Schrom Takes Reins as Club President
Published on August 27, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
CORPUS CHRISTI - Ken Schrom, the former Major League All-Star pitcher who was the Hooks' first general manager and won Texas League Executive of the Year honors in 2005, is the new team president, Ryan Sanders Baseball CEO Reid Ryan announced Wednesday.
Schrom, 53, succeeds J.J. Gottsch, appointed Friday to the newly-created position of Ryan Sanders Baseball executive vice president.
"No one is a better fit for this position than Ken," Ryan said. "He's a pro, he's done it all. When he showed interest in the job, he became the leading candidate. Ken exudes class and is beloved in the community."
Said Ryan Sanders Baseball COO Jay Miller: "I've known Ken for a long time and no one is more deserving. He was successful as a player and has enjoyed a distinguished front-office career. I know the Astros are very comfortable with him. Any time you have a former professional player running an affiliate, the parent club knows he'll take great care of the players and field staff."
Schrom, Gottsch, Michael Wood and Elisa Macias planted the Hooks franchise in Corpus Christi during 2003-04. Wood and Macias also remain with the organization as general manager and director of sponsor services, respectively.
Schrom has served as chief sales and marketing officer of the Hooks since the club's inception. He was promoted to vice president before the 2006 Texas League Championship season.
"I look forward to this opportunity and the challenges that come with it," Schrom said. "I am grateful to the Ryans and the Sanders for placing their trust in me and will do my best to continue the success here.
"We have a terrific front-office staff in place and I'm very confident we'll have a great 2009 campaign."
Schrom moved to Corpus Christi after 16 years as an executive with the El Paso Diablos. He was vice president and director of marketing and sales for the club, which during its heyday in the 1980s and 90s was regarded as one of the most influential and innovative franchises in professional sports.
His ties to the El Paso community date to 1977, the first year he wore the uniform of the Diablos as a pitcher in the Angels farm system. Schrom spent portions of three seasons with the Diablos and a short time at the Triple-A level before making his major league debut in 1980 with Toronto.
During a seven-year big league career, which also included stints with Minnesota and Cleveland, Schrom compiled a 51-51 lifetime record and 4.81 ERA with 22 complete games. He appeared in a total of 176 contests and racked up 900 innings. In 1983, Schrom was named Twins Pitcher of the Year after posting a 15-8 record and 3.71 ERA with six complete games. Three years later, he bolted to a 10-2 first half with Cleveland and was selected to the 1986 American League All-Star team. He finished '86 14-7 with a 4.54 ERA.
Among his many teammates in the Majors were Joe Carter, Kent Hrbek, Bert Blyleven, Kirby Puckett, Frank Viola, Phil Niekro, Steve Carlton, Tom Candiotti, Brook Jacoby and Dave Clark, the current field manager for the Round Rock Express.
Schrom was drafted by the Angels out of the University of Idaho, where he was a two-sport athlete. Excelling as both a quarterback and pitcher, Ken opted for a life in pro baseball. He was inducted into the Vandals Hall of Fame last year.
Originally from Grangeville, Idaho, Ken and wife Cindy, an educator in Gregory-Portland ISD, live in Portland. Daughter Kayla is a schoolteacher in Central Texas and son Jared plays baseball at Stephen F. Austin.
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