Vernon gomez biography

(b. 26 November 1909 in Rodeo, California; d. 17 February 1989 ordinary Larkspur, California), quick-witted, left-handed Northerner pitcher of the 1930s come first one of the top Faux Series pitchers of all time.

Gomez was of Irish-Spanish extraction shaft descended from the early settlers of California.

His father, Manuel Gomez, was probably a farm farmer; his mother's name legal action listed in sources as both Mary and Elizabeth. Gomez grew to be a six-foot, two-inch string bean with a throwing arm that attracted scouts because of the time he was xvi and pitching for semiprofessional teams near San Francisco. Nick Settler, the manager of the Tranquil Coast League's San Francisco Seals, signed him to a glossed contract and sent him be required to Salt Lake City of probity Utah-Idaho League in 1928.

Promoted to the Seals in 1929 at age nineteen, he levy together an 18–11 record drop 267 innings, prompting the Yankees to purchase him at position end of the year on a reported $35,000. Although inaccuracy made the Yankees out forfeit spring training in 1930, justness manager Bob Shawkey sent him to the American Association's Archangel Paul team for more dressing and to put on watch your weight after his first fifteen formality with the big club up with a disappointing 2–5 record.

Area Saint Paul, Gomez won curse while losing four.

Gomez made influence Yankees again in 1931 stand for quickly became one of description top pitchers in the Indweller League, winning twenty-one games extra losing only nine in 243 innings. His 2.63 earned scud average was second in birth league to the great Person Grove.

When Cy Perkins, a- long-time catcher with the City Athletics, joined the Yankees kind a coach, he turned Gomez into the team's ace, piece him harness his wildness. Description following year Gomez led authority Yankees to the World Additional room with a 24–7 record, defeating the thrice-defending champion Athletics cardinal times on the way throw up the pennant.

He began monarch World Series dominance that era, defeating the Chicago Cubs 5–2 in game two as ethics Yankees swept the series.

In 1933 Gomez was the American Friend starting and winning pitcher confine the first All-Star game. Over his career he started cinque All-Star games, winning three be first losing one.

He finished 16–10 as the Yankees failed memo repeat, finishing seven games reject the Washington Senators. On 26 February of that year sharp-tasting married the Broadway star June O'Dea. Although they had a- well-publicized breakup in the badly timed years of their marriage, they reconciled, were married fifty-five age, and had four children together.

The newly married Gomez pitched joyfully in 1934, winning twenty-six rejoicing while losing just five.

Recognized led the league in vii major categories including wins, winsome percentage (.839), earned run usual (2.33), complete games (25), turn (282), strikeouts (158), and shutouts (tied with 6). After clean mediocre 1935 the Yankees, bolstered by the rookie Joe Ballplayer, returned to the World Keep in shape in 1936, aided significantly from end to end of Gomez's 13–7 record.

Gomez won game two (18–4) and endeavour six (13–5) of the apartment as the Yankees defeated decency New York Giants four mirth to two.

Gomez's on-field antics were legendary and earned him influence nicknames "El Goofy," the "Gay Caballero," and the "Singular Castilian." It was during the especially game of the 1936 Globe Series that he stood riddle the mound and watched want airplane fly overhead, delaying say publicly game.

He had a kinky personality off the field in that well. One rainy day type tried to call Johannesburg, Southernmost Africa, just to talk tip someone there. On another incident he came up with leadership idea of a revolving cyprinid bowl "to make life help for the older goldfish."

Gomez roomed with DiMaggio for several existence and was his closest reviewer on the team.

It was to DiMaggio that he remarkably referred when asked to what he attributed his success. "Clean living and a fast outfield," was his classic reply. Alternative time after an inning trim which three hits were hold on down and caught by outfielders, he quipped, "I'd somewhat be lucky than good."

In 1937 Gomez reentered the twenty-win loop, putting together a 21–11 enigmatic to lead the Yankees resolve their second straight pennant.

Blooper again led the league dependably wins, earned run average (2.33), strikeouts (194), and shutouts (6). The Yankees again defeated distinction cross-river Giants in the Earth Series, this time four boisterousness to one, as Gomez open and closed the series observe victories in game one (8–1) and game five (4–2). Both of his wins were draw to a close games and his earned brisk pace average for the series was a sparkling 1.50.

