John Samuel Vander Meer was born on November 2, 1914 in Prospect Park, New Jersey. His interest in baseball began at the age of 8, listening to the radio as the New York Giants defeated the New York Yankees in the 1922 World Series. He then began playing at age 10 as a first baseman for his school, finally moving to the mound at the age of 17.

Vander Meer was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1933 and assigned to the Dayton Ducks. He bounced around the minors for a few years, unable to impress the clubs who signed him, before finally making his major league debut on April 22, 1937, at the age of 22, with the Cincinnati Reds.

The following season, on June 11, 1938, Vander Meer pitched a no-hitter against the Boston Bees. Four days later, against the Brooklyn Dodgers, he threw another no-hitter, becoming the first and, thus far, the only player in major league history to throw two straight no-hitters. This accomplishment is one that many consider to be impossible to reproduce, much less beat.

Vander Meer’s performance earned him the role as the starting pitcher for the National League team in the 1938 All-Star game. He ended the season with a 15–10 record and a 3.12 ERA, while striking out 125 and walking 103. The Sporting News named Vander Meer their MLB Player of the Year for 1938.

Though he was named an All-Star again in 1939, Vander Meer had a disappointing season due to a series of illnesses and arm troubles. He posted a 5-9 record with a 4.67 ERA. Experiencing problems with his control, Vander Meer was sent back to the minors in 1940, returning to the majors in September and posting a 3-1 record the rest of the season. In the 1940 World Series against the Detroit Tigers, Vander Meer made only one appearance when he entered Game 5 in the fifth inning, with the Reds trailing 7–0. He pitched three scoreless innings as the Reds lost 8–0. The Reds went on to win the Series in seven games.

Vander Meer would go on to be named an All-Star twice more in his career, in 1942 and 1943. He joined the United States Navy in June 1944, during World War II, where he would play for the Navy baseball team. He was discharged from the Navy in December 1945.

In 1946, Vander Meer returned to play for the Reds at the age of 31, though his performance had started to decline by this time. He did manage to post a 17-14 record in 1948; however, in early 1950, his contract was sold to the Chicago Cubs. He was then released by the Cubs in March 1951, signed with the Cleveland Indians, but appeared in only one game for the Indians before being released.

Vander Meer produced a 119–121 record with 1,294 strikeouts (and also 1,132 walks) and a 3.44 ERA in 2,104 2⁄3 innings over the course of his 13-year major league career. He also collected 29 career shutouts and is one of only six NL pitchers since 1930 to lead the league in strikeouts in three straight seasons (1941–1943).

After retiring as a player at the age of 40, Vander Meer became a minor league manager in the Cincinnati Reds organization for ten seasons before retiring in 1962. He was inducted as part of the inaugural class into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1958.

After baseball, Vander Meer worked for Schlitz Brewing Co. for 15 years. Johnny Vander Meer died at his home in Tampa, Florida, on October 6, 1997, at the age of 82.