Ken Schrom – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Ken Schrom built a solid seven-season career in Major League Baseball, pitching from 1980 through 1987 for three American League teams. Born November 23, 1954, this right-handed pitcher from Grangeville, Idaho, worked his way through the minors after the California Angels picked him in the 17th round of the 1976 amateur draft.

Schrom wrapped up his MLB career with a 51-51 record across 178 games, pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, and Cleveland Indians. Along the way, he picked up AL All-Star honors in 1986 and earned the Twins Pitcher of the Year award in 1983, when he won a career-best 15 games.

His career shows what mid-rotation starters went through in the 1980s. Schrom developed his skills in the Angels’ system and faced some tough stretches with Cleveland at the end.

His story has the highs of All-Star recognition, the steady grind of a middle-tier pitcher, and the jump to life after baseball as a minor league executive.

Ken Schrom’s Baseball Career Overview

Ken Schrom pitched in the majors for seven seasons between 1980 and 1987. He finished with a 51-51 record and a 4.81 ERA over 176 games.

He played for three American League teams and made the All-Star team in 1986.

Major League Debut and Early Years

Schrom made his MLB debut on August 8, 1980, with the Toronto Blue Jays at age 25. The California Angels had drafted him in the 17th round back in 1976 after he left the University of Idaho as a junior.

He saw brief action with Toronto in 1980 and 1982. Schrom appeared in limited games during those seasons as he tried to find his footing in the majors.

Things started rolling when he joined the Minnesota Twins in 1983. He spent three seasons with Minnesota, from 1983 to 1985, and became a regular starter.

During his time with the Twins, Schrom picked up most of his career wins. He improved a lot as he got more experience and regular turns in the rotation.

Retirement in 1987 and Final MLB Game

Schrom spent his final MLB seasons with the Cleveland Indians from 1986 to 1987. His best year came in 1986, when he made the American League All-Star team, though he didn’t get into the game.

He played his last MLB game on October 3, 1987, for Cleveland. That game closed out his seven-season big league career.

A shoulder injury in spring 1989 ended Schrom’s playing days. The injury forced him to walk away from professional baseball.

After retiring as a player, Schrom stayed in the game by moving into front office roles with minor league teams. He spent over fifteen years with the El Paso Diablos and later became president of the Corpus Christi Hooks.

Career Statistics and Achievements

Schrom wrapped up his MLB career with a 51-51 win-loss record in 176 games. He started 137 times and went the distance in 22 games, tossing a total of 900 innings.

He posted a career ERA of 4.81 and struck out 372 batters. These numbers show he gave his teams consistent innings through his seven seasons.

Career Highlights:

• All-Star selection (1986)
• 22 complete games
• 900 innings pitched
• Played for three AL teams

Schrom’s 1986 All-Star selection with Cleveland stands out as his top achievement. That honor recognized his value to the Indians’ pitching staff.

His dead-even win-loss record shows the kind of steady, reliable pitcher he was for several organizations in the 1980s.

Teams Played For

Ken Schrom played for three American League teams during his seven-year MLB career from 1980 to 1987. He started out with the Toronto Blue Jays, had his best years with the Minnesota Twins, and finished with the Cleveland Indians.

Toronto Blue Jays Years

Ken Schrom kicked off his big league career with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1980. He debuted on August 8, 1980, marking his first step into the majors.

His time with Toronto came in two stints. He first played for the Blue Jays as a rookie in 1980.

After some time in the minors, Schrom returned to the Blue Jays in 1982. During those years, he worked hard to prove himself as a reliable big league pitcher.

Toronto gave Schrom his first shot at the majors. Those early seasons with the Blue Jays really shaped his development.

Minnesota Twins Tenure

The Minnesota Twins became Schrom’s home from 1983 to 1985. Those three seasons were the most successful of his career.

In 1983, Schrom took home the Twins Pitcher of the Year award. He won a career-high 15 games that season and became a key part of the rotation.

