Bergen Man Owner Of Perhaps Baseball's 'Unbreakable Record'

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — It was called the greatest feat in Major League Baseball history. Not too many people know about it and even fewer believe it will be broken or matched.

Midland Park native Johnny Vander Meer threw a no-hitter against the Boston Bees on June 11, 1938.

Four days later, he threw another no-hitter against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the first night game ever held at Ebbets Field. Vander Meer was just 23 years old and a rookie.

The consecutive no-hitters are akin to Cal Ripkin Jr.'s streak of consecutive games played or Joe DiMaggio's 56-game consecutive hitting streak.

"It will probably never be broken," said Robert Skead, a Wyckoff author who wrote "Catching Rainbows: The Story of Johnny Vander Meer's Back-To-Back No-Hitters." "I think it is one of those unbreakable records."

Yogi Berra, the legendary New York Yankees catcher, agreed.

"That's hard to do," Berra said in an interview Skead posted on a website dedicated to Vander Meer. "I don't think that will ever happen again."

Skead created the website and wrote the book as a way of keeping Vander Meer's memory alive, fulfilling a promise he made.

Richard Jeffer was Vander Meer's good friend since they were kids growing up in Bergen County together. Jeffer created a display memorabilia of Vander Meer's at the Midland Park Public Library.

Vander Meer retired from professional baseball in 1951. He was a four-time All-Star and won the World Series as a member of the Reds in 1940. He was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.

Skead met Jeffer in 1996 when Jeffer was 83. The men shared a love of baseball. Jeffer told Skead everything about Vander Meer. Before Jeffer died at 96, Skead vowed to him that he would keep Vander Meer's memory, and accomplishment, alive.

"The book and everything I've done is a way of keeping my vow to Mr. Jeffer," Skead said. "He was Vandy's biggest fan. He wasn't jealous or envious of him at all. He was so happy for him because he did something that will never be repeated."

Vander Meer attended Eastern Christian and Ridgewood high schools while growing up in Bergen County.

Skead used a painting of Vander Meer by Graig Kreindler to create a special baseball card in his honor. Only 2,000 of the cards were printed. They are being given away rather than sold.

The cards are available at Farrier Sporting Goods in Wyckoff, Sansones Family Restaurant in Midland Park, and the Wyckoff and Midland Park libraries.

"I hope the card educates children and adults about Vandy and that all are inspired by what he achieved and that they, too, will dream big," Skead said. "Vandy never set a goal to pitch back-to-back no-hitters or achieve the greatest feat in the history of the game. He just went out and did his best and amazing things happened. Special things happen when we do our best."

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com