The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1954-07-09

Good Defense
More than $4,000. fans turned
out for Gromeck's 80 opening-day
shutout of the Baltimore Orioles
this year. Curiosity was aroused
when four rockies turned out that
day. Gromeck was at his best but
he emphasized an important factor
which made great difference in the
Tigers pitching a speedy out
field, including jim Delsing and
Rockies Bill Tuttle and All Kaiine,
and an improved infield, with Walt
Dropo, Ray Boone, Harvey Kuenn,
and Rookie Frank Boiling.
BEST defense l ever had behind
me-" said Gromek.
Gromek received heavy duty and
Rookie Frank Boiling was life
saver in one play. Boiling, 22-year-
old second baseman from Mobile,
Ala, laShed out a home run off Don
Larsen into the left field stands.
He handled five chances efficiently,
made the pivot on a double play
with Harvey Kuenn, and saved
Grom e k embarrassment with a
leaping stab of Eddie Waitkus'
looping fly to center field with
two men on base.
Al the age OF ~ Gromek
signed contract with Cleveland.
In the spring OF 1889 the club
sent the Six-foof, fwo-ineh year.
ling TO the Mountain States
League, and later transferred
him TO Mansfield in the Ohio
State League.
All this time Steve was an
infielder, but he hit around 200,
something less than satisfactory.
AT the start of the 1910 season
he was with Fargo-Moorhead in
the Northern League and then
shifted to Flint, in the Michigan
State League. He was still an
infielder and the best batting
average he had ever compiled
was PAT.
Jack Knight was managing the
Flint team and he switched Gro
mex to the outfield, but Steve's
batting did not improve and Knight
decided there was only one thing
left for him to do. He converted
Gromek into a pitcher.
When the Flint roster for 1941
was published, Gromek was listed
as a pitcher and he responded by
winning his first IA games.
knight did me great favor by
converting me into pitcher, +"
Steve asserts. Il realize l could
never have hit we'll enough to make
good in the big leagues as an in
fielder, outfielder, or catcher" +"
Cleveland called him up near
the end of the 1941 season, used
him in 23 innings, and he finish
ed with . IL record. The next
Two seasons he started with Bal.
timore and finished with cleve-
land and in 1914 he settled down
with Cleveland.
For years the Detroit Tigers we're
after Gromek's name on contract.
They were always offering Cieye-
land some proposition.
The Indians, however, refused to
let him go. He remained with the
Tribe and not until June Is, 1858,
the deadline for trading, were the
Tigers successful in grabbing him
in a big package swap. Gromek
had spent ten years with Cleveland,
winning 78 and losing 81 games.
His biggest year was 1945 when he
won 10 and lost 8. For the past
several seasons he was a relief pit
cher for the Indians and the Tigers
used him IN the same role after he
joined them last year. This year
he is the sparkplug in the Motor
City's American League entry
Gromek is we'll liked by all his
associates. This Catholic ball player
works hard at perfection and en-
joys, as hobbies. basketball and
movies. In the off-season he oper-
ates bowling alley in Detroit.
81. Lads Grad
Although he has moved his grow
ing family into the suburbs of
Detroit, his birthplace, Hamtramck,
still claims him. He is the lone
contribution Hamtramek has made
to the major leagues the city noted
for its tennis players, not its base
bali players). When local news
paper reported Steve mad been
graduated from Hamtramck High
School, the st. Ladislaus Alumni
Association informed the editor of
the error in no uncertain terms.
Steve, the alumni told the editor,
is st. Ladislaus' most prominent
graduate.