Jack Meyer

John Robert Meyer

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 175 lb.
• School Wake Forest University, University of Delaware
• High School William Penn Charter School
• 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

BR page

Biographical Information

Jack Meyer was a hard-throwing right-hander from Philadelphia, PA 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 International League with 173 in 1954.

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 Pittsburgh 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 showed 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.

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).

Notable Achievements

• NL Saves Leader (1955)

Sources

Baseball Players of the 1950s

Related Sites

• Jack Meyer at the SABR Bio Project
• BR Minors page