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Ernie Lomardi hit over .300 ten times despite being one of the slowest runners in the history of the game. A two-time batting champ, Lombardi enjoyed a 17-year career from 1931-1947.

In the collection is this letter handwritten by the catcher on his 46th birthday. He writes in part, “Had a little offer from the Oakland Club and Charley Dressing (sic) but it hasn’t matured yet…Say hello to all the game for me also Danny Gardella.”

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When Johnny Vander Meer made baseball history by pitching no-hitters in consecutive starts, it was Ernie Lombardi who caught both games. Vandy pitched his first gem against the Boston Braves on June 11, 1938. His next start four days later he victimized the Brooklyn Dodgers.

The ’38 campaign was Lombardi’s finest. He set career highs in hits, doubles, RBI. The catcher’s league-leading .342 batting average was also his best. For his efforts, Lombardi was voted the National League’s MVP.

He retired after the 1947 season with a .306 career average and a .358 lifetime on-base percentage. Lombardi’s 126 OPS+ over 17 big league seasons is a fine mark for a man whose only defensive position was behind the plate.

The previous letter was sent in this envelope postmarked April 7, 1954 from Lombardi’s Oakland area home. Lombardi has written his name — doubling as another autograph — along with his address in the upper left corner.

Ernie Lombardi died in 1977 at age 69 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame nine years later.

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In 1938 Johnny Vander Meer accomplished something no pitcher has done before or since. On June 11 he threw a no-hitter against the Boston Bees. Four days later he repeated the feat at Ebbets Field in the first night game in New York baseball history.

Ernie Lombardi was the catcher for both of Vandy’s back-to-back gems. That year Lombardi led the NL in batting average and was named the league’s ‘MVP.

In the collection is this government postcard signed by Vander Meer in 1953. Learn more about Vandy’s career by clicking here.

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When Ernie Lombardi won his first batting crown in 1938, he also set career-highs in hits, doubles, RBI, slugging percentage, total bases, and OPS. The catcher’s all around fine play earned him the Most Valuable Player Award. It was the first of three-consecutive seasons a Cincinnati man took home the honor.

In 1939 Bucky Walters became the 5th National Leaguer of the 20th century to earn pitching’s Triple Crown. In addition to his league-leading totals in wins (27), ERA (2.29), and strikeouts (137), Bucky topped Senior Circuit hurlers in starts (36), complete games (31), and innings (319). For fans of advanced metrics, Walters also led the NL in WHIP (1.125) and WAR (9.8). His performance earned him a 90% share of the MVP vote.

The following season first baseman Frank McCormick hit his way to the MVP nod. That 1940 campaign included a league-leading 191 hits and 44 doubles. McCormick also chipped in 93 runs scored and 127 RBI for the World Series champions to take home the hardware.

Shown here is a handwritten letter from Bucky Walters. He supports the Cooperstown induction of his batterymate, 1938 NL MVP Ernie Lombardi. Eventually the catcher did get the Hall call in 1986, nine years after his passing.

 

 

 

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In addition to his outstanding bat control, Ernie Lombardi was known as one of the slowest runners in the history of baseball. Infielders played as deep as their arms would allow.

Lombardi is reported to have joked that it took him three seasons to realize Pee Wee Reese was the Dodgers’ shortstop, not an outfielder. Bill James called Lombardi, “the slowest man ever to play Major League Baseball well.”

Here Lombardi signs a small photo in a Cincinnati uniform.

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Ernie Lombardi gained baseball’s highest honor when the Veterans Committee selected him for the Hall of Fame. Joining him as a Vets Committee choice was Red Sox second baseman Bobby Doerr.

The same year the baseball writers made Giants great Willie McCovey their 23rd first-ballot selection. Together the three men were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on August 3, 1986.

Shown here is an invitation to the ceremony. Doerr’s signature appears at the bottom.

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Ernie Lombardi finished his career with 1,792 hits, 190 home runs, and 990 RBI. On the surface that doesn’t seem worthy of the Hall of Fame. However, entry to Cooperstown isn’t solely a matter of career totals.

Lombardi is also a two-time batting champion and former National League Most Valuable Player. Many statistics do actually point to his greatness. Lombardi’s .306 average puts him 11th all time among catchers. His 126 OPS+ ties him on the catcher list with first-ballot Cooperstown man Johnny Bench.

Since he retired, many batters surpassed Lombardi’s career totals to push him further down the all time list. Shown here is the game-used lineup card from the first game of a Brewers double header on August 26, 1985. Signed by manager George Bamberger, it features Milwaukee great Cecil Cooper hitting in the three-hole.

On that day Cooper collected four hits and four runs batted in. With his second, third, and fourth RBI, Cooper passed Hall of Famers Frank “Home Run” Baker, Deacon White and Lombardi successively.