Pitcher, San Francisco Giants
Age: 25 (May 25)
Bats – Right,
Throws – Right
Height: 6’1” Weight: 180
Prior to 1975:
A native of
Long Branch, New Jersey, Montefusco played shortstop in high school, and didn’t
pitch until he was a senior. Moving on to Brookdale Community College, where he
set several school pitching records in 1971 and ’72, including 16 consecutive
wins and 202 total strikeouts. His performance did not lead to being drafted by
a major league club and he played semi-pro ball following college. Signed by
the Giants in 1973, Montefusco was first assigned to the Decatur Commodores of
the Class A Midwest League where he posted a 9-2 record with a 2.18 ERA and 126
strikeouts over 120 innings. Advancing to Amarillo of the Class AA Texas League
in 1974, Montefusco went 8-9 with a 3.13 ERA before being promoted to Phoenix
of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League where he produced a 7-3 tally and a 3.27
ERA with 90 strikeouts over 77 innings. Called up to the Giants, he was 3-2
with a 4.81 ERA and 34 strikeouts over 39.1 innings in his first taste of major
league action. With his impressive fastball, slider, and slurve, in addition to
a new nickname, “the Count of Montefusco” or “The Count” for short, Montefusco
entered 1975 as a potential addition to the starting rotation.
1975 Season Summary
Appeared in 35
games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]
Pitching
Games – 35
Games Started –
34 [14, tied with five others]
Complete Games
– 10 [14]
Wins – 15 [9,
tied with ten others]
Losses – 9
PCT - .625 [5,
tied with Randy Jones, Doug Rau & Gary Nolan]
Saves – 0
Shutouts – 4
[5, tied with four others]
Innings Pitched
– 243.2 [12]
Hits – 210
Runs – 85
Earned Runs – 78
Home Runs – 11
Bases on Balls
– 86 [15, tied with Randy Tate]
Strikeouts – 215
[2]
ERA – 2.88 [7]
Hit Batters – 8
[4, tied with Charlie Hough]
Balks – 2 [13,
tied with 21 others]
Wild Pitches – 6
Midseason
Snapshot: 7-4, ERA - 3.00, SO - 93 in 120 IP
---
Most
strikeouts, game – 14 (in 9 IP) vs. Montreal 8/27
10+ strikeout
games – 7
Fewest hits
allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 8 IP) vs. NY Mets 8/23
Batting
PA – 94, AB – 80,
R – 4, H – 7, 2B – 0, 3B – 1, HR – 1, RBI – 2, BB – 5, SO – 44, SB – 0, CS – 0,
AVG - .088, GDP – 1, HBP – 0, SH – 9, SF – 0
Fielding
Chances – 37
Put Outs – 11
Assists – 25
Errors – 1
DP – 0
Pct. - .973
Awards & Honors:
NL Rookie of
the Year: BBWAA
4th in
NL Cy Young voting (2 points, 2% share)
NL ROY Voting:
John
Montefusco, SF.: 12 of 24 votes, 50% share
Gary Carter,
Mon.: 9 votes, 38% share
Rawly Eastwick,
Cin.: 1 vote, 4% share
Larry Parrish,
Mon.: 1 vote, 4% share
Manny Trillo,
ChiC.: 1 vote, 4% share
---
Giants went
80-81 to finish third in the NL Western Division, 27.5 games behind the
division-winning Cincinnati Reds. With attendance poor and owner Horace
Stoneham losing money, the club was dogged by rumors of impending sales and
moves. Streaky on the field, they had no chance at challenging the Reds for the
division title and were unable to catch the rival Dodgers in second place.
Aftermath of ‘75:
Brash as well
as talented, “The Count” followed up with another solid season in 1976 that was
capped by a no-hitter against the Atlanta Braves. Chosen as an All-Star, he
finished with a 16-14 record and a 2.84 ERA with 172 strikeouts. Hindered by an
ankle injury in 1977, Montefusco’s tally dropped to 7-12 with a 3.49 ERA and
110 strikeouts over 157.1 innings pitched and 25 starts, although he added a
sinker and forkball to his repertoire. The Giants finished third in the NL West
in 1978 and Montefusco’s contribution was an 11-9 record with a 3.81 ERA and
177 strikeouts while pitching 238.2 innings. The club returned to mediocrity in
1979 and Montefusco suffered through an injury-riddled season in which he
finished at 3-8 with a 3.94 ERA and 76 strikeouts while pitching 137 innings. His
1980 season was marred by a scuffle with manager Dave Bristol, and he ended up
posting a 4-8 tally and a 4.37 ERA while pitching 113.1 innings. On bad terms
with the organization by season’s end, Montefusco was traded to the Atlanta
Braves in the offseason. Injuries and controversy followed him to his new club
during the strike-interrupted 1981 season in which he appeared in 26 games,
only 9 of them starts, and went 2-3 with a 3.49 ERA. Released by the Braves, he
moved on to the San Diego Padres in 1982, where he managed to start 32 games
and provided valuable leadership as well as a 10-11 record and 4.00 ERA. In
1983, Montefusco ran afoul of manager Dick Williams, and despite a 9-4 record
and 3.30 ERA, he was dealt to the New York Yankees in August. He performed well
for the Yankees, going 5-0 the rest of the way. He ended up with a combined
record of 14-4 with a 3.31 ERA and re-signed with the Yankees in the offseason.
Injuries intruded again in 1984, including some sustained in a car accident,
and while he finished strong in September, his season totals were 5-3 in just
11 starts, with a 3.58 ERA. 1985 proved to be a lost season due to a hip injury
and the degenerative condition ended his career in 1986. For his major league
career, Montefusco posted a 90-83 record with a 3.54 ERA, 32 complete games, 11
shutouts, and 1081 strikeouts in 1652.1 innings pitched. With the Giants his
tally was 59-62 with a 3.47 ERA, 30 complete games, 11 shutouts, and 869
strikeouts over 1182.2 innings. A one-time All-Star, he never appeared in the
postseason. He later served as pitching coach for the Somerset Patriots of the
independent Atlantic League.
--
Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were recipients of
the Rookie of the Year Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America
(1947 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from
its inception through 1948 and from 1949 on to one recipient from each major
league.
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