Bancroft's VJ Meyer: Iowa Time Machine September 18, 1936

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On September 18, 1936, legendary baseball coach Vince “VJ” Meyer opened his first fall season at Bancroft-St.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 in 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 in the Iowa Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1969. The Iowa High School Athletic Association presented him with the prestigious Lyle T. Quinn Award in 1976. #IowaOTD #IowaHistoryDaily #IowaHistoryCalendar