Jack Meyer
From BR Bullpen
John Robert Meyer
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 1", Weight 175 lb.
- School Wake Forest University
- Debut April 16, 1955
- Final Game April 30, 1961
- Born March 23, 1932 in Philadelphia, PA USA
- Died March 9, 1967 in Philadelphia, PA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Jack meyer was a hard throwing right-hander from Philadelphia who turned down an offer to sign with the New York Yankees to enter Wake Forest University. Meyer eventually signed with his home-town Philadelphia Phillies in 1951 and was converted from a starter to relief after leading the 1953 Eastern league in strikeouts with 226 and the 1954 International League with 173.
As a rookie in 1955 he led the National League in saves with 16, and on September 22, 1958, established a big league record striking out the first six batters he faced after coming out of the bullpen against the Pirates.
But Jack's career was over by 1961 at age 28, because of a herniated disk, with a record of 24-34 in 202 games, all with Philadelphia. Jack had spent seven seasons in pro baseball with parts of five years being in the minors. He would show 49 wins and 36 losses with a 3.51 ERA for his time spent in the lower leagues.
Six years later his life was cut short when he died of a heart ailment on March 9, 1967, at age 34 in Philadelphia.
[edit] Sources
Baseball Players of the 1950s
Minors Page
[edit] Related Sites
His nickname was "The Bird", according to Walter Bingham's article about carousing Phillies players ("The Dalton Gang Rides Again", Sports Illustrated June 13, 1960).
