There was a surprising power shift in the American League this year. The Detroit Tigers were coming off a losing season, and had been non-factors in the pennant race for some time. This year, they won the pennant, their first since 1909. The Tiger offense was the best in the league, spurred by the emergence of Hank Greenberg, and the acquisition of Mickey Cochrane. But the pitching staff was also outstanding, and benefitted from two newcomers, Eldon Auker and Schoolboy Rowe.

         The other outstanding Tiger pitcher was Tommy Bridges. Bridges had already had a couple of fine seasons, but this year his team scored some runs for him, and he had his first of three consecutive 20+ win seasons. Bridges may have been Detroit's best pitcher, but certainly Schoolboy Rowe had the more sensational year. After a slow start, Rowe won 16 consecutive decisions, tying the AL record held by Joe Wood, Walter Johnson, and Lefty Grove. Schoolboy was only 24, and followed this big season with two more good ones. But arm problems almost ended his career later in the decade; he managed to come back and pitch well in a limited role for several years, winning 158 games in his career.
        Eldon Auker was also just 24. He was nicknamed "Submarine", for the simple reason that he threw the ball from down under. For most of his career, Auker merely tried to survive without great stuff. He did manage to have some good seasons with the Tigers, and won 130 games in his career. He also had the misfortune this year to start Game Seven of the World Series, which Detroit lost 11-0. That was infamous game in which Tiger fans pelted St. Louis outfielder Joe Medwick with debris, and Commissioner Landis ordered him removed from the game for his own protection (it makes more sense to me to remove the fans- but I guess it doesn't matter when it's 11-0).
        Though they finished in second place, the Yankees still had the best pitching staff in the league. Their brightest star was Lefty Gomez, who had his greatest season. Vernon Gomez won 189 games in his career, and lost only 102; his career numbers are extraordinarily similar to Ron Guidry's. Gomez was nicknamed both "Lefty" and "Goofy"; he was the prototypical flaky left-hander. When asked what the secret to his success was, Gomez replied "Clean living and swift outfielders". Asked if he ever threw a spitball, Gomez replied "Not intentionally, but I sweat easily." He also took credit for inventing the rotating goldfish bowl, for tired goldfish.
        It would take a long time to recount all of the crazy things Gomez did and said during his career; after he retired, he spent many hours weaving yarns about baseball for willing audiences. Once, Gomez was facing Jimmie Foxx, and shook off all of Bill Dickey's signs. Dickey ran out to the mound to ask what Gomez wanted to throw; Gomez's response was that he didn't want to throw anything. Gomez was a slow worker; his philosophy was that as long as he was holding the ball, the opposition couldn't hit it. On another occasion, Gomez was in a tight spot; he fielded a ground ball hit back to him, and threw it to Tony Lazzeri, who was standing in short right field. Asked why he did it, Gomez replied that Lazzeri had a reputation for knowing what to do with a ball, and he wanted to see what Lazzeri would do with that one.
        The greatest Gomez story, of course, is the one about his roommate, Joe DiMaggio. Joltin' Joe was a kid who emulated Tris Speaker in centre field, playing shallow, then running back to catch deep fly balls. Before one game, the brash DiMaggio told reporters that he was going to make them forget Speaker; but during the game, DiMaggio lost a drive to deep centre, and Gomez lost the game. Afterwards, DiMaggio repeated his boast that he would make fans forget Speaker; Gomez heard this, and added: "If you don't start playing deeper, you'll make them forget about Gomez."
        I don't know how many of these Lefty Gomez stories are true, but he was a heck of a pitcher. He was the best in the league this year, and deserves the Cy Young Award. Gomez led all pitchers in MVP voting, followed by Rowe. But after Gomez, I think I'll take Mel Harder, who probably had his best season, followed by teammates Rowe and Bridges.