Former Hoboken N.J. Born Italian / American Catcher: Johnny Romano (1958-1967)

-
John Anthony Romano Jr. was born on August 23, 1934 in Hoboken, New Jersey. At a young age his uncle gave him the nickname of “honey” which would stick withhim. His father was a semi pro base ball player and taught Johnny to play the game. The five foot ten inch, two hundred pound catcher, got signed by the Chicago White Sox in 1954.

He then put up some impressive numbers in the minor leagues. Romano bashed 38 HRs while batting .351 at Waterloo in 1955 winning the MVP Award, getting promoted to the Pacific Coast League the next year. He soon set a minor league record by hitting HRs in seven straight games. In 1957 he played at AAA Indianapolis under Former New York Giants catcher Walker Cooper the teams manager. Cooper helped Romano work on his catching abilities. In 1958 he hit .291 with 25 HRs & 89 RBIs getting his big league call up.

He debuted in the big leagues in 1958 playing briefly with the White Sox for two seasons. There he learned even more about the art of catching from manager Al Lopez, one of the best catchers of his era. In 1959 Romano batted .294 with .407 on base % , five HRs & 25 RBIs in just 126 at bats (53 games) for the A.L. Champion (Go Go) Chicago White Sox. In the World Series he got one at bat going hitless. In December 1959 he was traded with Norm Cash and Bubba Phillips to the Cleveland Indians for Dick Brown, Don Ferrarese, Minnie Minoso and Jake Striker. It was in Cleveland he would have his best years.

In 1961 he made his first of two straight All Star appearances, batting .299 with 21 HRs 29 doubles a .39 on base % & 80 RBIs. That season he set a club mark for catchers with a 22 game hitting streak, later broken by Ray Fosse in 1970. He threw out 40% of would be base stealers over the next three seasons, averaging a .990 fielding percentage. In 1961 he was first in the league throwing out 31 base runners; he would come in second & third in that category over the next two years.

In 1962 he had career highs in HRs (25) RBIs (81) 7 triples (3) while batting .261. He was injured part of the next season and after a .242 batting averahe & 19 HR year in 1964 he was Traded in a three-team deal. Romano went back to the White Sox along with future Met Tommie Agee and Tommy John, other notables involved in the trade were Rocky Colavito & Cam Carreon, former Met Mark Carreon’s dad.

He spent two more seasons with the White Sox hitting over 15 HRs both times, and playing a solid defense behind the plate. In 1965 he led all catchers in assists with 61. He was traded to the St. Louis Cards in 1967 for Walt “no neck” Williams & Don Denis. He played in 24 games for the ’67 World Champion Cardinals behind Tim McCarver & Don Ricketts, but did not play in the World Series.

Retirement: Romano retired after the season, batting .255 lifetime with 706 hits 129 HRs 112 doubles & 417 RBIs. He posted a .990 fielding percentage throwing out 35% of would be base stealers.

After his playing days he sold swimming pools in New Jersey & worked for the offices of Bergen County, New Jersey. He retired in Naples, Florida and has taken up the hobby of flying model airplanes.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mike Piazza To Enter Hall of Fame As a New York Met

-
Image
In case there was any doubt, Mike Piazza announced today that he will be entering the hallowed Halls of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, forever wearing a Mets cap. "I'm going in as a New York Met" he said. These are words that bring a smile to all Mets fans faces & maybe a tear in their eye. It's a sigh of relief that Piazza got what he worked so hard for & certainly deserved. He now joins Tom Seaver as the second Met to officially enter as a New York Met. It has been a great year for the New York Mets & their fans as well. It certainly is much deserved. From the team reigning as National League Champions to Piazza entering the Hall of Fame, it's great to be a Mets fan. The induction ceremony will take place July 24th at Cooperstown New York.              http://m.mets.mlb.com/news/article/161281068/mike-piazza-to-wear-mets-cap-in-hall-of-fame
Read more

Remembering Four Time Mets All Star Catcher & Coach- John Stearns (1951 - 2022)

