Lefty Gomez’s wild complete game shutout

Lefty Gomez’s day started inauspiciously on August 1, 1941 when he allowed a lead-off single to Don Heffner of the St. Louis Browns. The Yankees’ starter was having a decent but unspectacular 1941 season in what would be his penultimate season in New York.

Gomez got the next two outs, but then walked two hitters to load the bases. Browns’ catcher Chet Laabs flew out to end the inning, letting Gomez off the hook, and beginning a trend.

The Yankees got Gomez three runs of support in the bottom of the first, before the Yankees’ starter worked around a one-out walk in the top of the second. In top of the third, Gomez got two quick outs before allowing a single and a walk, before again getting…