Ramón Monzant
From BR Bullpen
Ramón Segundo Monzant Espina (Ray)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 165 lb.
- Debut July 2, 1954
- Final Game April 25, 1960
- Born January 4, 1933 in Maracaibo, Venezuela
- Died August 10, 2001 in Maracaibo, Venezuela
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[edit] Biographical Information
Ramon Monzant was the second Venezuelan pitcher to make it to the major leagues after Alex Carrasquel. The right-hander first came up with the New York Giants in 1954 after going 23-6 with a 2.73 ERA for the Danville Leafs and being awarded the Carolina League MVP award. The 22-year-old appeared in six games with the Giants with no decisions and spend the rest of the season with the Minneapolis Millers of the American Association, winning 11 and losing 7 in 161 innings with a 4.42 ERA.
On September 29, 1957, he was the starting pitcher in the Giants' final game at the Polo Grounds. Ramon was also the starter for the [1958 Giants|[San Francisco Giants]] against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first big league night game ever played on the West Coast on April 16, 1958. His best big league outing came a week later when he shut out the Chicago Cubs on four hits, striking out Ernie Banks three times. He finished up the 1958 year with an 8-11 record and a 4.72 ERA in 150 innings but unknown at the time an ailing arm would keep him out of the entire 1959 season. A comeback attempt the following year with the Tacoma Giants of the Pacific Coast League ended when he suffered a broken leg sliding into second base. Monzant had spent his entire major league career with the Giants (1954-1960) and was 16-21 in 106 games with a career 4.38 ERA.
Ramon's minor league record was considerably better, spending six up and down seasons during (1952-1960) between the major league and the minors, he compiled a 61-25 record with a 3.18 ERA. After baseball he worked as a supervisor for a brewery, retiring in Maracaibo, Venezuela, where he died on August 10, 2001 at the age of 68.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 1953 MVP Carolina League Danville Leafs
