouts, which put him third on the Cincinnati Reds’ franchise list when he retired.

Even as his control faded, Vander Meer didn’t walk away from the game right away. He went back to the minors and played five more seasons, sticking with it until he turned 40. In 1952, he tossed another no-hitter, this time for the Tulsa Oilers against the Beaumont Roughnecks in the Texas League.

That minor league no-hitter came 14 years after his legendary back-to-back no-hitters for Cincinnati in 1938.

Managerial and Post-Playing Career

After hanging up his glove, Vander Meer jumped into managing in the Cincinnati Reds organization. He managed in the minors for ten years, finally stepping away from baseball in 1962. Passing on his pitching knowledge to younger players seemed to come naturally.

He later worked for a brewing company but stayed connected to baseball through appearances and interviews. The Cincinnati Reds honored him by inducting him into the first class of the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1958.

Vander Meer made Tampa, Florida, his home after retiring. Fans never forgot his historic double no-hit feat. He passed away from an abdominal aneurysm at his Tampa home on October 6, 1997, at age 82.

Influence on Future Generations

Vander Meer’s consecutive no-hitters still stand as the most unbreakable record in baseball history. No pitcher has even really threatened it since 1938.

His teammate Ewell Blackwell probably came the closest in 1947. Blackwell threw a no-hitter and then nearly did it again, holding the Dodgers hitless until the ninth inning of his next outing.

People started calling Vander Meer things like “The Dutch Master” and “Double No-Hit.” Those nicknames stuck around and kept his story alive in baseball circles.

Anytime a pitcher throws a no-hitter, folks bring up Vander Meer. There’s always that question—could anyone ever repeat what he did?

Modern baseball analysts actually say Vander Meer’s record is basically impossible to break. The odds of pitching two no-hitters in a row are so wild that most experts just shake their heads.

Honestly, that makes his 1938 run even more impressive.