[1][2] He attended Lawrence High School, but transferred to and graduated from Phillips Academy Andover after two years.

While a student at Yale, Broaca spent the summers of 1930 to 1932 playing for the Orleans town team in the Cape Cod Baseball League.

[3][4][2][5] His baseball coach at Yale was former Boston Red Sox pitching star Smoky Joe Wood.

Despite being suspended for his entire senior season for refusing to take part in a May exhibition game, Broaca attracted the attention of legendary Yankee scout Paul Krichell.

He then traveled to Yankee Stadium for a weekend workout, and fellow Ivy Leaguer Lou Gehrig persuaded manager Joe McCarthy that he was ready for the majors.

He was only heard from again in September, when his wife filed for divorce on grounds of severe abuse at his hands; she claimed he went into fits of rage and started beating her a month into their marriage.

[6][1] The Yankees were so outraged by what emerged in the trial that they voted Broaca's wife a $1,000 World Series share.