KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – They say that, in life, timing is everything. Steve Renko’s timing has been perfect. The Kansas City native pitched a nine-inning no-hitter the day before the 1965 Major League Baseball draft. The Mets selected the Wyandotte High School grad.
“I had to buy two suits,” Renko laughed.
After four minor league seasons, Renko was traded to the Montreal Expos organization, which moved him up to the major leagues. The KU graduate spent the next 15 years in “The Show.”
“Once you got up there and got to meet the guys and watch, it was the same as being on any team, except you’re playing for money,” Renko said.
Renko is the last three-sport letterman at KU, playing football, basketball and baseball. And along the way, he married his high school sweetheart, Sandra.
“Yeah, it was a good decision, we’ve been married almost 62 years,” Sandra Renko said.
After eight seasons in Montreal, Renko was traded to the Cubs, where he played at Chicago’s Wrigley Field.
“Cubs park, I didn’t care for,” Renko said.
He then moved across Chicago to the White Sox before playing in Oakland, where owner Charlie Finley gave Renko a stock market tip, handing him a check for $20,000.
“Have you ever heard of Wendy’s, it’s gonna be a winner, take this money and invest it,” Renko said Finley told him.
Unfortunately, Renko did not follow the advice. He then moved on to play for the Red Sox.
“Boston, Fenway Park was fun,” Renko said.
Renko went to the Angels, where he played with the controversial Reggie Jackson.
“Our oldest son actually caught Reggie Jackson every day before games when we were with the Angels,” Sandra Renko said. “He was real sweet to him, so yeah, I have a soft spot in my heart for Reggie Jackson.”
Renko wrapped up his playing career with his hometown Royals.
“Yeah, that’s the toughest place that I played, only because you’re home,” Renko said.
The 6-foot-6 righthander said he had success against Pete Rose.
“I got Pete out like a champ. All I did was throw the ball up and away and let him hit a fly ball to left,” Renko said.
Sandra Renko said she often felt nervous watching her husband pitch.
“I used to get nervous when he pitched. When we were in the major leagues there were a lot of times that I did not go to his games and I would watch it at home,” Sandra Renko said.
After 15 years, Steve Renko chose to wrap up his playing career.
“I said they’re going to put on my tombstone ‘She went to a lot of baseball games,’” Sandra Renko said.
Steve Renko is a Wyandotte High School graduate whose major league dream came true.
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