Where Were They Then? Part Three
The 1958 White Sox had just clocked in with their eighth winning season in a row. For seven seasons running, they finished in third or second place. As South Side lore has been told to us repeatedly, the 50's White Sox were teams built on pitching, speed and defense. Their farm system was built on catchers, big lugs who could pound the hell out of the ball, and lithe, young arms.
The major league club was primed to pounce if the Yankees ever stumbled. Chicago's reliable starting rotation of Billy Pierce, Dick Donovan and an ageless Early Wynn would soon be bolstered by rookie additions Bob Shaw and Barry Latman. The Sox always had a next wave of young arms they had to move up, and had to make room for.
As we walk through the Top 10 list of White Sox prospects in 1959, today's installment focuses on a couple of rash personnel decisions named Jack Kralick and John Romano.
7. Jack Kralick I suppose I'm cheating on this one. Kralick was released by the White Sox in June 1958, as they did not judge him to be a major league talent. A local semi-pro star outside of Detroit, Kralick pitched a season for Michigan State before signing with the White Sox. Taking off quickly, Kralick threw two no-hitters in his first season of Class-D ball in the Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee (Kitty) League. The lefty couldn't establish himself in three seasons at Class B, and with a cadre of younger arms needing innings — Gary Peters (21), Joe Hoerner (21), Stover McIlwain (18), William Rouse (22), and Bryant Wasdell (20) — Kralick was released.
During that offseason, he signed with the Washington Senators, and after breaking camp with the parent club for a short cup of failure, he was plugged in at Double-A Chattanooga. Kralick earned a spot with the Senators out of spring training in 1960 for good. He worked as a swingman, starting 18 games before worming his way into the starting rotation from 1961 until he was traded to Cleveland for Jim Perry in May 1963. The reasoning for the trade was that Minnesota had three southpaws in their rotation and Cleveland needed another to compliment the rookie Sam McDowell.
An uncharacteristically rough spring in 1967 made Kralick expendable. His contract was sold to the Mets, who assured him that after a tune-up in Triple-A, a space would open for him on the parent club. However, the evening his rights were purchased, Kralick crashed his car driving home in Cleveland. A concussion gave him double vision and other issues. The persistence of these symptoms caused Kralick to make the decision to start the post-baseball portion of his life. Kralick left the game with 67 wins and 18.3 bWAR.
6. John Romano Bloodlines dictated Romano would be a great catcher. His father played exhibitions against Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, and he was nicknamed Cannonball for his arm. Mr. Romano chose not to go pro, as semi-pro ball and dock work was more lucrative. Romano and his brother would work out and take batting practice with the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field as teenagers. It was a surprise to him when the White Sox made the push to sign him in 1954. Romano was a monster hitter, clubbing 38 HRs his first pro season at Class B Waterloo in 1955. In 1958, the White Sox hired ex-catcher Walker Cooper to manage their Triple-A Indianapolis club, and Cooper mentored Romano, helping him hone his catching game into major league caliber defense.
Romano would exceed his rookie status limit in 1959. As a feeble offense persisted for the future pennant winners, Romano had essentially worked his way into a platoon with first baseman Earl Torgeson. When the Sox faced a left-handed pitcher, Romano would catch, and Sherm Lollar would move to first base. Romano was the first bat off the bench when he didn't play, and he slugged .468 as a backup and pinch hitter.
As Bill Veeck sought to restock the offense after the 1959 season, the logjam at catcher among Lollar, Romano and Earl Battey was an easy surplus to draw from. Romano was traded with Norm Cash to the Indians for Minnie Miñoso. Romano became one of the best catchers in the AL and would one day make the Indians' All-Century team.
We mourn Romano's departure from the South Side, but Sox GM Ed Short pulled one of the most insane returns for the White Sox in January 1965. Cleveland was anxious to bring back a fan favorite, Rocky Colavito. They ended up sending Romano, Tommie Agee and Tommy John to the Sox in a three-way deal with the KC Athletics to acquire Colavito's declining seasons. John was a front-line starter for seven seasons and 23.9 WAR before he was traded to Los Angeles for Dick Allen (15.3 WAR over three seasons). Agee hit 36 HR and won a Rookie of the Year award in two seasons before a trade to the Mets, and Romano settled in behind the plate for two more years before being dealt to St. Louis in 1967 in exchange for right fielder Walt Williams. Romano would get a World Series ring with the 1967 Cardinals, even though he was left off the postseason roster. Romano clocked 129 HRs and 20.9 bWAR over 10 big league seasons.
Next up, a trio that includes two of the best pitchers in White Sox history.
Recommended Reading
Where Were They Then? Part One
Where Were They Then? Part Two