The Yankees signed Vernon "Lefty" Gomez from his hometown San Francisco Seals in 1929 -- he went on to pitch for them from 1930-1942. He had a blazing fastball and sweeping curve, but was also remembered for his wit and good humor -- another nickname was "El Goofy."
Gomez was a 20-game winner four times and twice won the pitching Triple Crown in 1934 and 1937. He set a World Series record by winning six games without a loss. He was the winning pitcher for the first all-star game in 1933 and drove in the first run of the game. He became the second Hispanic player to be inducted into the Hall. For more information on Gomez, visit Latino Sports Legends.
Lefty is buried in San Rafael. To find this cache, you will have to look at his grave and the marker immediately to the right of his. Find the numbers on the marker just to the left of Vernona and label them ABCD. Find the last numbers on the marker for Duane and label the last four digits (the most recent year) EFGH. The final coordinates are:
N37° 59.CDB, W122° 33.HE[G-E].
The number in brackets is a single numeral, without multiplication. You will be able to find Lefty's grave between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, daily. If you have a hard time spotting it, the hint might help. The cache itself is in the San Rafael Ridge area of the Marin County open space. You can continue up the cemetery road to where there is parking and follow a fire road a short distance to the cache, or walk over from Sorich Park in San Anselmo.
The cache is in the nearby Open Space, and I recommend approaching it from that side rather than following your GPSr straight up the hill. The coordinates had a 30 foot accuracy. Please make sure you return it so that the container remains hidden from casual observers.
Dogs are not allowed in the cemetery, but are permitted in the open space district from Sorich Park.
If you are driving past Fairfax, be sure to look for "Lefty Gomez Field" at the White Hill School on your way out of town. After you have found this cache, perhaps you will feel a personal connection or can recite facts from Lefty's life to your friends or family.