Yankee Great Lefty Gomez, Hall of Fame Pitcher, Dies

Hall of Fame pitcher Vernon (Lefty) Gomez, who starred with the great New York Yankee teams of the 1930s, died today.

Gomez, 80, died at Marin General Hospital of congestive heart failure.

Born Vernon Louis Gomez in the small town of Rodeo, about 30 miles northeast of San Francisco, he was signed for $35,000 by the Yankees but went only 2-5 in 1930, his first season in the major leagues.

However, he quickly justified New York’s confidence, going 21-9 in 1931 and 24-7 in 1932, two of the four seasons in which he won more than 20 games.

His overall record, including an 0-1 record with Washington in 1943, his final year in the major leagues, was 189-102. He had a 6-0 record in seven starts in five World Series.

Gomez won four of the five All-Star Games he started, including the first one ever played, in 1933.

Drove in First Run

Although that team included such legends as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Al Simmons and Joe Cronin, it was Gomez who drove in he first run.

“Nothing I did in baseball game me more satisfaction that getting that base hit,” Gomez said a few years ago.

After his career ended, Gomez spent some time managing in the minors, in Binghamton, N.Y.

Gomez is survived by his wife, June, daughters Gery, Vernona and Sharon and seven granchildren.