Top 25 MLB pitching seasons of all time

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circa 1939: Headshot portrait of American baseball player Johnny Vander Meer (1914 – 1997), pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, wearing his cap and uniform. (Photo by Photo File/Getty Images) /

19. Johnny Vander Meer, 1938

The Numbers: 15-10, 3.12 ERA, only pitcher in MLB history to threw consecutive no-hitters

In only his second year in the big leagues, Johnny Vander Meer became the only pitcher in MLB history to throw no-hitters in back-to-back starts. Several pitchers have taken bids deep into their second game, but none have been able to complete the task like Vander Meer.

Vander Meer’s first no-hitter came on June 11 against the Boston Braves. He struck out four that day. In his next start against the Brooklyn Dodgers, Vander Meer was able to toss the no-no, but did walk eight. Those eight walks were typical for the left-hander as he battle control issues his entire career.

The two no-hitters helped wrap up an incredibly dominant stretch for Vander Meer. Over a six-start span, he went 6-0 with a 0.65 ERA in 55 innings with only one home run allowed. Vander Meer was the easy choice to start the All-Star Game for the National League, and he pitched three scoreless innings against the heavily-favored AL side.

Command issues would plague Vander Meer every year after 1938. He would lead the league in strikeouts three straight years from 1941 to 1943. Vander Meer also led the league in walks twice and walked more than 100 five times. Despite going 119-121 with a 3.44 career ERA and four All-Star selections, Vander Meer’s career left something to be desired.

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