Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
RHOMBERG, Kevin
RHOMBERG, Kevin. (Dubuque, IA, Nov. 22, 1955- ). Rhomberg played both basketball and baseball at STEPHEN HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL and led his baseball team to the school’s first state championship. (1) 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. He was selected by the Cleveland Indians of the American League in the 14th round of the 1977 amateur draft. (2)
Rhomberg played professional baseball from 1977 through 1985. He began with Waterloo in 1978 and then was promoted to Chattanooga of Class AA in the Southern League. Playing with Chattanooga, Rhomberg held the highest batting average finishing with .312 in fifty-eight games. (3) He then moved to Tacoma in the Pacific Coast League. (4)
In 1982 Rhomberg signed a split contract with the Cleveland Indians. This allowed him to either play major league or Triple A for the Indians. He was assigned to the Indian's Triple A Club in Charleston, West Virginia. (5) Cleveland moved him to the major leagues to help with their batting. Rhomberg made his first major league start on September 9, 1982 and hit his first major league home run. (6) While Rhomberg's career consisted of just 41 games, he batted an impressive .383. (7) He was considered primarily an outfielder, although he had one start each at first, second, and third base. His last game was played June 5, 1984. (8)
Following his playing career, Rhomberg entered the insurance business in 1986 and then scouted for the Cleveland Indians from 1987 through 1990. From 1992 through 1996 he was the head baseball coach at Cleveland State University followed by being head baseball coach at Lakeland Community College from 1997 through 2001. (9)
Rhomberg went into business for himself, forming a company called KRE Inc.; its ventures include buying and selling minor-league teams. He was also involved with two other Frontier League franchises: the Cook County Cheetahs (president and GM, 2003) and the Windy City Thunderbolts (president through April 2004). He became manager of community relations and baseball operations for the Indians’ Class A affiliate, the Lake County Captains. Beginning in 2007, he also worked on the Captains’ radio broadcast team.
In 2003 Rhomberg created EbaseballClub.com, a website designed to match young athletes with college baseball programs. Coaches could see 20 clips – size, bat speed, running, arm action – in 10 minutes. Perhaps too ahead of its time, the project did not achieve the success that was expected.
Around 2005, Rhomberg joined his minor-league teammate Joe Charboneau as co-owners of Super Joe’s Baseball and Softball Academy in Painesville Township, Ohio. (10) His son Joe became one of the instructors. Another of his co-owned ventures, RS Entertainment, acquired a team in a summer collegiate baseball league in early 2010. The Lorain County Ironmen, also representing suburban Cleveland, play in the Prospect League (formerly the Central Illinois Collegiate League). In 2008 he filed papers to run for clerk of court in Lake County. (11) In 2010 he became part of the Lorain County Ironmen, a collegiate summer team. (12)
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Source:
1. Tigges, John. They Came From Dubuque, Dubuque: Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 1983, p. 16
2. "Instructors-Kevin Rhomberg," Super Joes Baseball and Softball Academy, Online: http://www.superjoes.com/KevinRhomberg.html
3. Tigges, John.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. "Kevin Rhomberg," Baseball Reference.com, Online: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rhombke01.shtml
7. "Kevin Rhomberg," Baseball Almanac. Online: http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=rhombke01
8. Costello, Rory. "Kevin Rhomberg," Baseball Biography Project, Online: http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=3113&pid=11867
9. "Kevin Rhomberg," Lake County Captains, Online: http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?sid=t437&ymd=20090827&content_id=6646658&vkey=team2
10. Ibid.
11. "Kevin Rhomberg Files to Run in Republican Primary for Clerk of Court," Baseball Primer Newsblog, January 6, 2008, Online: http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/newsstand/discussion/kevin_rhomberg_files_to_run_in_republican_primary_for_clerk_of_courts/
12. "Instructors-Kevin Rhomberg."
