Kevin Rhomberg
Encyclopedia
Kevin Jay Rhomberg is a former left fielder
in Major League Baseball
. He was selected by the Cleveland Indians
of the American League
in the 14th round of the 1977 amateur draft, and made his major league debut on June 9, . While Rhomberg's career consisted of just 41 games (his final game was on June 5) he batted
an impressive .383 with an on base percentage
of .423. Not known for his defense, Rhomberg was considered primarily an outfielder, although he did log one start each at first, second, and third base during his brief career. As a player, however, Rhomberg was known not just for his hitting, but also for his long list of superstitions. His main superstition (technically a compulsion) was the need to touch back someone who had just touched him. 1
Kevin Rhomberg was born and raised in Dubuque where his father worked for a meatpacking company. He played both basketball and baseball in high school and led his baseball team to the school’s first state championship. It was during high school that he met Denice, now his wife of 33 years. Together they have four children and two grandchildren.
In 1974, Kevin attended Lewis University in Illinois where he was a part of the NAIA World Series Championship Baseball Team. In 1976 he transferred to the College of Saint Francis where he was selected in the 1977 draft by the Cleveland Indians. Kevin Rhomberg played professional baseball from 1977 through 1985 including three years with the Cleveland Indians Major League Club in 1982, 1983 and 1984.
Cleveland teammates, including former Major League player and manager Mike Hargrove
, called Rhomberg, "Touch Me, Touch Me," and it is reported that opposing players and teammates, loved nothing more than to touch Rhomberg and then run off, sending him into a near panic. According to one story, former Indian teammate Rick Sutcliffe once reached under a bathroom stall to touch Rhomberg on the toe. Not knowing who the culprit was, Rhomberg went around the clubhouse and touched each player. Brook Jacoby
once told of tagging Rhomberg with a ball in the minors, then throwing it out of the stadium. Jacoby said that Rhomberg spent two hours looking for the ball before finding it. An umpire once halted play during a game in New York to tell Yankees players to stop touching Rhomberg. If a person somehow eluded his return touch, Rhomberg would send a letter that said, "This constitutes a touch." 1
Following his playing career, Kevin Rhomberg entered the insurance business in 1986, then scouted for the Cleveland Indians from 1987 through 1991. From 1992 through 1996 he was the Head Baseball Coach at Cleveland State University
, followed by Head Baseball Coach at Lakeland Community College
from 1997 through 2001. Since then he has owned, operated, and consulted the purchases of minor league baseball clubs.
Today, he lives in Concord, OH and operates a Baseball and Softball Academy located in Painesville Township and is the president of KRE, Inc., a company he founded sixteen years ago.
Kevin Rhomberg was named one of the Top 10 Most Superstitious Athletes by Men's Fitness
.
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He was selected by the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
in the 14th round of the 1977 amateur draft, and made his major league debut on June 9, . While Rhomberg's career consisted of just 41 games (his final game was on June 5) he batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
an impressive .383 with an on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
of .423. Not known for his defense, Rhomberg was considered primarily an outfielder, although he did log one start each at first, second, and third base during his brief career. As a player, however, Rhomberg was known not just for his hitting, but also for his long list of superstitions. His main superstition (technically a compulsion) was the need to touch back someone who had just touched him. 1
Kevin Rhomberg was born and raised in Dubuque where his father worked for a meatpacking company. He played both basketball and baseball in high school and led his baseball team to the school’s first state championship. It was during high school that he met Denice, now his wife of 33 years. Together they have four children and two grandchildren.
In 1974, Kevin attended Lewis University in Illinois where he was a part of the NAIA World Series Championship Baseball Team. In 1976 he transferred to the College of Saint Francis where he was selected in the 1977 draft by the Cleveland Indians. Kevin Rhomberg played professional baseball from 1977 through 1985 including three years with the Cleveland Indians Major League Club in 1982, 1983 and 1984.
Cleveland teammates, including former Major League player and manager Mike Hargrove
Mike Hargrove
Dudley Michael Hargrove is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and manager. He is currently employed as an advisor with the Cleveland Indians....
, called Rhomberg, "Touch Me, Touch Me," and it is reported that opposing players and teammates, loved nothing more than to touch Rhomberg and then run off, sending him into a near panic. According to one story, former Indian teammate Rick Sutcliffe once reached under a bathroom stall to touch Rhomberg on the toe. Not knowing who the culprit was, Rhomberg went around the clubhouse and touched each player. Brook Jacoby
Brook Jacoby
Brook Wallace Jacoby is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and the current hitting coach of the Cincinnati Reds. Jacoby played in the major leagues from 1981 through 1992, and in Japan in 1993. He batted and threw right-handed. His father Brook Wallace Jacoby Sr...
once told of tagging Rhomberg with a ball in the minors, then throwing it out of the stadium. Jacoby said that Rhomberg spent two hours looking for the ball before finding it. An umpire once halted play during a game in New York to tell Yankees players to stop touching Rhomberg. If a person somehow eluded his return touch, Rhomberg would send a letter that said, "This constitutes a touch." 1
Following his playing career, Kevin Rhomberg entered the insurance business in 1986, then scouted for the Cleveland Indians from 1987 through 1991. From 1992 through 1996 he was the Head Baseball Coach at Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University is a public university located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It was established in 1964 when the state of Ohio assumed control of Fenn College, and it absorbed the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1969...
, followed by Head Baseball Coach at Lakeland Community College
Lakeland Community College
Lakeland Community College is a two-year community college in Lake County, Ohio. Established in 1967, Lakeland was the first college in Ohio founded by a vote of the people...
from 1997 through 2001. Since then he has owned, operated, and consulted the purchases of minor league baseball clubs.
Today, he lives in Concord, OH and operates a Baseball and Softball Academy located in Painesville Township and is the president of KRE, Inc., a company he founded sixteen years ago.
Kevin Rhomberg was named one of the Top 10 Most Superstitious Athletes by Men's Fitness
Men's Fitness
Men's Fitness is a men's magazine published by American Media, Inc and founded in the United States in 1987. The premier issue featured Michael Pare from the television series The Greatest American Hero....
.