Sports History

Vernon Louis "Lefty" Gomez wasn't your typical baseball star. A southpaw with an overpowering fastball and a razor-sharp wit, Gomez carved out a legendary career with the New York Yankees, all while keeping fans entertained with his offbeat personality.

Born in California in 1908, Gomez's journey began on the West Coast before landing him in the heart of baseball's biggest stage – Yankee Stadium. Debuting in 1930, Gomez quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with. His fastball, described as "lighting in a bottle," baffled hitters, propelling him to become a dominant starter.

But Gomez wasn't just about raw talent. He possessed a fierce competitive spirit and a knack for rising to the occasion. He led the American League in wins twice, ERA twice, and strikeouts a staggering three times. His dominance culminated in a pair of pitching Triple Crowns – a rare feat where a pitcher leads the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts – in 1934 and 1937.

While his statistics are impressive, Gomez's legacy goes beyond the numbers. He was a five-time World Series champion with the Yankees, a testament to his clutch pitching in the biggest games. His perfect 6-0 record in World Series starts remains a testament to his composure under pressure.

Yet, it's Gomez's personality that truly sets him apart. He was known for his quick wit and playful barbs directed at teammates and opponents alike. His famous line, "You're damn right I would [throw at my own grandmother]. She's a good hitter!" perfectly encapsulates his sense of humor and competitive fire.

Gomez's career, however, wasn't without its challenges. A shoulder injury in 1940 threatened his dominance, and his final years saw him bounce between teams before retiring in 1943. Despite the late hurdles, Lefty Gomez left an undeniable mark on the game.

Born November 26, 1908, in Rodeo, California, was Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher, Lefty Gomez. Of course as his nickname implies Gomez was a left-handed pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball between 1930 and 1943 for the New York Yankees and the Washington Senators.

Lefty was selected as an All-Star every year between 1933 and 1939. Gomez is one of the top MLB players to have worn Jersey Number 11. MLB Number 11 Jersey

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The Baseball Almanac website presents the Baseball History on May 16., such as Red Ruffing, Lefty Gomez, Billy Martin, Hank Bauer, and more.

These posts include birthdays plus events concerning names like Dummy Hoy, Dummy Taylor, Johnny Allen, George Pipgras, with more legendary series as well.

ThisDayinBaseball.com takes a wide sweep of May 29 baseball history an among the items in their net are pieces of history such as:
1880 - Boston with George Wright in its lineup‚ upsets a tough Chicago squad.
1905 - Possibly the 1st spitball is thrown by a player named Elmer Stricklett
1916 - Christy Mathewson pitches the New York Giants to their 17th consecutive road victory.


1928 - Bill Terry hits for the cycle to lead the Giants to a 12 – 5 win over Brooklyn.

1941 - Ted Williams is 3 for 5 and scores a pair in the Red Sox’s 6 – 4 win over the A’s. Ted will score 2 or more runs for the next 7 games, giving him 8 in a row.

1942 - New York’s Lefty Gomez‚ self-described as the worst-hitting pitcher in baseball‚ bangs out 4 hits in pitching a four-hit‚ 16 – 1 victory over Washington. They are his last major league hits. Buddy Hassett adds 4 hits as well.

1951 -Indians hurler Bob Lemon one-hits the Tigers, 2 – 1.

1955 - Larry Doby of the Indians hits the first major league homer.