Lefty Gomez
Lefty Gomez | ||
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Pitcher | ||
Born: November 26, 1908 Rodeo, California |
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Died: February 17 1989 (aged 80) Greenbrae, California | ||
Batted: Left | Threw: Left | |
MLB debut | ||
April 29, 1930 for the New York Yankees | ||
Final game | ||
May 23, 1943 for the Washington Senators | ||
Career statistics | ||
Win-Loss record | 189-102 | |
Earned run average | 3.34 | |
Strikeouts | 1,468 | |
Teams | ||
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Career highlights and awards | ||
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Member of the National | ||
Baseball Hall of Fame | ||
Elected | 1972 | |
Election Method | Veteran's Committee |
Vernon Louis Gomez (November 26, 1908 – February 17, 1989) was a Mexican-American left-handed major league baseball pitcher who played in the American League for the New York Yankees between 1930 and 1942.
While pitching on five World Series teams, Gomez set a record winning six consecutive World Series. He also won 20 games four times, led the league in wins twice, and led the American League in shutouts for three seasons.
Early Life
He was born in Rodeo, California.
Baseball career
After baseball
In retirement, Gomez became a sought-after dinner speaker known for his humorous anecdotes about his playing days and the personalities he knew. He was a bit of a screwball, nicknamed "El Goofy," and delighted in playing practical jokes on everyone from teammates to umpires. He once stopped a World Series game to watch an airplane fly overhead. He came up with the idea of a revolving goldfish bowl to make life easier for older goldfish. On February 2, 1972, the Veterans Committee inducted Lefty Gomez into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, only the second ever Hispanic player to be inducted. On August 2, 1987, he and Whitey Ford were honored with plaques to be placed in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium. Gomez's plaque says he was "Noted for his wit and his fastball, as he was fast with a quip and a pitch." Despite advancing age, he was able to attend the ceremony. Although he was honored with the plaque, his uniform #11 has not been retired, and has since been worn by Joe Page, Johnny Sain, Hector Lopez, Fred Stanley, Dwight Gooden, Chuck Knoblauch, Gary Sheffield, Doug Mientkiewicz, Morgan Ensberg and Brett Gardner. In 1999, he ranked #73 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was a nominee for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. Vernon's memory and history is kept alive by his daughter Vernona.
In 1989 he died of congestive heart failure and pneumonia in Larkspur, Calif.
Legacy
The Lefty Gomez Award is an amateur baseball award presented by the American Baseball Coaches Association each year to an individual who has distinguished himself amongst his peers and has contributed significantly to the game of baseball locally, nationally, and internationally. The Lefty Gomez Award is presented each year at the ABCA Hall of Fame/Coach of the Year Banquet at the ABCA Convention.[1]
Notes
- ↑ Lefty Gomez Award Abca.org. Retrieved June 25, 2009.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
External links
- Baseball-Reference.com - Major league career statistics
- Template:Bbhof
- Official Website Cmgww.com.
- Vernon "Lefty" Gómez Latinosportslegends.com.
- Lefty Gomez Baseballlibrary.com.
- Lefty Gomez Nycurve.com.
- Latino Greats Umich.edu.
- Berkow, Ira. 1989. Lefty Gomez Was Hard to Beat Nytimes.com.
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