Vicente Romo

Vicente Romo Navarro (born April 12, 1943) is a Mexican former professional baseball pitcher. A right-hander, Romo played all or parts of eight seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1968 and 1982, primarily as a relief pitcher. He had an extensive career in Mexico, where his career spanned 25 seasons from 1962–86, and he was elected to the Salón de la Fama del Beisbol Profesional de México (the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame) in 1992. He is the older brother of fellow major league pitcher Enrique Romo.

Early life Romo was born on April 12, 1943, in Santa Rosalía, Baja California Sur, Mexico, but the family later moved to Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico. He was nicknamed "Huevo" (meaning egg in Spanish) as a small child. His father Santos had been a professional boxer. He played soccer and volleyball as a youth, but at 16-years old became a third baseman for an amateur baseball team. His younger brother Enrique also played Mexican League baseball and would also go on to pitch in the major leagues.

Professional career

Minor leagues Romo, who continued to carry the nickname Huevo throughout his career,

In 1965, Cleveland assigned Romo to its Triple-A affiliate, the Portland Beavers, of the Pacific Coast League (PCL). He pitched in 28 games, starting seven, with a 4.50 earned run average (ERA) and 2–5 won-loss record. He had a sore muscle in his pitching arm that year, and could not throw his curve ball. He made the Indians spring training roster in 1967,

Romo had been so upset by his poor play for Portland at one point, that he was going to give up on playing in the United States. However, future MLB manager and personal friend Preston Gomez convinced Romo to continue pursuing a professional baseball career in the United states. The Dodgers had earlier tried purchasing his contract rights in 1966 from the Tigres for $30,000, but then learned Cleveland held those rights. This was his only appearance for the Dodgers in 1968. After going two weeks without appearing in a game, Romo was returned to the Indians on April 26, and assigned to Portland, who paid $12,500 for Romo's rights. The Indians recalled him at the end of June. During the last three months of the season, Romo appeared in 40 games for the Indians (39 in relief), posting a team-best 12 saves and a 1.62 earned run average. He was tied for fourth best in the AL for saves. Cleveland tied with the Baltimore Orioles for the AL's best team ERA (2.66).

Boston Red Sox After making three relief appearances for Cleveland in April 1969, Romo was traded along with Sonny Siebert and Joe Azcue from the Indians to the Boston Red Sox for Ken Harrelson, Dick Ellsworth and Juan Pizarro on April 19. After joining the Red Sox, he saved nine of the team's next 24 wins.

He made 11 starts down the stretch, posting a 5–2 record, including his only career shutout on September 18 against the 1969 AL champion Baltimore Orioles (who had the second highest team batting average and second most runs scored in the AL in 1969). Overall, he went 7–9 with 11 saves, a 3.18 ERA, four complete games as a starter and 27 games finished as a reliever for the Red Sox. Lyle pitched 71 games in relief, finished 44 games and had 17 saves.

Romo began the 1970 season back in the bullpen, occasionally being called upon to make a spot start. In an April 27 start against the Oakland A's, he defeated future Hall of Fame pitcher Catfish Hunter, 4–3; his only win as a starter that year. He started his next game on May 2, without a decision.

In late July, he was moved back to the starting rotation once more, but this time did not fare as well overall as in 1969. He was 1–3 as a starter with a 6.10 ERA on the season, and 6–0 as a relief pitcher with a 2.43 ERA.

White Sox and Padres In 1971, Romo was traded at the end of spring training with Tony Muser to the Chicago White Sox, for Duane Josephson and Danny Murphy. Romo began the 1972 season with a 3–0 record and 2.93 ERA in 46 innings, until being placed on the disabled list in late July with a sore arm. He returned in early September, but pitched less than six innings over the remainder of the season. Overall in 1972, he pitched 28 games in relief, finished eight, with one save and a 3.31 ERA.

He was traded again after the 1972 season to the San Diego Padres for Johnny Jeter, With the Padres, he was given a few more opportunities to close. In 1973, he pitched 48 of his 49 games in relief, finishing 23 games, with a 3.70 ERA and seven saves. In 1974, he pitched 53 of his 54 games in relief, finishing 35, and leading the team in saves with nine, with a 4.56 ERA. Despite that, he was released by the Padres during spring training in 1975.

Return to Mexico Romo returned to his native Mexico, signing with the Cafeteros de Córdoba. He pitched four seasons with Córdoba, then three more with the Azules de Coatzacoalcos. but struggled, going 0–1 with a 5.40 ERA in his first four starts.

After one relief appearance, he pitched seven scoreless innings against the Montreal Expos on July 19 for his first major league victory since 1974, and first as a starter since 1970. and missed the rest of the season. His contract was sold back to the Azules after the season. In 2010, Romo and his brother Enrique had their uniform numbers retired by Yaquis de Obregón of the Mexican Winter League.

Personal life Romo worked as a mechanic in the off-season.