Broaca was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts and was of Lithuanian descent. He attended Lawrence High School, but transferred to and graduated from Phillips Academy after two years. He continued his education at Yale University. While at Yale, he was a tri-sport athlete, competing in baseball, boxing, and track.\n', '

In his rookie season with the New York Yankees in 1934, Broaca went 12–9 as a starter with an earned run average of 4.16. In 1935, he had his most successful statistical season, where he went 15–7 with an ERA of 3.58. In 1936, the year the Yankees won the World Series, Broaca was 12–7 with an ERA of 4.24.\n', '

In 1937, after starting the season with a disappointing 1–4 record, Broaca abruptly left the team with his wife eight months pregnant—becoming the first player to jump the team in at least a quarter-century. He was only heard from again in September, when his wife filed for divorce on grounds of severe abuse at his hands. The Yankees were so outraged by what emerged in the trial that they voted Broaca\'s wife a $1,000 World Series share. His hiatus from baseball extended into the entire 1938 season. It was rumored at the time that Broaca\'s wife was involved in affairs with a number of his Yankees teammates.\n', '

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