Bob Montag
From BR Bullpen
Robert Edward Montag
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 5' 11", Weight 185 lb.
- Born January 21, 1923, in Cincinnati, Ohio USA
- Died March 21, 2005 in Temecula, CA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Robert Edward Montag, who was to go on to become one of Minor League Baseball's most notable players, came out of the United States Armed Services after World War II, the recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart Medals of Honor, shot up so bad doctors did not think he would ever walk again, let alone play baseball for the next 14 years.
In 1946 Montag signed with the class C Ogden Reds, an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds Major League franchise and proceeded to play in 107 games, winding up the year with a .288 batting average.
This was just the start of his long tour of duty in the Minors, 14 years, 10 teams and 8 different leagues. He was to wind up with a .270 lifetime batting average and a .488 slugging avg. He also busted 224 home runs, 113 of those coming for the Atlanta Crackers of the AA Southern Association League.
Montag's best year came with the 1949 Pawtucket Slaters of the class B New England League. His stats show a .423 BA, best in professional baseball in 1949, 139 runs scored, 192 hits and 21 HR's. He had a crushing .720 slugging average.
Montag had 4 years in AAA ball during which he hit .251 at ages 27-30, then spent 7 years with the AA Atlanta Squad. In 1959 he finished his active career as player-manager of the Atlanta Crackers Southern League team.
Statistics
| Year | League | Clubs | G | AB | H | HR | AVG | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | PION | Ogden Reds | 107 | 444 | 128 | 3 | .283 | .403 |
| 1946 | SALL | Columbia Reds | NA | |||||
| 1947 | NENL | Providence Chiefs | 35 | 124 | 28 | 3 | .226 | .371 |
| 1947 | OHSL | Muncie Reds | 82 | 301 | 95 | 14 | .316 | .575 |
| 1948 | EL | Hartford Chiefs | 36 | 119 | 31 | 1 | .261 | .361 |
| 1948 | NENL | Pawtucket Slaters | 47 | 150 | 47 | 7 | .313 | .593 |
| 1949 | NENL | Pawtucket Slaters | 124 | 454 | 192 | 21 | .423 | .720 |
| 1950 | AA | Milwaukee Brewers | 142 | 490 | 131 | 20 | .267 | .463 |
| 1951 | AA | Milwaukee Brewers | 86 | 195 | 50 | 9 | .256 | .451 |
| 1952 | AA | Milwaukee Brewers | 69 | 162 | 34 | 8 | .210 | .438 |
| 1952 | SOUA | Atlanta Crackers | 28 | 98 | 30 | 3 | .306 | .469 |
| 1953 | AA | Toledo Mud Hens | 90 | 239 | 58 | 10 | .243 | .448 |
| 1954 | SOUA | Atlanta Crackers | 144 | 452 | 138 | 39 | .305 | .648 |
| 1955 | SOUA | Atlanta Crackers | 47 | 144 | 30 | 10 | .208 | .465 |
| 1955 | TL | Beaumont Exporters | 94 | 296 | 85 | 14 | .287 | .510 |
| 1956 | SOUA | Atlanta Crackers | 133 | 386 | 102 | 27 | .264 | .539 |
| 1957 | SOUA | Atlanta Crackers | 115 | 333 | 82 | 20 | .246 | .498 |
| 1958 | SOUA | Atlanta Crackers | 93 | 220 | 57 | 13 | .259 | .509 |
| 1959 | SOUA | Atlanta Crackers | 17 | 21 | 4 | 1 | .190 | .333 |
[edit] Source
Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Third Edition
SABR Data Base
Image Source: Bob Montag (1923-2005),New Georgia Encyclopedia.
Retrived June 27, 2008://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org (See Discussion Page)
