Major League Baseball Player. While with the Cincinnati Reds, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound right-handed batter accomplished a rarety by hitting a home run on the first pitch he saw in the big leagues. It came off Pittsburgh's Max Butcher on May 31, 1942 in the second game of a doubleheader. The outfielder's career then was put on hold while he served three years in the Army during World War II. He rejoined the Reds in 1946 and was dealt to the Washington Senators on September 27, 1948. He then was traded to the Boston Red Sox on May 8, 1950 for infielder Merrill Combs and outfielder Tommy O'Brien. He had a torrid month in July 1951, when he belted 13 homers, four doubles and a triple and knocked in 40 runs. During that streak, he crushed three homers and drove in six runs on July 26 as Boston outslugged Chicago 13-10. That year he finished with 22 homers, 85 runs batted in and a .251 average. He was sold to the Senators on April 22, 1953 and finished his career with them the following year. His lifetime totals were .251 with 77 doubles, 10 triples, 69 homers and 339 RBIs. He was 29 for 119 as a pinch hitter (.244). He had one other distinction. On June 8, 1950, when Boston hammered the St. Louis Browns 29-4, Vollmer, batting in the leadoff spot, went to the plate eight times in eight innings, the only time that has ever happened. The Reds are installing a plaque in their Hall of Fame commemorating Vollmer's first-pitch home run.
Major League Baseball Player. While with the Cincinnati Reds, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound right-handed batter accomplished a rarety by hitting a home run on the first pitch he saw in the big leagues. It came off Pittsburgh's Max Butcher on May 31, 1942 in the second game of a doubleheader. The outfielder's career then was put on hold while he served three years in the Army during World War II. He rejoined the Reds in 1946 and was dealt to the Washington Senators on September 27, 1948. He then was traded to the Boston Red Sox on May 8, 1950 for infielder Merrill Combs and outfielder Tommy O'Brien. He had a torrid month in July 1951, when he belted 13 homers, four doubles and a triple and knocked in 40 runs. During that streak, he crushed three homers and drove in six runs on July 26 as Boston outslugged Chicago 13-10. That year he finished with 22 homers, 85 runs batted in and a .251 average. He was sold to the Senators on April 22, 1953 and finished his career with them the following year. His lifetime totals were .251 with 77 doubles, 10 triples, 69 homers and 339 RBIs. He was 29 for 119 as a pinch hitter (.244). He had one other distinction. On June 8, 1950, when Boston hammered the St. Louis Browns 29-4, Vollmer, batting in the leadoff spot, went to the plate eight times in eight innings, the only time that has ever happened. The Reds are installing a plaque in their Hall of Fame commemorating Vollmer's first-pitch home run.
Bio by: Ron Coons
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