Lefty Gomez

Vernon Louis "Lefty" Gomez (November 26, 1908 – February 17, 1989) was an American professional baseball player and left-handed pitcher. He grew up in California and played for the San Francisco Seals after high school before making his Major League debut with the New York Yankees in April 1930. Over a career spanning 1930 to 1943, Gomez pitched for the Yankees and the Washington Senators and was a five-time World Series champion with New York. Across the 1930s decade he recorded the most strikeouts of any pitcher, with 1,337, and earned the most All-Star selections of any player, with seven, tied with Jimmie Foxx. He was named an All-Star every year from 1933 through 1939. Gomez sustained an arm injury in 1940 but rebounded well in 1941. He pitched his last full season in 1942, then appeared in a single game in 1943 before retiring with the Washington Senators. Early in his career he was broadly known throughout the major leagues for his colorful personality and humor. In 1933, Gomez married June O'Dea, who had a brief career as a Broadway actress. After his retirement, he became a popular public speaker. Gomez was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1972.