Dutch Romberger

Allen Isaiah Romberger

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 185 lb.

• Debut May 31, 1954
• Final Game August 1, 1954
• Born May 26, 1927 in Klingerstown, PA USA
• Died May 26, 1983 in Weikert, PA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Dutch Romberger spent three years (1945-1947), during the tail-end of World War II, in the United States Army in the European theater of operations as a interpreter. His Pennsylvania Dutch background allowed him to understand the German language and helped in the process of communications with the German soldiers and civilians.

After mustering out, "Dutch" signed as an amateur free agent with the Philadelphia Athletics before the 1948 season. The right-hander started his pro career with the Portsmouth Athletics of the Ohio-Indiana League that season with a 10-6 record, appearing in 40 games. He was back with the same club in 1949 with a 19-6 record and a 2.03 ERA while pitching 217 innings, helping his club win the O-I Pennant and he was chosen for the All-Star Team.

"Dutch" spent the next five seasons (1950-1954) working his way up the minor league ladder, having two double-digit win years in 1951 and 1952 with the Lincoln Athletics of the class A Western League. He was going well with the Ottawa A's of the AAA International League when in late May of 1954 he got the call to come to the City of Brotherly Love.

"Dutch" made his major league debut on May 31st and apparently had more success in speaking the German language than he did opposing major league hitters. He had the sobering experience of allowing 20 runs and 28 base hits in 15 2/3 innings of work, in 10 relief appearances. He split two decisions and had an ERA of 11.49. This was it for "Dutch" in the big leagues and he went back to Ottawa in early August.

Romberger dropped back to the minors in 1955 where he had 7-4 record and a 2.28 ERA for the Columbus Jets. In 1956, he went just 2-1 for the Toronto Maple Leafs but did come back strong with an 18-5 record and a 2.48 ERA for the sixth-place Little Rock Travelers of the Southern Association in 1958, barely missing the league high in wins and ERA. "Dutch" finished up his pro baseball career in 1961, going 4-1 in 37 games for the Shreveport Sports and wound up his 13-year minor league run with 111 wins and 72 losses with a 3.95 ERA while pitching 1,476 innings.

After baseball Romberger returned to Weikert, PA where he owned and managed the Klingerstown Hotel until his death on his 56th birthday on May 26, 1983.

Sources

• Baseball Players of the 1950s
• Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball

Related Sites

• BR Minors page