He spent three full seasons with the Twins. Schrom’s steady pitching made him a valuable member of their staff.

The Twins years proved Schrom could handle a full-time starting role. He showed he could succeed at the highest level.

Cleveland Indians Era

Ken Schrom moved to the Cleveland Indians in 1986 and played his last two seasons there. This stretch brought him his biggest individual honor and also saw the end of his career.

In 1986, Schrom made the American League All-Star team. He earned that spot after starting the season 10-2, though he didn’t actually pitch in the All-Star Game.

His final year in 1987 didn’t go as well. Schrom finished with a 6-13 record and a 6.50 ERA, a big drop-off from the year before.

Schrom’s last MLB appearance came on October 3, 1987, against the California Angels. That game closed the book on his time with the Indians and his entire major league career.

Pitching Performance and Style

Ken Schrom went 51-51 with a 4.81 ERA over seven big league seasons, mainly as a starting pitcher for three teams. His final season in 1987 with Cleveland was rough and led to his retirement.

Role as a Pitcher

Schrom served as a starting pitcher for most of his career. He threw and hit right-handed, stood 6’2″, and weighed about 195 pounds.

His best stretch came with the Minnesota Twins from 1983 to 1985. He settled into the rotation and became a steady presence.

In 1986, Schrom posted his best season record, going 14-7 with the Twins. He started 33 games, pitched 206 innings, and had a 4.54 ERA.

He made 34 starts that year, showing real durability. His WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) landed at 1.29 for the season.

Schrom’s role shifted a bit in 1987 with Cleveland. He started 29 of his 32 games but had trouble staying consistent.

Notable Games and Wins

Schrom’s career-best 14 wins in 1986 marked his peak. That was the only time he hit double-digit wins twice, after winning 9 games in 1985.

His 1987 season turned out to be a struggle. He went 6-13 with Cleveland, starting 29 times in his final year.

During his Minnesota run, Schrom gave the rotation some much-needed stability. He pitched over 160 innings in both 1985 and 1986, handling the workload of a full-time starter.

The 1987 season brought mixed results at home and on the road. He pitched 19 home games with a 6.70 ERA, compared to 13 road games with a 6.16 ERA.

At home in 1987, Schrom gave up 127 hits in 96.2 innings. On the road, he allowed 58 hits in 57 innings, which was a bit better.

ERA and Key Career Metrics

Schrom’s career ERA of 4.81 fits the offensive-heavy era he pitched in. His best single-season ERA was 4.54 in 1986, the same year he won 14 games.

In his final season, he posted a 6.50 ERA over 153.2 innings. He struck out 61 batters and walked 57, ending up with a 1.57 WHIP.

He finished with 372 strikeouts across 900 innings for his career. His strikeout rate stayed pretty modest throughout.

In 1987, Schrom struggled with the long ball, allowing 29 home runs in 153.2 innings. He gave up 16 homers at home and 13 on the road.

His control slipped in his last year. Schrom walked 36 batters at home and 21 on the road, which helped push his ERA higher.

For his career, his WHIP was 1.43, showing decent control most of the way. The 1986 season was his best blend of wins, innings, and efficiency.

Awards and Recognition

Ken Schrom picked up notable recognition during his MLB career, highlighted by his 1986 All-Star nod with the Cleveland Indians. He also picked up the Minnesota Twins’ Joseph W. Haynes Pitcher of the Year Award in 1983.

All-Star Selection in 1986

Schrom hit the high point of his career in 1986 when he made the American League All-Star team with the Cleveland Indians. He got picked after a blazing start, going 10-2 in the first half.

That All-Star selection was the biggest individual honor Schrom received. His hot start in 1986 definitely caught the league’s attention.

After the All-Star break, Schrom’s performance dropped off. He only won 10 more major league games before retiring at the end of 1987.

