Difference between revisions of "Lefty Gomez" - New World Encyclopedia

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His 6-0 World Series record gave him the most wins without a loss in World Series history. His three victories in All-Star Game competition (against one loss) also are a record and include a win in the the first All-Star game ever, in 1933.
 
His 6-0 World Series record gave him the most wins without a loss in World Series history. His three victories in All-Star Game competition (against one loss) also are a record and include a win in the the first All-Star game ever, in 1933.
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===Media favorite===
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The “Gay Caballero” as he was fondly monikered was the antithesis of the stone faced establishment of the New York Yankees of the time. He often took pride in ruffling the feathers of Yankees canonized manager Joe McCarthy. His best friend Joe Dimaggio received the brunt of the pitching greats loving abuse. Others often quipped that perhaps Lefty not only marched to his own drum, but trumpet, piano, and violin. Lefty’s eccentric take on life made him an instant media darling because of his oddball quotes. Reporters loved talking to him because of his sharp wit and off color humor that translated well to print. A reporter commenting on Gomez’s uncanny ability to accurately brush back a hitter in the batter’s box asked Gomez if he would throw at his own mother. Gomez without pause answers “Yes, she’s a darn good hitter.”<ref>[http://www.nycurve.com/lefty-gomez Lefty Gomez]'' Nycurve.com.'' Retrieved June 25, 2009.</ref>
  
 
==Later years==
 
==Later years==

Revision as of 22:30, 25 June 2009

Lefty Gomez
Pitcher
Born: November 26, 1908
Rodeo, California
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
  • New York Yankees (1930-1942)
  • Washington Senators (1943)
Career highlights and awards
  • 7x All-Star selection (1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939)
  • 5x World Series champion (1932, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939)
Member of the National
Empty Star.svg Baseball Hall of Fame Empty Star.svg
Elected    1972
Election Method    Veteran's Committee

Vernon Louis Gomez (November 26, 1908 – February 17, 1989) was a Mexican American baseball player who played in the American League for the New York Yankees between 1930 and 1942. He was a left-handed pitcher.

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.

Gomez was elected to The National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.

Early Life

He was born in Rodeo, California.

In 1932 Gomez fell in love and started going with June O'Dea, then the leading lady of the Broadway hit Of Thee I Sing. He recalled hanging around the theater and seeing the show so often I could act myself.

February 26, said June O'Dea Gomez, would have made 56 years that Lefty and I were married. In newspaper clips, there were reports early on of a stormy marriage, and possible divorce - He could be kind of high-strung in those days, she said - but they held on, and had four children and seven grandchildren.

Baseball career

The Yankees purchased Lefty Gomez from his hometown San Francisco Seals in 1929 for $35,000. Two years later the slender 6'2" Gomez with his high leg kick and smoking fastball won 21 games for the Yankees with the support of teammates like co-members of the Hall of Fame Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio.[1]

Vernon Louis Gomez won 189 games and lost 102 and is ranked 13th on the career list for winning percentage. [2]

Gomez and righthander Red Ruffing formed the lefty-righty pitching core for the great New York teams of the 1930s. In 1934 he led the league in seven major categories, including wins (26), ERA (2.33), and strikeouts (158), the pitching equivalent of the Triple Crown. He led the league again in the top three pitching categories in 1937.

His 6-0 World Series record gave him the most wins without a loss in World Series history. His three victories in All-Star Game competition (against one loss) also are a record and include a win in the the first All-Star game ever, in 1933.

Media favorite

The “Gay Caballero” as he was fondly monikered was the antithesis of the stone faced establishment of the New York Yankees of the time. He often took pride in ruffling the feathers of Yankees canonized manager Joe McCarthy. His best friend Joe Dimaggio received the brunt of the pitching greats loving abuse. Others often quipped that perhaps Lefty not only marched to his own drum, but trumpet, piano, and violin. Lefty’s eccentric take on life made him an instant media darling because of his oddball quotes. Reporters loved talking to him because of his sharp wit and off color humor that translated well to print. A reporter commenting on Gomez’s uncanny ability to accurately brush back a hitter in the batter’s box asked Gomez if he would throw at his own mother. Gomez without pause answers “Yes, she’s a darn good hitter.”[3]

Later years

Arm problems caused Gomez to move from power pitcher to finesse pitcher who developed a slow curve. "I'm throwing as hard as I ever did," he quipped, "the ball's just not getting there as fast." He had a great comeback in 1941 (15-5) after a 3-3 mark in 1940, leading the league in winning percentage (.750).

Gomez threw a shutout in 1941 while issuing 11 walks, the most walks ever allowed in a shutout. And though a notoriously poor hitter, he produced the first RBI in All-Star history and singled home the winning run in the 1937 World Series clincher.

After pitching one game for Washington (he lost) in 1943, Gomez retired. He later went to work with the Wilson Sporting Goods company as a goodwill ambassador.[4]

On February 2, 1972, the Veterans Committee inducted Gomez into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the second Hispanic player to be inducted.

In retirement, Gomez became a sought-after dinner speaker known for his humorous anecdotes about his playing days and the personalities he knew. 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.

In 1989 he died of congestive heart failure and pneumonia in Larkspur, Calif.

Legacy

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 honored with the plaque, his uniform #11 has not been retired. 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.[4]

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.[5]

Notes

  1. Vernon "Lefty" Gomez Latinosportslegends.com. Retrieved June 25, 2009.
  2. Berkow, Ira. 1989. Lefty Gomez Was Hard to Beat Nytimes.com. Retrieved June 25, 2009.
  3. Lefty Gomez Nycurve.com. Retrieved June 25, 2009.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Lefty Gomez Baseballlibrary.com. Retrieved June 25, 2009.
  5. Lefty Gomez Award Abca.org. Retrieved June 25, 2009.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Hammond, Jeffrey. 2001. A Fan Letter to Lefty Gomez. Chicago, Ill: Sport Literate. OCLC 61297629
  • Hickey, David, and Kerry Keene. 2003. The Proudest Yankees of All: from the Bronx to Cooperstown. Lanham, Md: Taylor Trade Pub. ISBN 1589790081
  • Roberts, Russell. 2003. 100 baseball Legends Who Shaped Sports History. San Mateo, Calif: Bluewood Books. ISBN 0912517522
  • Vecchione, Joseph J. 1991. The New York Times Book of Sports Legends. New York: Times Books, Random House. ISBN 0812917987

External links

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