This awesome video features three MLB Hall of Famers….Lefty Gomez, Joe Cronin and Charlie Gehringer…..talking about the careers of two of the greatest Yankees Hall of Fame players….Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig….with the highest quality of respect that their piers could offer….which is really nice to hear and see….for there are no Yankee legends who stand any taller than The Iron Horse and The Sultan of Swat.
Vernon Louis “Lefty” Gomez (November 26, 1908 – February 17, 1989) was an American professional baseball player….who was a left-handed pitcher that played in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1930 and 1943 for the New York Yankees and the Washington Senators. Gomez was a five-time World Series champion with the Yankees….where he was also known for his colorful personality and humor throughout his career and life. He made his MLB debut with the Yankees in April 1930. He was selected as an All-Star every year between 1933 and 1939….when he sustained an arm injury in 1940….but rebounded well in 1941….and pitched his last full season in 1942….then appeared in one game in 1943 before retiring with the Washington Senators.
Joseph Edward Cronin (October 12, 1906 – September 7, 1984) was a Major League Baseball (MLB) shortstop, manager and general manager. He also served as president of the American League (AL) for 14 years. During his 20-year playing career (1926–1945), Cronin played for three teams….and primarily the Boston Red Sox….where he was a player-manager for 13 seasons (1933–1945)….and served as manager for two additional seasons (1946–1947). A seven-time All-Star, Cronin became the first AL player to become an All-Star with two teams….and he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1956.
Charles Leonard Gehringer (May 11, 1903 – January 21, 1993), nicknamed “The Mechanical Man“….was an American Major League Baseball second baseman who played 19 seasons (1924–42) for the Detroit Tigers….who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1949. Widely regarded as one of the greatest second basemen of all time….Gehringer batted left-handed and threw with his right….while compiling a .320 batting average….and had seven seasons with more than 200 hits. He was the American League batting champion in 1937 with a .371 average….and was also named the American League’s Most Valuable Player. He was among the Top 10 vote recipients in the Most Valuable Player voting for seven straight years from 1932 to 1938. He was the starting second baseman and played every inning of the first six All Star Games.
Henry Louis Gehrig, (June 19, 1903 – June 2, 1941), nicknamed “the Iron Horse“….was an American baseball first baseman who played his entire professional career (17 seasons) in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, from 1923 until 1939. Gehrig was renowned for his prowess as a hitter and for his durability…..which earned him his nickname “the Iron Horse.” He was an All-Star seven consecutive times….a Triple Crown winner once…and an American League (AL) Most Valuable Player twice….while being a member of six World Series champion teams. He had a career .340 batting average….a career .632 slugging average….and a .447 on base average…..with 493 home runs….and had 1,995 runs batted in (RBI). In 1939, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame….and was the first MLB player to have his uniform number (4) retired by a team.
George Herman “Babe” Ruth Jr. (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948) was an American professional baseball player….whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons from 1914 through 1935. Nicknamed “The Bambino“ and “The Sultan of Swat“, he began his MLB career as a stellar left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox….but achieved his greatest fame as a slugging outfielder for the New York Yankees. Ruth established many MLB batting (and some pitching) records, including career home runs (714), runs batted in (RBIs) (2,213), bases on balls (2,062), slugging percentage (.690) and on-base plus slugging (OPS) (1.164)….whereby the latter two still stand as of 2018. Ruth is regarded as one of the greatest sports heroes in American culture and is considered by many to be the greatest baseball player of all time. In 1936, Ruth was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame as one of its “first five” inaugural members.
Simply put, this video featuring these 5 Hall of Fame Members is “pure gold” in our treasure chest of vintage video memories.