Team Honors and Accolades

The Minnesota Twins honored Schrom as their Pitcher of the Year in 1983. That was his best statistical season, with a career-high 15 wins for the Twins.

In 1983, Schrom was the team’s most valuable pitcher. His 15 victories cemented his role as a reliable starter for the Twins.

That award showed just how important Schrom was to the Twins during his three years with the club from 1983 to 1985. His steady pitching really helped the team during those seasons.

Life Before and After Major League Baseball

Ken Schrom’s path from a small Idaho town to professional baseball and later to minor league executive roles has spanned more than four decades. His shift from player to front office leader shows a successful career pivot that kept him close to the game.

Youth, Education, and Collegiate Years

Ken Schrom was born November 23, 1954, in Grangeville, Idaho, a small town with fewer than 3,200 people. He went to Grangeville High School, where he stood out as a multi-sport athlete.

Schrom earned 11 athletic letters in high school. He picked up all-state honors in baseball and basketball, and even achieved all-American status in football.

The Minnesota Twins drafted Schrom in the 10th round of the 1973 MLB draft. He turned them down and took a scholarship to the University of Idaho instead.

After college, Schrom entered the draft again. The California Angels selected him in the 17th round of the 1976 MLB amateur draft, launching his pro baseball career.

His small-town roots in Grangeville gave him a strong work ethic. That foundation helped him during his playing days and later as an executive.

Post-Retirement Roles and Executive Positions

After a shoulder injury ended his playing career in 1989, Schrom jumped into minor league baseball management. He’d actually started preparing for this shift while he was still pitching.

While he played in the majors, Schrom spent his offseasons working with the El Paso Diablos. Owner Jim Paul offered him sales jobs, which gave him a real look at how the business side of baseball worked.

After his all-star season with the Indians in 1986, Schrom bought a stake in a Double-A Texas League team. That investment pretty much set up his next chapter after playing.

Schrom helped open El Paso’s new stadium in 1990, which turned out to be a big deal for him. That experience came in handy when he later helped launch the Corpus Christi Hooks in 2005.

Reid Ryan brought Schrom in to build the Hooks franchise from scratch. Schrom started as general manager, then took over as team president in 2007.

The Hooks picked up Organization of the Year honors from the Texas League in both 2009 and 2015 while Schrom led the way. He wrapped up his long baseball career in 2019, after spending 43 years in the game.

Legacy and Impact on Baseball

Ken Schrom’s career definitely left a mark on the teams he played for, and honestly, on baseball in general. His leadership and steady play helped shape winning cultures, especially with the Minnesota Twins in the mid-1980s.

Influence on the Teams

Schrom made his biggest impact during his three years with the Minnesota Twins from 1983 to 1985. In 1983, he picked up Twins Pitcher of the Year honors after notching a career-high 15 wins. That season really cemented him as a dependable starter at a key moment for the franchise.

He brought stability to the Twins’ rotation. The way he ate up innings and led in the clubhouse laid the groundwork for Minnesota’s later success.

With the Cleveland Indians, Schrom hit the peak of his individual career. He started 1986 with a strong 10-2 record, which got him a spot on the American League All-Star team. That honor was the high point of his playing days and brought some well-deserved good attention to the Indians during a tough rebuild.

Enduring Contributions to the Sport

Schrom struck out 372 batters over seven major league seasons. That number says a lot about how he could hold his own at the highest level.

He started as a 17th-round draft pick and eventually became an All-Star. Honestly, that climb really highlights just how much persistence and growth matter in baseball.

After he finished playing, Schrom jumped into minor league executive work and left a real mark there too. He brought the perspective of a major league pitcher, which gave him a knack for spotting and developing young talent.

He played for three different organizations, and that experience taught him a lot about the different ways teams approach player development.

Schrom grew up in small-town Idaho and still made it to the All-Star Game. For players who don’t come from baseball hotbeds, his story shows that hard work and talent really can break through those barriers.