Hall of Fame Series: Baseball’s Mike Romano, BS ’83, MBA ’96

Hall of Fame Series: Baseball’s Mike Romano, BS ’83, MBA ’96

BOSTON – Over the next few weeks, GoSuffolkRams.com will take a look at the student-athletes and team to be inducted into the Suffolk University Athletics Hall of Fame this October. Our next installment features a minor league backstop, Mike Romano, BS '83, MBA '96

Romano was said to have had the strongest throwing arm of any college catcher of his era. When Suffolk's staff would get in a jam, it would keep its composure because they knew Romano would pick the guy off for them. 

Never a robust hitter, the righty's strength was behind the plate, where the 6-3, 200-pounder had great agility, quickness and the ability to get the most out of his pitchers. He would command the contests, knowing which pitch to call and when. Romano was the starting backstop for four successive seasons, starting in 1979. 

When he traded his catcher's mask for a batters helmet he aided to the Rams offense. Romano hit .368, .350, .330 and .360 as a senior. Those numbers added up to a career batting average of .352. 

Not only was his individual success standout, but the teams he was a part of were second to none. He helped Suffolk finish in the Top 10 in Division III in New England as a freshman, sophomore and senior, respectively.

Romano, who had great memories throughout his entire Suffolk career, said his senior season stood out from the year. "This was the year we rose to the No. 1 ranking in Division III in New England," Romano said. "We were ranked No. 10 then rattled off five consecutive road victories against teams ahead of us in the ranks; Brandeis, Babson, Bentley, UMass Lowell and Bryant University to rise from No. 10 to No. 1."

That year, he took home Division III All-New England honors. 

Romano's career would continue after his Suffolk days as he became the first-positional player and third-ever Ram to be drafted to the major leagues behind fellow Suffolk Hall of Fame hurler Ron Corbett and Bill Fulginite.

At 21-years-old, Romano heard his name called by the Cincinnati Reds in the 15th round of the 1982 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft. The 389th overall pick went on to play four seasons of in the minors. 

Romano swapped his cleats for dress shoes and currently works as the Senior Vice President of Global Sales for a government consulting company based in Washington DC. Although his company's base is in the nation's capital, he currently resides in San Clemente, California, with his wife, Kristin. They have three daughters, Alexa (23), Elysha (20) and Jillia (18). 

The 2019 Hall of Fame Class features seven record setting Rams and one unforgettable team. These honorees join 57 existing Suffolk University Athletic Hall of Fames, including  42 student-athletes, four head coaches, eight teams and three special honorees.

Romano is 11th baseball player to be inducted into the Suffolk University Athletics Hall of Fame, including multi-sport athletes, and is one of two ball players to be enshrined as part of the 2019 Class.    

The 2019 Suffolk University Athletics Hall of fame Induction Ceremony will be held on Friday, Oct. 25 at Suffolk University's Sarget Hall Atrium and Function Room at 6:30 p.m. Tickets to the event can be purchased here.


THE SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME
The Suffolk University Athletics Hall of Fame will recognize the outstanding achievements of former athletes, coaches and others who have played a most significant role in the history of athletics at our University. 


For a more insider's look on the 2019 Suffolk University Athletics Hall of Fame Class be on the lookout for the Hall of Fame series, which will be published on GoSuffolkRams.com leading up to the event. Specific publication dates on inductees are below: