Bob Montgomery (baseball)
| Bob Montgomery | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Catcher | |||
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Born: April 16, 1944 Nashville, Tennessee |
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| MLB debut | |||
| September 6, 1970, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| September 9, 1979, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .258 | ||
| Home runs | 23 | ||
| Runs batted in | 156 | ||
| Teams | |||
Robert Edward "Bob" Montgomery (born April 16, 1944) is a former American baseball catcher who played ten seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Nicknamed "Monty", he played his entire career for the Boston Red Sox from 1970 to 1979. He batted and threw right-handed and also played six games at first base.
Montgomery signed for the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent in 1962 and played for seven of their minor league affiliates until 1970, when the Red Sox promoted him to the major leagues. There, he served as the team's backup catcher behind future Hall of Fame member Carlton Fisk. He spent the next nine years with the Red Sox and played his last game on September 9, 1979. Montgomery is most famous for being the last major league player to bat without wearing a batting helmet.
Montgomery was born on April 16, 1944, in Nashville, Tennessee. Baseball played a huge role in his family; his father frequently took part in sandlot ball, while his brother Gerald played for several minor league affiliates of the Boston Red Sox. Montgomery attended Nashville's Central High School. Although he actively participated in three sports, he was most inclined to baseball, playing in the oufield, at first base and pitching.
Upon his graduation from high school. Montgomery was signed by George J. Digby, a renowned scout who worked for the Boston Red Sox organization.
Montgomery began his professional baseball career for the Olean Red Sox, a minor league baseball team that were members of the New York–Penn League. Playing both third base and the outfield, he batted .273, enough to earn him a promotion to the Class-A Waterloo Hawks of the Midwest League in the following season. It was here that Montgomery was encouraged by manager Len Okrie to switch positions to catcher, in order to improve his chances of being promoted into the major leagues.
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