Enrique Romo
Encyclopedia
Enrique Romo Navarro is a former relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Seattle Mariners
(1977–78) and Pittsburgh Pirates
(1979–82). Romo batted and threw right-handed. He is the younger brother of Vicente Romo
, who also pitched in the majors.
In a six -season career, Romo posted a 44-33 record with a 3.45 ERA
, 52 saves
, and 436 strikeout
s in 350 games pitched
.
Romo pitched 11 seasons in Mexican baseball prior to making his major league debut for the Seattle Mariners in 1977 at the age of 29. In his rookie
season, he led the Mariners with 16 saves. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates after the 1978 season in a multi-player deal which brought, among others, the infamous Mario Mendoza
to the Mariners.
His most productive season came in for World Champion Pittsburgh, when he had a 10-5 mark with a 2.99 ERA including career-highs in games (84) and innings
(129.3), exclusively as a set-up man for closer
Kent Tekulve
. Romo also made two appearances in the World Series
won by Pittsburgh over the Baltimore Orioles
in seven games. In 1980, he slugged a grand slam home run.
In spring training
1983, Romo failed to report to camp. Attempts by the Pirates to locate him failed, and he was released. He is known to have eventually returned to Mexico, as he appeared publicly several years ago with his brother at his induction into the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame in Monterrey.
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played for the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
(1977–78) and Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
(1979–82). Romo batted and threw right-handed. He is the younger brother of Vicente Romo
Vicente Romo
Vicente Romo Navarro , nicknamed "Huevo" , is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. From through , Romo played for the Cleveland Indians , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox , San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers...
, who also pitched in the majors.
In a six -season career, Romo posted a 44-33 record with a 3.45 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
, 52 saves
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
, and 436 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in 350 games pitched
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
.
Romo pitched 11 seasons in Mexican baseball prior to making his major league debut for the Seattle Mariners in 1977 at the age of 29. In his rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
season, he led the Mariners with 16 saves. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates after the 1978 season in a multi-player deal which brought, among others, the infamous Mario Mendoza
Mario Mendoza
Mario Mendoza Aizpuru is a former Major League Baseball infielder. Mendoza, a lifetime 0.215 hitter, is best known as the threshold for batting aptitude, with the "Mendoza Line", meaning a batting average of .200....
to the Mariners.
His most productive season came in for World Champion Pittsburgh, when he had a 10-5 mark with a 2.99 ERA including career-highs in games (84) and innings
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
(129.3), exclusively as a set-up man for closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
Kent Tekulve
Kent Tekulve
Kenton Charles Tekulve is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During a 16-year baseball career, he pitched for three different teams, but spent most of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates...
. Romo also made two appearances in the World Series
1979 World Series
The 1979 World Series matched the National League's Pittsburgh Pirates against the American League's Baltimore Orioles , with the Pirates coming back from a three games to one deficit to win the Series in seven games...
won by Pittsburgh over the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
in seven games. In 1980, he slugged a grand slam home run.
In spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
1983, Romo failed to report to camp. Attempts by the Pirates to locate him failed, and he was released. He is known to have eventually returned to Mexico, as he appeared publicly several years ago with his brother at his induction into the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame in Monterrey.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders
- List of players from Mexico in Major League Baseball