TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

June 11, 1938, At Crosley Field Cincinnati Reds pitcher Johnny Vander Meer hurls the first of his record two consecutive no-hitters. Vander Meer strikes out four batters and walks three in shackling the Boston Bees, 3-0. Vander Meer‚ in his first full season‚ strikes out 4 to increase his league-leading total to 56. Danny MacFayden is the losing pitcher. Four days later, the Reds’ southpaw, in the first night game played in Brooklyn, continues his no-no mojo four days later by beating the Dodgers, 6-0, without giving up a hit in the Ebbets Field contest. He was honored before the game because the team knew hundreds of fans from his hometown in New Jersey had come to see him pitch. Vander Meer, who frequently had trouble with control, walked eight men in the second no-hitter. The two no-hitters came in the middle of 8 consecutive winning starts. His no-hitting streak actually ran 21 2/3 innings, counting the hitters he retired in games before and after his two no-hitters.

He was nicknamed "The Dutch Master" due to his Dutch heritage, and after the no-hitters was also nicknamed "Two No-Hit".

Vander Meer recalled the last out of the second no-hitter: "The Dodgers had the bases loaded with two outs. The batter was Leo Durocher, who had a count of one ball and two strikes. On the next pitch I hit the outside of the plate with a fastball for a strike and umpire Bill Stewart called it a ball. On the next pitch Durocher popped out to centerfield for the final out...When the game ended Stewart was the first to congratulate me. Stewart said, `If Leo got a hit, I was to blame as I missed the pitch and the batter should have been struck out on the previous pitch.' "

Vander Meer's performance earned him the role as the starting pitcher for the National League team in the 1938 All-Star game held at Cincinnati's Crosley Field. The American League team – having won four of the previous five All-Star games – was favored to win the game, but Vander Meer pitched three scoreless innings and allowed only one hit, as the National League went on to win 4–1. He ended the season with a 15–10 record and a 3.12 earned run average for the fourth-place Reds. He might have won more games, but spent nearly a month in the hospital being treated for boils late in the season. Following the season, The Sporting News named Vander Meer their MLB Player of the Year for 1938.

He threw hard and had a good sinker, and he led the NL in strikeouts three consecutive years (1941-43). Yet he often struggled with his control, topping NL pitchers in bases on balls in 1943 and 1948. He won in double figures six times, recording a career-high 18 victories in 1942. In 1943 he tied Carl Hubbell's record by fanning six batters in an All-Star Game, working 2-2/3 innings. Naval duty in 1944-45 and arm trouble shortened Vander Meer's career.

June 11, 1927 At Shibe Park, the Philadelphia Athletics field a team of seven future Hall of Famers in the 9th inning: Ty Cobb (RF), Mickey Cochrane (PH), Eddie Collins (2B), Jimmie Foxx (1B), Lefty Grove(P), Al Simmons (CF) and Zack Wheat (LF). After 5 wins in a row‚ the A’s lose to the Tigers‚ 6-5. Cy Perkins started as catcher batting seventh‚ but when Cochrane pinch-hit for him in the last inning‚ seven Cooperstown-bound players were in the lineup. On May 24th of 1928‚ the A’s will again field 7 HOFers and combine with the Yanks to showcase 13 Hall of Famers.

June 11, 1935 In game 1‚ White Sox veteran Al Simmons belts a grand slam off Washington’s Bobby Burke‚ but his 5 RBIs are not enough as Washington wins‚ 9 – 8. The Sox take the nitecap‚ 9 – 3. Showing he’s in the groove‚ Simmons will repeat the slam in three days off Nats hurler Belve Bean.

June 11, 1948 The Indians hold on to beat the Yankees‚ 10 – 8‚ as reliever Bob Feller fans Sherm Lollar with the bases full to end the game. Joe DiMaggio had led off the 9th with a homer. Game highlights include Yogi Berra getting tossed by Cal Hubbard and young Bobby Brown being replaced at 2B in the 8th by George Stirnweiss‚ a move that will remain permanent for the season. Lou Boudreau ends a Tribe rally in the 7th by striking out – his first K in 42 games. The game – interrupted by rain and a fans’ missile barrage – ends at 12:20 a.m.

June 11, 1957 Brooklyn Dodger Catcher Roy Campanella hits his 237th career home run‚ surpassing the career marks of Gabby Hartnett and Yogi Berra. Campy’s historic home run comes off Ray Crone in the seventh inning of Brooklyn’s 7-2 loss to the Braves at Ebbets Field.

June 11 , 1963 — Bob Aspromonte hits a grand slam home run off Lindy McDaniel to beat the Cubs in ten innings, 6-2. The blast fulfills a promise Aspromonte made to a Little Leaguer blinded by a lightning strike who is recovering in Houston. The next year, Aspromonte hits another grand slam on June 11th to down Cincinnati, 5-3.

June 11, 1966, Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs ties a modern day record by hitting three triples in an 8-2 win over the Houston Astros at the Astrodome Chicago OF Adolfo Phillips also ties a record by striking out 9 straight times in 2 consecutive games (more than 18 innings).

June 11, 1967 Jim Wynn belts a mammoth home run at Cincinnati’s Crosley Field off Sammy Ellis that lands on a freeway ramp beyond left field it is one of the farthest ever hit at Crosley Field. The Reds explode for five runs in the ninth to salvage a doubleheader split, 8-4, after Houston won the opener, 7-4. Bob Aspromonte homers in both games.

June 11, 1968 Roberto Clemente makes his 4th and final conquest of the Candlestick crosswind, a line drive homer over the left-field fence into the teeth of a strong wind. Chronicler Bob Stevens calls it one of the longest ever hit in that spot. The Pittsburgh Pirates proceed to pound Ray Sadecki and reliever Ron Herbel for three additional runs, 7 – 4 over the Giants.

June 11, 1969, the Los Angeles Dodgers reacquire former star Maury Wills and Manny Mota in a four-player trade with the Montreal Expos for infielder Paul Popovich and outfielder Ron Fairly. As a member of the Dodgers during the 1962 season, Wills set a major league record by stealing 104 bases.

June 11, 1980, Oakland’s Mike Norris pitches a complete game 14 inning win over the Jim Palmer led Orioles 6-2. Athletics right fielder Tony Armas hits a walk off grand slam for the win.

June 11, 1990, future Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan of the Texas Rangers notches his sixth career no-hitter, the most in major league history. The 43-year-old right-hander strikes out 14 Oakland A’s in a 5-0 win. Ryan will pitch an unprecedented seventh no-hitter in 1991.

Features well over 600 Games!

TRIVIA

TRIVIA: Who was the first player to be voted Rookie of the Year, to win his league’s Most Valuable Player Award and the Cy Young Award?

Hint: #1 His career batting average was .268.

Hint: #2 He was an All-Star, but not the year he won the MVP.

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