Noted for his pinpoint control, Merritt debuted with the 1965 pennant-winning Twins and tied a since-broken AL record when he fanned seven consecutive batters on July 21, 1966. He was traded to Cincinnati after the 1968 season for Leo Cardenas. Backed by the league’s best offense and bullpens that led the NL in saves, Merritt went 17-9 in 1969 and 20-12 for the 1970 league champion Reds. Bothered by a sore arm in the World Series, he went 1-11 the following year, and finished, unsuccessfully, with the Rangers, where he was fined $250 after admitting to using some of teammate Gaylord Perry‘s K-Y jelly on the ball.
