40,000 See Vander Meer of Reds Hurl Second No-Hit, No-Run Game in Row

40,000 See Vander Meer of Reds Hurl Second No-Hit, No-Run Game in Row

DODGERS BOW, 6-0, IN NIGHT INAUGURAL

Vander Meer, Reds’ Ace, Makes Baseball History – Hitless String Now 18 1/3 Innings

FILLS BASES IN THE NINTH

But Completes Feat Unscathed at Ebbets Field – Fans Rush to Acclaim Young Hurler

By ROSCOE McGOWEN


Last night they turned on the greatest existing battery of baseball lights at Ebbets Field for the inaugural night major league game in the metropolitan area. A record throng for the season there, 40,000, of whom 38,748 paid, came to see the fanfare and show that preceded the contest between the Reds and the Dodgers.

The game, before it was played, was partly incidental; the novelty of night baseball was the major attraction.

But Johnny Vander Meer, tall, handsome 22-year-old Cincinnati southpaw pitcher, stole the entire show by hurling his second successive no-hit, no-run game, both coming within five days, and making baseball history that probably never will be duplicated. His previous no-hitter was pitched in daylight at Cincinnati last Saturday against the Bees, the Reds winning, 3-0. Last night the score was 6-0.

The records reveal only seven pitchers credited with two no-hitters in their careers and none who achieved the feat in one season.

More drama was crowded into the final inning than a baseball crowd has felt in many a moon. Until that frame only one Dodger had got as far as second base, Lavagetto reaching there when Johnny issued passes to Cookie and Dolf Camilli in the seventh.

But Vandy pitched out of that easily enough and the vast crowd was pulling for him to come through to the end.

The Crucial Inning

Johnny mowed down Woody English, batting for Luke Hamlin; Kiki Cuyler and Johnny Hudson in the eighth, fanning the first and third men, and when Vito Tamulis, fourth Brooklyn hurler, treated the Reds likewise in the ninth, Vandy came out for the crucial inning.

He started easily, taking Buddy Hassett’s bounder and tagging him out. Then his terrific speed got out of control and, while the fans sat forward tense and almost silent, walked Babe Phelps, Lavagetto and Camilli to fill the bases.

All nerves were taut as Vandy pitched to Ernie Koy. With the count one and one, Ernie sent a bounder to Lew Riggs, who was so careful in making the throw to Ernie Lombardi that a double play wasn’t possible.

Leo Durocher, so many times a hitter in the pinches, was the last hurdle for Vander Meer, and the crowd groaned as he swung viciously to line a foul high into the right-field stands. But a moment later Leo swung again, the ball arched lazily toward short center field and Harry Craft camped under it for the put-out that brought unique distinction to the young hurler.

It brought, also, a horde of admiring fans onto the field, with Vandy’s team-mates ahead of them to hug and slap Johnny on the back and then to protect him from the mob as they struggled toward the Red dugout.

The fans couldn’t get Johnny, but a few moments later they got his father and mother, who had accompanied a group of 500 citizens from Vandy’s home town of Midland Park, N. J. The elder Vander Meers were completely surrounded and it required nearly fifteen minutes before they could escape.

Enhances His Record

The feat ran the youngster’s remarkable pitching record to eighteen and one-third hitless and scoreless innings and a string of twenty-six scoreless frames. This includes a game against the Giants, his no-hitter against the Bees and last night’s game.

Vander Meer struck out seven Dodgers, getting pinch hitters twice, and of the eight passes he issued two came in the seventh and three in the tense ninth.

Added to his speed was a sharp-breaking curve that seldom failed to break over the plate and at which the Dodger batsmen swung as vainly as at his fireball.

On the offense, well-nigh forgotten as the spectacle of Vander Meer’s no-hitter unfolded, the Reds made victory certain as early as the third frame, when they scored four times and drove Max Butcher away.

Frank McCormick hit a home run into the left-field stands with Wally Berger and Ival Goodman aboard, while a pass to Lombardi and singles by Craft and Riggs added the fourth run.

Craft’s third straight single scored Goodman in the seventh, the latter’s blow off Tot Pressnell’s right kneecap knocking the knuckleballer out and causing him to be carried off on a stretcher. Berger tripled off Luke Hamlin in the eighth to score Vander Meer with the last run.

 

The ultimate d_b.

 

70 years ago today.

More that even Joe D’s 56 game hitting streak, two no-hitters in a row is a record that will never be broken – probably never even tied.

Couple of things I didn’t know:

It was the first night game at Ebbets Field. The Reds scored 6 runs, but I wonder if the lighting played any role.

Another article I read said that the first pitch was at 9:45. Why?

He walked the bases loaded in the ninth and then got out of it. He got a fielder’s choice force out at home – preserving the shutout – and then got Leo Durocher to fly out.

Pretty cool stuff.

 

I did a quick check and didn't see it posted. I don't think the SportsJournalists.com archives go back that far.

 

The lighting was for shit, especially contrasted with today's standards. There were some contemporary references to the general dimness.

 

I remember reading this once... back in the day, they'd start the night games late to make sure the sun had gone down completely because they didn't know what kind of effect the transition from daylight to field lighting would have on the players eyes. So to be sure, they'd start late. Am sure that having fans in their seats with plenty of time to help the concession sales helped too...

 

Thanks for stopping by, Roscoe.

 

anybody notice any quotes in the story?...was this a first write running?

 

It was for a blog.

 

Maybe it was Eddie Munster's idol...

 

Just for the hell of it, I think I'll write a gamer like this sometime this week and submit it.

If they want to get rid of the old guys to buyouts, they'll live on in my heart.

 

Vander Meer's double is often cited as "a record that will never ever be broken," but IMO the sheer random nature of the event probably makes it MORE likely that at some point, some super fireballer may do it again. The odds of course are astronomical either way, but I'd be less surprised to see two no-hitters in a row than a 50-game hitting streak.

What was the closest Nolan Ryan ever came? Did he ever follow up one of his seven no-no's with a 1-or 2-hitter?

IIRC, Vander Meer went into the sixth inning or something of his NEXT start before giving up a hit.