Steve Gromek from the Chronology

May 1, 1956 - Mantle takes Steve Gromek deep in the first inning at the Stadium‚ and New York rolls to a 9-2 win over Detroit. Bauer also homers as Whitey Ford hurls his 3rd CG win.

Aug 24, 1955 - At Briggs Stadium‚ the Tigers take a 2-1 lead into the 9th inning‚ only to lose 3-2 when Berra and Mantle hit back-to-back homers off Steve Gromek.

May 13, 1955 - It's Friday the 13th and bad luck for the Tigers as Mickey Mantle homers from both sides of the plate for the first time. In all‚ Mantle has 3 HRs‚ the first two lefty against starter Steve Gromek‚ and the third off Bob Miller‚ all to the deep reaches of the right centerfield bleachers. Mick adds a single‚ good for 5 RBIs as New York beats Detroit 5-2. Whitey Ford goes seven innings for the win. Mantle joins Lazzeri (1927)‚ Ben Chapman (1932)‚ and Dickey (1939) as the only Yanks to hits three homers in a game at Yankee Stadium.

Apr 17, 1955 - Twenty-year-old Al Kaline of the Tigers hits 3 HRs in Briggs Stadium‚ including 2 in the 6th inning to drive in 6 runs. The Tigers rout the A's 16-0‚ behind Steve Gromek's pitching. Kaline is the first American Leaguer since DiMaggio in 1936 to hit 2 homers in an inning‚ and he is the first Tiger to do so.

Apr 13, 1954 - The brand new Baltimore Orioles open in Detroit and lose‚ 3-0. Don Larsen takes the loss against Steve Gromek. The Tigers start fast and will win 12 of their first 18 games.

Jul 26, 1953 - At Briggs Stadium‚ the crowd of 49‚717 is treated to a pair of Tiger victories over the Yankees-5-3 and 14-4-as well as a fight between Billy Martin and Detroit's Matt Batts. Mantle connects on two homers for New York‚ reaching Al Aber in the first game and Steve Gromek in the nitecap.

Jun 18, 1953 - Red Sox rookie OF Gene Stephens becomes the only AL player to get 3 hits in the same inning‚ as Boston tallies 17 runs in the 7th inning in a 23-3 romp over Detroit. The Red Sox send 23 to the plate in the 7th‚ getting 14 hits and 6 walks‚ 20 runners in succession‚ before 3B George Kell flies out to end it. Steve Gromek‚ making his first appearance for Detroit‚ Dick Weik and Earl Harrist are the offending Tiger pitchers‚ but the loss goes to Ned Garver‚ who exits before the 7th. Ellis Kinder picks up the win‚ and contributes two singles and 2 RBI in the big inning‚ the second time that Kinder has accomplished this: he was hitless last year. Dick Gernert and Walt Dropo hit the only homers for Boston‚ but the Red Sox set a slew of records‚ including the following:

Jun 15, 1953 - The Tigers trade pitchers Art Houtteman and Bill Wight‚ C Joe Ginsberg‚ and infielder Owen Friend to Cleveland for 3B Ray Boone and pitchers Steve Gromek‚ Al Aber‚ and Dick Weik. Weik developed a sore arm in spring training and has not yet made an appearance.

Jul 17, 1952 - Before 51‚114‚ the Indians scalp the Chief‚ Allie Reynolds‚ for 6 runs in the first two innings and coast to an 11-6 victory in the opener of doubleheader at the Stadium. Mantle connects for a homer off Steve Gromek‚ his 4th homer in 5 days.

Sep 21, 1949 - The Red Sox overcome a 3-1 deficit to beat the Indians 9-6. Williams hits his 41st homer‚ off Steve Gromek‚ as starter Ellis Kinder (22-5) pitches the last 3 innings in relief for his 12th straight victory. The Sox have two games off before the decisive game on Saturday with New York.

Oct 9, 1948 - Before a record WS 81‚897‚ the Indians take a 3-1 Series lead‚ as Steve Gromek outpitches Johnny Sain. The first HR of the Series‚ by Larry Doby‚ is decisive. Merv Rickert also homers for the Braves.

