john Montefusco---1978
San Francisco pitching coach Don
McMahon said midway through the
1975 season that John “The Count”
Montefusco was not a normal rookie.
“There’s something electric about
him,” McMahon said. “Electricity just
seems to pour from him. It’s his smile,
his refreshing honesty—and his arm.”
Dizzy Dean said, “It’ ain’t bragging if
you can do it.” Some 40 years after
Dean resided at the peak of his
career, Montefusco energized a San
Francisco team that was having
difficulty regaining its stride after
winning the National League West in
1971 and trading aging Hall of Famer
Willie May a year later. In his major
league debut, on September 3, 1974,
“The Count” relieved Ron Bryant in
the first inning and allowed Montreal
only one run and six hits over nine
innings. He added a two-run homer in
his first official at-bat with the Giants
to lead his team to a 9-5 victory.
The following season, Montefusco
earned a spot in the Giants’ rotation
and opened the slate with a four-hit,
5-0 shutout over Atlanta on April
13th. He went on to post a 15-9
record and a 2.88 ERA with 215
strikeouts in 35 outings. The
righthander led the Giants’ staff in
wins, starts, ERA, innings (244),
shutouts (4) and strikeouts. His 215
whiffs were the most by a Giant
rookie since Christy Mathewson
recorded 221 for New York in 1901,
and represented the most by any
National League rookie since Grover
Cleveland Alexander fanned 227 in
1911. What’s more, Montefusco lost
three decisions when the Giants were
shut out, and received no-decisions
on four occasions when he tossed
seven, eight or nine innings while
yielding just one run.
“The Count” was named the NL
Rookie of the Year at season’s end.
Upon receiving his award,
Montefusco displayed his puckish
braggadocio once again by saying,
“Right now, I want it known that next
year I want the Cy Young Award. I
think I’m as good as the other
pitchers in the league—Seaver,
Messersmith, those guys.”
Montefusco put together another
solid season in 1976, yet never
reached the pinnacle due to a variety
of injuries and wear and tear on his
body. He also wore out his welcome
on a couple of occasions, admitting
later in life that, “I didn’t burn bridges;
I blew them up.” He wound up toiling
13 seasons in the big leagues and
went 90-83 with a 3.54 ERA with the
Giants, Braves, Padres and Yankees.
(7/1/08)
McMahon said midway through the
1975 season that John “The Count”
Montefusco was not a normal rookie.
“There’s something electric about
him,” McMahon said. “Electricity just
seems to pour from him. It’s his smile,
his refreshing honesty—and his arm.”
Dizzy Dean said, “It’ ain’t bragging if
you can do it.” Some 40 years after
Dean resided at the peak of his
career, Montefusco energized a San
Francisco team that was having
difficulty regaining its stride after
winning the National League West in
1971 and trading aging Hall of Famer
Willie May a year later. In his major
league debut, on September 3, 1974,
“The Count” relieved Ron Bryant in
the first inning and allowed Montreal
only one run and six hits over nine
innings. He added a two-run homer in
his first official at-bat with the Giants
to lead his team to a 9-5 victory.
The following season, Montefusco
earned a spot in the Giants’ rotation
and opened the slate with a four-hit,
5-0 shutout over Atlanta on April
13th. He went on to post a 15-9
record and a 2.88 ERA with 215
strikeouts in 35 outings. The
righthander led the Giants’ staff in
wins, starts, ERA, innings (244),
shutouts (4) and strikeouts. His 215
whiffs were the most by a Giant
rookie since Christy Mathewson
recorded 221 for New York in 1901,
and represented the most by any
National League rookie since Grover
Cleveland Alexander fanned 227 in
1911. What’s more, Montefusco lost
three decisions when the Giants were
shut out, and received no-decisions
on four occasions when he tossed
seven, eight or nine innings while
yielding just one run.
“The Count” was named the NL
Rookie of the Year at season’s end.
Upon receiving his award,
Montefusco displayed his puckish
braggadocio once again by saying,
“Right now, I want it known that next
year I want the Cy Young Award. I
think I’m as good as the other
pitchers in the league—Seaver,
Messersmith, those guys.”
Montefusco put together another
solid season in 1976, yet never
reached the pinnacle due to a variety
of injuries and wear and tear on his
body. He also wore out his welcome
on a couple of occasions, admitting
later in life that, “I didn’t burn bridges;
I blew them up.” He wound up toiling
13 seasons in the big leagues and
went 90-83 with a 3.54 ERA with the
Giants, Braves, Padres and Yankees.
(7/1/08)
