Ken Schrom

Ken Schrom
Pitcher
Born: (1954-11-23) November 23, 1954 (age 70)
Grangeville, Idaho, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 8, 1980, for the Toronto Blue Jays
Last MLB appearance
October 3, 1987, for the Cleveland Indians
MLB statistics
Win–loss record51–51
Earned run average4.81
Strikeouts372
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Kenneth Marvin Schrom (born November 23, 1954) is a former major league baseball pitcher and current minor league executive.

Selected in the 17th round of the 1976 MLB amateur draft by the California Angels, Schrom pitched for seven seasons in the majors (1980, 1982–1987), for the Toronto Blue Jays,[1] Minnesota Twins (1983–85), and Cleveland Indians (1986–87) of the American League.[2] While with Cleveland, he was selected for the American League All-Star team in 1986, but did not play.

During his major league career, Schrom appeared in 176 games with 137 starts and 22 complete games, throwing 900 innings. His record was 51–51 with an ERA of 4.81. His playing career ended in the spring of 1989 with a shoulder injury.[3] Schrom remained in baseball, serving in the front office of several minor league clubs. He spent over fifteen years with the El Paso Diablos, a team he had played with in the late 1970s.

Schrom is currently the president of the Corpus Christi Hooks of the Texas League, the AA affiliate of the Houston Astros.[4]

High school and college

Born and raised in Grangeville, Idaho, Schrom graduated from Grangeville High School in 1973, where he won 11 athletic letters and was an all-state selection in football, basketball, and baseball.[5][6][7] Selected in the tenth round of the 1973 MLB amateur draft by the Minnesota Twins, the right-hander opted for college and accepted a scholarship to the University of Idaho in Moscow to pitch for the Vandals in baseball and play quarterback on the football team.[8]

Schrom was the back-up QB as a redshirt sophomore in 1975,[6][9] coached by offensive coordinator Dennis Erickson under head coach Ed Troxel. An excellent pure passer, he had to forego spring football practice to play baseball.[10][11] At the time, Idaho ran the veer, an option offense which exposed the quarterback to continual contact with the defense. After hurting his left (non-throwing) shoulder in football, Schrom did not want to hurt his right and turned pro after his junior year of baseball (spring 1976).[12] He is a member of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity.[13][14]

Schrom completed his degree in education in increments during the baseball off-season[15] and graduated in 1980.

References

  1. ^ Ramsdell, Paul (August 15, 1980). "Blue Jays find relief in Grangeville's Ken Schrom". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. B1.
  2. ^ Weaver, Dan (December 6, 1986). "Home, home on the Grange". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. C1.
  3. ^ "Idaho Hall of Fame to induct five past superstars". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. (Idaho-Washington). February 28, 1995. p. 1C.
  4. ^ cchooks.com – president – Ken Schrom – accessed 2012-04-05
  5. ^ Barrows, Bob (April 12, 1973). "Hollywood wouldn't believe Grangeville's Schrom". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 21.
  6. ^ a b Barrows, Bob (October 25, 1980). "Ken Schrom glad he switched to baseball". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 5B.
  7. ^ "Schrom hurls no-hitter". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). April 23, 1973. p. 20.
  8. ^ Barrows, Bob (June 24, 1979). "Open doors". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1C.
  9. ^ Payne, Bob (September 7, 1975). "Troxel sees Idaho in thick of chase". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. D6.
  10. ^ Missildine, Harry (May 6, 1976). "Spring progress pleases Troxel". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 49.
  11. ^ "Ken Schrom completes star-struck Moscow week". Idahonian. (Moscow). December 5, 1986. p. 21.
  12. ^ Blanchette, John (July 3, 1983). "Schrom thrives as a Twin for love, not money". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. D1.
  13. ^ "Delta Sigma Phi". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1974. p. 240.
  14. ^ "Delta Sigma Phi". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1975. p. 167.
  15. ^ Barrows, Bob (October 26, 1978). "Schrom: once a UI QB, he gave it up to chase a pro baseball career". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. B1.