Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-09
WIN, LOSE OR.
DNAW By FRANCIS srANN
The Moqic Touch

If GOMEZ not the greatest OF all pitchers,
ne had to be one of the winnnge when the blue chips
were on the table Tomorrows A-Star inspires this
bright observation Has it occurred you recently that
Lefty is the only pitcher to win than of these star
spanged picnics?
Gomez is credited with having won three against one
loss OF course they only hree Inning snts per
the rules and he looked upon favoaby by Marse Joe
Mccarthy who managed many American League teams
and liked the idea of starting his boy Lefty lucky
too because in the early AStar he had Ruth Sim
mons Gehrg Cronn Foxx and other sluggers to get him
of to lead.
He the first All-star Game in 1888 He also in
IS and 81 finally lost in 3S He had magic touch appar
emily especially when to the spectacularS He has
60 record in World Series competition which nobody else
has matched Red Rufng contemporary and Allie Reyn-
Odds twice beaten Waite Hoyt and
Chief Bender won six but each lost four times.
$50
1T is POSSIBLE for Warren SPAIN of the Braves to
become the only other winner of two AStar affairs to-
morrow since the stylish southpaw won in SO Here and
there scattered few active pitchers with victory
Feller Dean Stone Trucks Mage and RuShbut none was
picked for the Griffith Stadium classic peculiar require
men is that must be A-Sar to pitch bat or ride
the bench in an All-Star Game.
Could be that Gomez will be among the spectators
tomorrow. If Mccarthy still managing the Yankees
land the Al-sars naturally he might start Ell Goof for
old times sake and of his reputation Imagine 81 record
in combined World Series and A-Star pay But Casey
sengel the pesentday Mccarthy and there record
OF Caseys having the deep attachment to Gomez
old Marse Joe.
In fact the story is told-and WELL too because Tom
Meany spins ithat in the spring of 1943 when Gomez
finished Yankee, he met up with Stengel 1t during
training in Connecticut and Casey managing
the old Boston Braves
Stengel thought to ask his new pitcher screamed
Gomez for opnion-National League American
In character, Gomez quipped
The trouble with the National League is that John
McGraws been dead for long time and you guys don't
know it."
WHETHER THAT REMARK fastened his departure from
the without having appeared game) whether
question Probably the had the most to do with itbe
Stengel humorst in his right and would
appreciate another wit.
But when Gomez had it he pretty terrific left
handler No perhaps but from 1880 through 1912 he
l89 all for the Yankees and General Manager
Ed Barrow used to call him the best souhpaw in the clubs
history.
Barrow quick qualify his appraisal because Herb
Pennock also had been Yankee pitcher who threw left
handed But he explained his selection of Gomez Herb
did pitching for the Athletics and Red Sox Gomez won
all Of his 189 games for the Yankees"
At his peak Lefty TALL skinny There was hardly
bcep in his arm but he could fire that ball. 1t was live
too, as they say in the trade.
THE GAY CABAILERo was the first of two great pitch
to grief in Griffith Stadium in period of four
Deans shortened in the 1887 AStar
Game when he hit the toe by line drive off Earl
Averis bat In 1884 Gomez had his best recod-26
completed the 80 games he started He led
in shutouts, strkeouts and earned
The they called Gooy probably because he wasn't,
much the Yankee sandout that he also used in
relief That's he got hurt here late in the He
wrenched his arm.
Gomez back and remained good pitcher, but he
quite got back his fast ball STILL many
IS games as late as 1941.
The last club he pitched for Washington This
in 1943, when the Senators and beginning
to take strong Latn-Amercan flavor. After Washington
acquired him waivers from the Braves he pitched
game-and lost it,
That was all for Lefty Although he part CaSian,
it well known that Gomez bngual type. So in
his parting qup he hung his uniform Gomez gay
explained it this way:
Il was under handicap with the Senators. could only
speak English"