On June 15, 1938, one of the most remarkable feats in the history of baseball occurred when Cincinnati Reds pitcher Johnny Vander Meer threw his second consecutive no-hitter, a record that still stands today.
Just four days earlier, on June 11, the 23-year-old left-hander had stunned the baseball world by no-hitting the Boston Bees (later renamed the Boston Braves) at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. It was an impressive accomplishment, but no one could have predicted what would happen in his very next start.
Facing the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field, Vander Meer took the mound with a chance to make history. The Dodgers boasted a formidable lineup featuring future Hall of Famers like Leo Durocher, Ernie Lombardi, and Babe Ruth (who was in his final season). However, Vander Meer was unfazed by the challenge.
Inning after inning, Vander Meer mowed down the Dodgers batters. His fastball was sizzling, and his curveball was virtually unhittable. As the game progressed, the tension mounted, and the crowd of 38,748 began to sense that they were witnessing something extraordinary.
In the ninth inning, with the Reds leading 6-0, Vander Meer retired the first two batters. Then, he faced Ernie Koy, who hit a sharp grounder to third baseman Lew Riggs. Riggs fielded the ball cleanly and fired to first baseman Frank McCormick for the final out, sealing Vander Meer's place in baseball history.
The back-to-back no-hitters by Vander Meer remain one of the most incredible and enduring records in sports. In the 83 years since that remarkable day, no other pitcher has even come close to matching his feat. It's a testament to the rarity and difficulty of throwing a no-hitter, let alone two in a row.
While Vander Meer's career was relatively short-lived, and he never quite reached the same heights after his historic achievement, his name will forever be etched in baseball lore. June 15, 1938, stands as a shining example of the incredible things that can happen on any given day in the world of sports.
