Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On September 18, 1936, legendary baseball coach Vince “VJ” Meyer opened his first fall season at Bancroft-St.
John with a win. The Johnnies appeared in 32 state tournaments under Meyer’s leadership, one of the most storied runs in Iowa high school baseball history.
Born in Elkader, Meyer spent most of his childhood, aside from a brief stint in South Dakota living in the small eastern Iowa town. After finishing high school at Elkader St. Joseph, he enrolled at Loras College briefly before heading to St. Paul to enter seminary with the intention of becoming a priest. However, after eighteen months, Meyer instead found his calling in coaching. Teaching English and Government at Bancroft-St. John, Meyer coached baseball and basketball, managed the town swimming pool, and wrote regular contributions for the Bancroft Register.
Meyer took the Bancroft job during 1935 and went on to coach the Johnnies to 1,105 victories against just 179 losses before returning in 1981. The team captured six Iowa fall titles and finished as runners-up at the Iowa summer baseball state tournament in 1947, 1957, 1976, and 1980. The program Meyer ran produced numerous all-staters, including MLB infielder Denis Menke.
In 1987 Meyer was the first baseball coach inducted into the National Federation of State High School Associations Hall of Fame. He was also enshrined into the Iowa Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1969. He was presented the prestigious Lyle T. Quinn Award by the Iowa High School Athletic Association in 1976. #IowaOTD #IowaHistoryDaily #IowaHistoryCalendar
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