Lefty Gomez: Gay, Gifted, and Goofy - New York Yankees Biography
The page from the 1950 Big Time Baseball publication focuses on Vernon "Lefty" Gomez, a notable pitcher for the New York Yankees. It highlights his colorful personality and penchant for humor during his 13-year tenure with the team. A particular anecdote from the 1937 World Series illustrates this, where during a game against the New York Giants, Gomez was momentarily distracted by an aircraft flying over the Polo Grounds. Despite his lapse in attention, he managed to perform effectively, much to the chagrin of his manager, Joe McCarthy. McCarthy was known for his fiery temperament and expressed his frustration at Gomez’s apparent lack of focus. Gomez, known for being an aviation enthusiast, humorously retorted about holding onto the ball while watching the plane.