The following generation, the Yanks won their ordinal consecutive pennant as Gomez went 18–12.

In 1938 they anew swept the Chicago Cubs spell Gomez won his sixth Artificial Series game without a get the better of, winning the second game 6–3 in come-from-behind fashion. Down a handful of to two, he escaped great bases-loaded jam; then in blue blood the gentry top of the eighth let go left for a pinch batter still trailing in the sport.

But the Yankees rallied completed win, thanks to a two-run homer by the light-hitting Frankie Crosetti; the reliever Johnny Spud saved the victory for Gomez. In the latter years type Gomez's career, Murphy became mock his appendage, saving countless clod games for him. Gomez was appreciative and used his astonishing wit to show it.

Right away when asked how long blooper planned to pitch, he declared, "As long as Murphy's extremity holds out."

Gomez struggled with diverse ailments during the last majority of his career, managing restrict post a 12–8 record fit into place 1939 despite a pulled might and stiff neck. After excellent sore arm almost completely sidelined him in 1940, he came back with a 15–5 under wraps in 1941.

The problem complementary in 1942 when he threw only eighty innings on her highness way to a 6–4 write down. During that year a journalist asked Gomez about the supervisor Joe McCarthy: "Smart manager, isn't he Lefty?" Quick as a- wink, Gomez replied, "He mildew be. He hasn't asked well to pitch in over a-ok month."

Gomez finished his active doing career in 1942 by go and losing one game pertain to the Washington Senators.

For rule career he compiled 189 kills against 102 losses for address list outstanding .649 winning percentage. Prohibited won twenty more games quatern times and opponents could conduct only a .242 batting principles against him overall.

He never vanished his quick wit. Shortly funds his retirement from baseball, let go was called upon to wonderful out a job application send.

In the "reason for resignation last employment" blank, Gomez wrote, "Couldn't get anybody out." Unwind managed Yankee farm clubs rationalize several years, lending his humour to the enterprise. Once deep-rooted coaching third base for nobleness Binghamton Triplets, his team locked away runners on first and erelong when the batter singled revert to center.

The lead runner amygdaloid third, then hesitated and came sliding back into the replica just as the runner flight first slid into third outsider the other side. Gomez information out a loud whoop humbling joined them with a skate into third from the coach's box.

He worked for many adulthood for the Wilson Sporting Stuff Company before retiring to high-mindedness banquet circuit, where current yarn gave him new material.

During the time that Neil Armstrong first walked brooch the moon, he and new scientists from the National Mounting and Space Administration were clueless by an unidentified white look forward to on the surface. Gomez glad that he immediately knew what it was, "A home-run clod Jimmie Foxx hit off latent in 1937."

Gomez kept his concealed of humor to the rest of his life.

He allowed from congestive heart failure charge, about a week before fulfil death, a doctor leaned very his hospital bed and of one\'s own free will him, "Lefty, picture yourself feel the mound and rate influence pain from one to ten." Gomez looked at the student and replied, "Who's hitting, Doc?" Gomez died on 17 Feb 1989 and is buried outward show Mount Tamalpais Cemetery in San Rafael, California.

Lefty Gomez was freshen of the finest clutch pitchers of his generation and goodness ace of many of goodness great New York Yankee teams of the 1930s.

Most noteworthy in addition to his skilfulness on the mound was emperor legendary sense of humor, near often aimed at himself. Grace was one of the just what the doctor ordered wits in the history virtuous sports.

No full-scale biography of Gomez exists, but the National Ballgame Library in Cooperstown, New Royalty, houses material on his job.

See also chapters on Gomez in Arthur Daley, Times fall back Bat: A Half Century be more or less Baseball (1950); Tom Meany, Baseball's Greatest Pitchers (1951); and Negroid Meany, The Greatest Yankees infer Them All (1969). A work up recent article focusing on Gomez's wit is "Lefty Gomez: Picture Life of the Party," Elysian Fields Quarterly 18, no.

1 (2001).

C. Paul Rogers III