ROMOS HONORED IN OBREGON, BUT VICENTE LOSES JOB IN MOCHIS

You can’t blame Vicente Romo if life seems a little confusing to him these days. The ex-major leaguer and Mexican pitching legend went from having his number retired in Obregon to having his employment with the Los Mochis Caneros “retired” in a two-day span.

Romo (pictured on right with brother Enrique), who holds several career pitching records in the Mexican Pacific League, had his number 11 retired along with brother Enrique’s number 45 in Obregon during a November 20 pregame ceremony at Estadio Tomas Oroz Gaytan. The two brothers combined to win 91 games for the Yaquis during their respective playing careers (Enrique won 58 while Vicente won 33), and were moundmates for Obregon’s 1972-73 title team under manager Dave Garcia. The Romo brothers become the fifth and sixth players to have their numbers retired in Yaquis team history.

The warm afterglow was abruptly interrupted two days later when Vicente was fired as a pitching coach in Mochis along with ex-Brewers star Teddy Higuera. Caneros team president Joaquin Vega wielded the axe before publicly giving a vote of confidence to an undoubtedly-reassured manager Che Reyes.

OBREGON TO RETIRE PITCHING BROTHERS’ NUMBERS

Two brothers whose respective pitching careers spanned from Mexico to the Major Leagues will have their numbers retired by the Obregon Yaquis in November. Vicente (#24) and Enrique (#11) Romo will be honored in a ceremony at Obregon’s Estadio Tomás Oroz Gaytan.

Vicente Romo (pictured on left) pitched MLB ball in the 60’s and 70’s while also excelling in winterball for the Yaquis, Culiacan and Hermosillo. He pitched the LMP’s first perfect game and is the league’s all-time leader in wins (182), strikeouts (2,038), complete games (178) and ERA (2.38). He won 182 more times in the LMB.

As a 29-year-old MLB rookie, Enrique Romo (pictured on right) led the expansion Seattle Mariners with 16 saves and a 2.83 ERA in 1977 and was a member of Pittsburgh’s World Series champions in 1979. Enrique led the LMP in winning percentage three times and had a 95-65 career winter record with a 2.72 ERA.

Both Romo brothers have been enshrined in the Salon de la Fama, Vicente in 1992 and Enrique in 2003.