Baseball History: Johnny Vander Meer

In Cincinnati, Opening Day is like a holiday when the Reds begin the season.

Johnny Vander Meer was part of the inaugural class inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1958.

The lefty had a career record of 119-121 in 13 seasons, while going 116-116 in 11 years with the Reds.

Those stats may not make one worthy of inclusion into a Hall of Fame, but it’s the moments that Vander Meer had in his career that makes him a luminary in the history of the club.

Most everyone remembers the back-to-back no-hitters in 1938, but Vander Meer also started on the mound for the Reds twice on Opening Day with his final appearance making a lasting memory.

In his first start in 1939, it quickly became forgettable as Vander Meer left the game before the third inning was complete as the Reds eventually lost 7-5 to Pittsburgh on April 17.

Vander Meer’s next start provided the Reds with an indelible moment to begin the 1943 season on April 21.

With just one Opening Day win by the Reds from 1933 to 1942, Vander Meer tossed 11 innings in a 1-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Crosley Field.

It remains the second longest outing by a pitcher in an opener. Washington’s Walter Johnson holds the record as he went 15 innings when the Senators beat the Philadelphia A’s 1-0 on April 13, 1926.

Allowing singles to Whitey Kurowski in the first and Frank Demaree in the third, Vander Meer finished with three strikeouts and five walks. After giving up a walk in the fourth, Vander Meer retired 21 in a row until he surrendered another walk in the 11th.

Lonny Frey led off the bottom of the 11th with a single off Cardinals starter Mort Cooper. Frey was sacrificed to second by Mike McCormick before Max Marshall knocked him him with the game-winning run.

Vander Meer played with the Reds from 1937 to 1949, while missing the 1944 and 1945 seasons due to military service.

He was a four-time all-star, who led the National League in strikeouts from 1941 to 1943. After his Opening Day win, he would finish the season at 15-16.

Perhaps his best season was in 1942 when he was 18-12 with a 2.43 ERA. He also pitched in one game during the 1940 World Series when the Reds defeated the Detroit Tigers in seven games.

He ended his career with the Chicago Cubs in 1950 and tossed one game with the Cleveland Indians a year later.