John Montague (baseball)
Encyclopedia
John Evans Montague is a professional baseball player who played pitcher
in the major leagues from 1973 to 1980. He played for the Montreal Expos
, Philadelphia Phillies
, Seattle Mariners
, and California Angels
.
Montague, who played college baseball at Old Dominion University
, was chosen by the Chicago White Sox
in the 15th round of the 1965 Major League Baseball Draft
, but chose not to sign with the team. He was then drafted by the Baltimore Orioles
in the 3rd round of the 1967 amateur draft
, secondary phase. On April 13, 1973, the Orioles traded him to the Montreal Expos
for a player to be named later
, which was Mickey Scott
, who was sent to the Baltimore Orioles on April 4, 1974 to complete the trade.
He made his major league debut for the Expos on September 9, 1973 against the New York Mets
, pitching the eighth inning of a game the Expos lost by a score of 3-0, and retiring all three batters he faced. He was with the Expos for two full seasons, with no decisions in the season in four relief appearances, and ending the with a 3-4 record and 3 saves in 46 appearances, including one start. He pitched in 12 games for the Expos in , finishing with an 0-1 record and two saves in 12 appearances, before he was picked off waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies
on September 2, 1975. He appeared in three games in relief in 1975 in his brief stint with the Phillies.
He was purchased by the Seattle Mariners
on November 6, 1976 from the Phillies. As a member of the Mariners' inaugural team, he earned the first save in team history, preserving a 5-1 win against the California Angels
at the Kingdome
on April 9, 1977, pitching a scoreless eighth and ninth inning and giving up only one walk (erased on a double play). He finished the with an 8-12 record and four saves in 47 appearances, including 15 as starting pitcher
. He only appeared in 19 games for the Marines in , all in relief, ending with a 1-3 record and two saves. Montague started the season with the Mariners, and had a 6-4 record and one save in 41 appearances with the club.
He was traded by the Mariners on August 29, 1979 to the California Angels
for a player to be named later, a trade completed when the Angels sent Jim Anderson
to the Mariners on December 5, 1979. He ended the 1979 season with a 2-0 record and six saves in 14 relief appearances. was his final season in the major leagues, ending his career with a 4-2 record and three saves in 37 appearances, all in relief. The final game of his career was on August 28, 1980, giving up nine hits and six runs (all earned) in a two-inning relief appearance in a 13-8 loss to the Baltimore Orioles
.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in the major leagues from 1973 to 1980. He played for the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
, Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
, and California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
.
Montague, who played college baseball at Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University is a state university located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
, was chosen by the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in the 15th round of the 1965 Major League Baseball Draft
1965 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1965 Major League Baseball Draft is the first year in which a draft took place for Major League Baseball.In Major League Baseball's first Free Agent Amateur Draft, the Kansas City Athletics selected Arizona State sophomore Rick Monday as the number one pick...
, but chose not to sign with the team. He was then drafted by the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
in the 3rd round of the 1967 amateur draft
1967 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1967 Major League Baseball draft.- Background :The June draft was filled with talented prospects who would go on to pro careers...
, secondary phase. On April 13, 1973, the Orioles traded him to the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
for a player to be named later
Player to be named later
The concept of the "player to be named later" is most often associated with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trades.-Description:...
, which was Mickey Scott
Mickey Scott
Ralph Robert Scott was a left-handed specialist pitcher in North American Major League Baseball who played in portions of five seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, Montreal Expos and California Angels from 1972 to 1977...
, who was sent to the Baltimore Orioles on April 4, 1974 to complete the trade.
He made his major league debut for the Expos on September 9, 1973 against the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, pitching the eighth inning of a game the Expos lost by a score of 3-0, and retiring all three batters he faced. He was with the Expos for two full seasons, with no decisions in the season in four relief appearances, and ending the with a 3-4 record and 3 saves in 46 appearances, including one start. He pitched in 12 games for the Expos in , finishing with an 0-1 record and two saves in 12 appearances, before he was picked off waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
on September 2, 1975. He appeared in three games in relief in 1975 in his brief stint with the Phillies.
He was purchased by the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
on November 6, 1976 from the Phillies. As a member of the Mariners' inaugural team, he earned the first save in team history, preserving a 5-1 win against the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
at the Kingdome
Kingdome
The Kingdome was a multi-purpose stadium located in Seattle's SoDo neighborhood. Owned and operated by King County, the Kingdome opened in 1976 and was best known as the home stadium of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League , the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball , and the...
on April 9, 1977, pitching a scoreless eighth and ninth inning and giving up only one walk (erased on a double play). He finished the with an 8-12 record and four saves in 47 appearances, including 15 as starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
. He only appeared in 19 games for the Marines in , all in relief, ending with a 1-3 record and two saves. Montague started the season with the Mariners, and had a 6-4 record and one save in 41 appearances with the club.
He was traded by the Mariners on August 29, 1979 to the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
for a player to be named later, a trade completed when the Angels sent Jim Anderson
Jim Anderson (baseball)
James Lea Anderson is a former Major League Baseball shortstop. On June 3, he was drafted by the California Angels in the 2nd round of the 1975 Major League Baseball Draft. He played for the Angels , Seattle Mariners , and Texas Rangers .He made his major league debut on July 2, 1978, at Anaheim...
to the Mariners on December 5, 1979. He ended the 1979 season with a 2-0 record and six saves in 14 relief appearances. was his final season in the major leagues, ending his career with a 4-2 record and three saves in 37 appearances, all in relief. The final game of his career was on August 28, 1980, giving up nine hits and six runs (all earned) in a two-inning relief appearance in a 13-8 loss to the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
.