Suffolk

Mike 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 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).