Steve Gromek, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetSteve Gromek
American baseball player
Date of Birth: 15-Jan-1920
Place of Birth: Hamtramck, Michigan, United States
Date of Death: 12-Mar-2002
Profession: baseball player
Nationality: United States
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn 
About Steve Gromek
- Stephen Joseph Gromek (January 15, 1920 – March 12, 2002) was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for 17 seasons in the American League with the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers.
- In 447 career games, Gromek pitched 2,064? innings and posted a win–loss record of 123–108 with 92 complete games, 17 shutouts, and a 3.41 earned run average (ERA). Born in Hamtramck, Michigan, Gromek originally began playing professionally with the Indians organization as an infielder, but became a pitcher early on, and made his major league debut in 1941.
- He played sparingly his first three years before becoming an everyday starter in 1944 and 1945, earning his lone All-Star appearance in the latter year.
- After the war ended, he became a spot starter, spending time as both a starting pitcher and relief pitcher.
- Gromek was the winning pitcher in game four of the 1948 World Series with the Cleveland Indians.
- His career is best remembered for a post game celebratory photo taken of him hugging Larry Doby, the first black player in the American League, whose third inning home run provided the margin of victory.
- The photo became a symbol for integration in baseball.Gromek remained in the spot starter role with the Indians until 1953, when he was traded to the Tigers.
- The Tigers used him solely as a starting pitcher, and had 18 wins in his first full season with them in 1954.
- He played two more full seasons with the Tigers, and retired during the 1957 season.
- Gromek then became a player-manager for the Erie Sailors for one year, became a car insurance sales representative after his retirement, and died in 2002.
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