Lefty Gomez (1972)


Date of Birth: 11/26/1908
Date of Death: 2/17/1989
Birthplace: Rodeo, California

Lefty Gomez played sandlot baseball while in high school in Oakland, California. In 1928, he played professional baseball with the Utah-Idaho League. The following season, he played in the Pacific Coast League. His contract was purchased by the New York Yankees on August 17, 1929.

New York Yankees

Gomez started his major league baseball career in 1930, pitching in 15 games with the Yankees. He had 2 wins and 5 losses and a 5.55 ERA in 60.0 innings. The following season, his first full season in the major leagues, Gomez pitched 243.0 innings in a career high 40 games. He finished the season with a 21-9 win-loss record, 150 strikeouts to 85 walks, and a 2.67 ERA.

In 1932, Gomez had a 4.21 ERA in 37 games. Although his ERA was high, he won 24 games and lost just 7. However, he walked 105 batters while striking out 176.

Gomez led the AL in strikeouts in 1933. He finished the season with 16 wins to 10 losses, 163 strikeouts to 106 walks, and a 3.18 ERA in 234.2 innings in 35 games. The following season was one of his best, with career highs in innings pitched and wins and a career low ERA. In 1934, he won the AL Triple Crown, leading the AL in ERA, wins, and strikeouts. He also led the league in innings pitched and complete games. He had 26 wins to 5 losses, 158 strikeouts to 96 walks, and a 2.33 ERA in 281.2 innings in 38 games. He pitched 25 complete games that year.

Gomez had a disappointing season in 1935, finishing with 12 wins to 15 losses and a 3.18 ERA in 246.0 innings in 34 games. His 1936 season ended with a 4.39 ERA and a 13-7 win-loss record in 188.2 innings in 31 games. He had control issues that year, with 105 strikeouts to 122 walks.

Gomez repeated his 1934 season in 1937, when he again won the Triple Crown for pitchers, leading the AL in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. He had a career high in strikeouts with 194 (to 93 walks) and again had a career low ERA of 2.33. He pitched 278.1 innings in 34 games.

In 1938, Gomez won 18 games and lost 12. He had a 3.35 ERA in 239.0 innings in 32 games. His win-loss record was not nearly as good in 1939 (12 wins to 8 losses), but he had a similar ERA (3.41) in 26 games.

Gomez suffered an arm injury in 1940, and he played in just nine games that season. The following season, he had a 3.74 ERA and a 15-5 win-loss record in 23 games. In 1942, he pitched in just 13 games and he had a 4.28 ERA in 80.0 innings.

Boston Braves and Washington Senators

The Yankees traded Gomez to the Boston Braves on January 25, 1943. The Braves released him on May 19, 1943, and he then signed with the Washington Senators on May 21st. After playing in just one game with the Senators, he was released on July 15th.

Awards and MLB Records

  • AL Triple Crown (2 times)
  • Led AL in ERA (2 times)
  • Led AL in wins (2 times)
  • Led AL in strikeouts (3 times)
  • Led AL in innings pitched in 1934
  • Led AL in complete games in 1934

Career Statistics

Statistics for Gomez in 13 seasons with the New York Yankees (1930-1942) include:

  • 4 seasons with over 20 wins, with a high of 26 in 1934
  • 5 seasons with 150 or more strikeouts, with a high of 194 in 1937
  • 3 seasons with an ERA under 3.00, with a low of 2.33 in 1934 and 1937

Career pitching statistics for Gomez include:

  • 368 games played
  • 2,503.0 innings pitched
  • 189-102 win-loss record
  • 1,468 strikeouts to 1,095 walks
  • 3.34 ERA

Career postseason statistics for Gomez include:

  • 7 games played
  • 50.0 innings pitched
  • 6-0 win-loss record
  • 31 strikeouts to 15 walks
  • 2.88 ERA

Post Playing Career

After retiring as a major league player, Gomez was a player-manager for a team in the Pacific Coast League in 1946 and 1947.

Gomez died from congestive heart failure on February 17, 1989.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Lefty Gomez
ESPN - Lefty Gomez
Baseball Reference - Lefty Gomez

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