Enrique Romo

Enrique Romo Navarro (born July 15, 1947) is a Mexican former professional baseball relief pitcher who played for the Seattle Mariners (1977–78) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1979–82). Romo batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Santa Rosalía, Baja California Sur, and is the younger brother of Vicente Romo, who also pitched in the majors.

Enrique Romo
Romo in 1978
Pitcher
Born: (1947-07-15) July 15, 1947
Santa Rosalía, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 7, 1977, for the Seattle Mariners
Last MLB appearance
October 1, 1982, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
Win–loss record44–33
Earned run average3.45
Strikeouts436
Saves52
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Member of the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction2003

Career

In a six-season career, Romo posted a 44–33 record with a 3.45 ERA, 52 saves, and 436 strikeouts 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.[1]

His most productive season came in 1979 for World Series Champion Pittsburgh, with whom he had a 10–5 mark, a 2.99 ERA, 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 1983, Romo failed to report to spring training, first indicating he would arrive late due to one of his children dealing with chicken pox,[2] and then later not attending at all, announcing the intention to join an unsanctioned league in Mexico.[3] Pittsburgh warned Romo that such a move would require them to fine him $500 for each day of camp that he missed;[2] ultimately, Romo remained in Mexico.[4]

Legacy

Along with his brother Vicente, Romo is a member of the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 2003.[5] In 2010, the Romo brothers had their uniform numbers retired by Yaquis de Obregón of the Mexican Winter League.[6] In 2015, Romo was announced as being part of the 2016 induction class of the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame.[7]

See also
  • List of players from Mexico in Major League Baseball

References
  1. Ranier, Bill; Finoli, David (May 19, 2005). When the Bucs Won It All: The 1979 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates. McFarland. ISBN 9780786420506. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  2. "Right-handed relief pitcher Enrique Romo informed the Pittsburgh Pirates..." UPI. UPI. March 3, 1983. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  3. "Phillies, Carlton strike a deal" (PDF). nyshistoricnewspapers.org. Press-Republican. March 4, 1983. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  4. "TALENTED EXPOS, CHANGED DODGERS COULD DOMINATE". The New York Times. The New York Times. April 3, 1983. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  5. Otero, Salo (July 13, 2003). "Three former Tecos to join Mexican League Hall of Fame" (PDF). Laredo Morning Times. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 13, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  6. Baskin, Bruce (November 1, 2010). "Baseball Mexico - OurSports Central". www.oursportscentral.com. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  7. "Orlando Hernandez, Jesse Orosco, Edgar Renteria, Ivan Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa & Omar Vizquel named to Latino Baseball Hall of Fame". Major League Baseball. August 21, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
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