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.