-
Image
John Harden Stearns was born August 21, 1951, in Denver Colorado. At age 17, he was originally drafted in 1969 by the Oakland A's but chose to attend the University of Colorado instead.  Stearns became a star baseball & football player at the University of Colorado.  In 1971 his older brother was drafted by the AL New York club, also as a catcher but never made the bog leagues. Bad Dude: As a defensive back, Stearns felt he had to hit harder than anyone else on the defense. So when Sports Illustrated asked how he'd like to be descried on the field, he said as a "Bad Dude". The name stuck & certainly played out his career living up to the moniker.  I n 1972 Stearns was drafted by the NFL's Buffalo Bills as a defensive back but did not sign. The next year in 1973, he was the first pick of the Philadelphia Phillies in the MLB draft, he was the second overall pick after behind Clyde Wright. Stearns was chosen ahead of future Hall of Famers, Robin You
Read more

Remembering Mets History: (1978) Tough Guy John Stearns Wins Out In Home Plate Collision With Dave Parker

-
Image
Friday June 30th, 1978: Joe Torre's fifth place Mets (33-45) were in Pittsburgh at Three Rivers Stadium to play Chuck Tanner's fourth place Pirates (35-38) in a weekend series. A nice crowd of 31,947 came out as the Mets; Nino Espinosa (6-7) went up against rookie Don Robinson (4-2). Nino Espinosa would lead the 1978 Mets staff with eleven wins (11-15) & tie for most losses. He pitched 203 innings but struck out just 76 batters & walked 75. In the top of the 3rd inning, Mets pitcher Nino Espinosa doubled, Len Randle singled & Tim Foli brought in the first run with a sac fly. The two pitchers both pitched well as the game stayed 1-0 until the 5th inning. In the Pirates 5th, Phil Garner doubled & stole third. He scored on Frank Taveras base hit to tie the game. In the home 7th, the Garner doubled again. Ken Macha then doubled & shortstop Frank Taveras singled again to make it 3-1 Pirates. In the top of the 8th, Lenny Randle & Tim Foli bo
Read more

Remembering Mets History: (1980) John Stearns Tackles A Fan On the Playing Field

-
Image
Thursday June 12th, 1980 : A Shea Stadium crowd of 19,501 fans came out to Shea Stadium, for this series finale, hoping the Mets could sweep the Los Angeles Dodgers. Joe Torre's fourth place Mets (26-27) were trying to get to .500 as they hosted Tommy Lasorda's second place Los Angeles Dodgers (32-24).  The Mets sent John Pacella & his classic moustache, to the mound going up against L.A.'s Dave Goltz. Goltz had led the AL in wins (20) & starts (39) playing for the Minnesota Twins in 1977. It was a wild series that already had had a bench clearing brawl two days earlier. That fight started when the Mets' Pat Zachry hit Ron Cey with a pitch after two Dodger HRs. In the 1st inning, Pacella walked Davey Lopes, then balked. Catcher, John Stearns threw out Lopes trying to steal third. In the top of the 2nd, Dusty Baker singled & Ron Cey walked. Rookie catcher, Mike Scioscia then hit an RBI double scoring Baker for a 1-0 Dodger lead. In the Dodger 3rd, Bill Ru
Read more

Remembering Vixen Founder / Guitarist; Jan Kuehnemund (1961-2013)

-
Image
centerfieldmaz was shocked to learn of the sudden passing of Jan Kuehnemund, the founding member of the all female metal band Vixen. Jan was a fantastic guitarist, song writer & women pioneer in Heavy Metal. I am a huge fan of hard rock all girl bands & Vixen were one my long time favorites. Janice Lynn Kuehnemund was born November 18th, 1961 in St. Paul Minnesota. The female guitarist formed one of the first all female Metal bands in Minnesota with singer Janet Gardner while in high school in 1980. By 1985 they moved the band to Los Angles California, to be part of the Heavy Metal scene. In 1987 the classic Vixen line up of Jan Kuehnemund (lead guitar) Janet Gardner (vocals/ guitar) Share Pederson (bass) & Roxy Petrucci (drums) formed & released their debut album the following year. Vixen 1988 In a world of all male Heavy Metal bands during its heyday, Vixen were groundbreaking in being an all female metal band. The Runaways, with Joan Jett & Lita Ford
Read more