The season had started off well for the Yankees in 1992, they were 6-0. But Yankees pitching coach Mark Connor and manager Buck Showalter wanted to spread some of the relief work around, according to The New York Times.On this night, April 13, it was Rich Monteleone's turn. He went out and didn't give up a run in 1.2 innings of work.
"Mark told me tonight that I'd have to prepare for anything - 'Early we'll use you, late we'll use you,' " Monteleone told The Times. "It builds confidence in a pitcher to know that a manager will look to you in that fashion. It builds confidence in a manager to know that you, as a pitcher, can do your job."
Monteleone was doing his job, seeing time in his sixth major league season in 1992. He would go on to see time in 10 major league seasons, pitching in a total of 210 big league contests.
Monteleone's career began in 1982, taken by the Tigers in the first round out of Tampa Catholic High. He played that year at rookie league Bristol, first seeing AA the next year at Birmingham and AAA Evansville in 1984.
The next spring, Monteleone was seen as a top young arm in the Tigers organization.
"If they send me to Nashville, I'll just have to do the best I can there and hope for a break," Montleone told The Lakeland Ledger in February 1985. "I feel like I'll get a chance to pitch up here, if not with Detroit, then hopefully, someplace else."
He went 6-12 in 1985 with AAA Nashville, with an ERA of 5.08. It was the final year in the Tigers system for the former top-round pick. He was traded that off-season to the Mariners for Darnell Coles.
With Seattle, Monteleone spent another year at AAA. But, in April 1987, he made the big club. He pitched in three games for the Mariners that year, seven innings, giving up five earned runs.
The next year he was with the Angels, pitching in another three games. It was in 1989 where Monteleone saw his first extended time in the majors, 24 outings for the Angels, posting a 3.18 ERA.
In one May game, he earned his first major league victory, but not before coming in and giving up a single and two walks to load the bases in a scoreless game, then getting himself out of the jam, The Los Angeles Times wrote.
"To tell you the truth, I was really surprised to get the call," Monteleone told The LA Times afterward. "And to tell you the truth, I was really nervous."
The next year, it was off to the Yankees, where he saw time each of the next four seasons. That year in 1992, Monteleone saw his most outings, 47. He also had a 3.30 ERA.
Monteleone had been a starter in the minors. But in the majors, he became entrenched in relief. It was something he accepted.
"I just want to pitch the best I can each time out, and I want the team to win," Monteleone told The South Florida Sun-Sentinel in March 1993. "Some people need the fame. I'm not one of them."
Monteleone signed with the Giants for 1994, then returned to the Angels for 1995, ending his playing career with the team in 1996. He played nine games in 1995 and 12 in 1996.
"I was very excited for the opportunity to come back and glad they still feel I can help the team," Monteleone told The LA Times in June 1996. "It's a pretty comfortable feeling here because I know most of the guys and all of the coaches."
After his playing days were over, Monteleone returned to the Yankees, as a coach and instructor. He stayed with the Yankees through 2008, when he was let go.
- Lakeland Ledger, Feb. 27, 1985: Pitching a bright spot for Tigers, Part 2
- Los Angeles Times, May 4, 1989: Angels Buoyed by Rookie
- New York Times, April 14, 1992: A Wronged Staff Shows It Has the Right Stuff
- South Florida Sun-Sentinel, March 4, 1993: Caught In Middle, Monteleone Doesn't Mind
- Los Angeles Times, June 14, 1996: Monteleone's Return Is a Big Relief
Cards Featured: 338/880 - 38.4%
Players/Coaches Featured: 345
Made the Majors: 237 - 69%-X
Never Made the Majors: 108 - 31%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 101-X
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 93
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