Sep 11, 1948 - Behind Steve Gromek and Bob Lemon‚ the Indians sweep two from the Browns‚ 4-1 and 9-1. Lemon wins his 20th‚ the first AL hurler to reach the mark. Cleveland now trails the Yanks by a half-game and the Red Sox by 3 1/2.

Aug 8, 1948 - In Cleveland‚ 73‚484 fans watch the Indians and Yankees square off for 2 games. Trailing in the opener‚ an ailing Lou Boudreau hits a bases loaded pinch single in the 7th to tie the game‚ and Satchel Paige wins it in relief‚ 8-6. Steve Gromek goes 7 innings in the nitecap to give the Indians a 2-1 win over rookie Bob Porterfield‚ making his ML debut. The Indians and the A's are now tied for 1st (60-39)‚ with the Yankees 2 games back and Red Sox in 4th place‚ 2 1/2 out.

Jul 25, 1948 - In Boston‚ the other DiMaggio makes 2 spectacular catches against the Indians as well as homering off Satchel Paige. The Red Sox beat Cleveland‚ 3-0 for their 15th win in 16 games. Joe Dobson tops Steve Gromek to leave the Sox percentage points ahead of the 2nd place A's. Cleveland and New York are each 1 1/2 games back. With the Braves in 1st place‚ it is the first time since 1916 that both Boston teams are at the top spot.

May 15, 1946 - Mel Harder and Steve Gromek fire back to back shutouts over the A's as Cleveland wins two‚ 3-0 and 5-0.

May 6, 1946 - In Washington's 7-4 win‚ Cecil Travis gets his 6th straight hit over 2 games before being stopped by Cleveland's Steve Gromek. A prewar hitting star‚ Travis has few other starring moments as a player after suffering frozen feet in combat in Europe.

Sep 26, 1945 - The first-place Tigers gain a doubleheader split with the Indians when Hal Newhouser shuts out the Tribe 11-0. The Bengals fail to clinch as they lose the nitecap‚ 3-2‚ to Steve Gromek. The split leaves Detroit a game ahead of the idle Senators with 2 games left in St. Louis.

Jul 13, 1945 - At Yankee Stadium‚ Cleveland outfielder Pat Seerey slugs three HRs‚ the 2nd a grand slam‚ and a triple for a 15 base total as the Indians go on a batting spree to win‚ 16-4. Seerey hits his homers off starter Atley Donald‚ Monk Dubiel‚ and Steve Roser. Fat Pat will top his total in 1948‚ the only player to ever have two games with 15 or more total bases. Heath adds a pair of homers and pitcher Steve Gromek collects 4 hits to win his 10th game and 4th straight over New York. The Yanks' Donald is going in the other direction‚ and this will be his last career start. His hex over the Indians is broken as well; after going 13-1 against Cleveland‚ he's lost to them twice in 10 days.

Jul 4, 1945 - In the first game against Cleveland‚ the Indians tie a ML record with no assists‚ a first ever for a 9-inning game‚ in beating the Yankees‚ 4-2. Sidearmer Steve Gromek allows just 5 hits‚ including a Russ Derry homer‚ in winning‚ as the outfield pulls down 15 flyballs. Two years ago‚ the Browns went 8 innings without an assist: the Mets will be the next team to pull it off‚ on June 25‚ 1989. New York takes the nitecap‚ 3-2‚ as Al Gettel beats Allie Reynolds.

May 13, 1945 - The Yankees Atley Donald is victorious over the Indians‚ 1-0‚ in 10 innings when New York breaks through against pitcher Red Embree. A walk‚ a bunt single‚ a sac bunt and a sac fly by Denny plate the run. Atley is 13-1 against the Tribe‚ with his only loss coming on August 21‚ 1941 when Feller won‚ 2-0. Cleveland wins the second game‚ 4-2‚ behind Steve Gromek's 7-hitter.

Aug 27, 1944 - The Indians sweep a pair from the White Sox‚ winning 4-3 and 1-0. Steve Gromek shuts out the Sox in game 2 and wins when Roy Cullenbine hits a HR in the bottom of the 9th off Johnny Humphries.