Former New York Giants Hall of Famer: Monte Irvin (1950-1956)

Monte Merrill Irvin was born February 25, 1919 in Haleburg, Alabama but his family soon moved & he grew up in West Orange, New Jersey. Irvin became one of five players from the state of New Jersey to go to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

He went to West Orange high school and starred in four different sports, setting a state record for javelin throwing. He went to play for the Newark Eagles in the Negro Leagues on weekends under a different name to keep his amateur status. In baseball Irvin could do it all and was a five tool player in the Willie Mays mold.

He was a five time All Star with his home state Newark Eagles in the Negro Leagues, hitting over .400 twice & just missing a third time batting .396. He also played in the Mexican League winning an MVP award & a Triple Crown in 1942. He then went off to serve in World War II returning in 1945 to hit .400 again and lead Newark to a Championship over the Kansas City Monarchs.

Many people believed he should have been the first player to break the color barrier and was probably the best all around player at the time. He was approached by Branch Rickey & the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945 about being signed for the major leagues. As the story goes, Irvin felt he wasn’t ready to play at that level, especially after just leaving the military.

Eventually The New York Giants paid $5,000 for his contract while he was playing in Cuba. He was assigned to their affiliate in Jersey City back near his home town. After batting .373 in 63 games at Jersey City, he was brought up the Giants big league team in July at the age of 30.

He was mostly used as a pinch-hitter, playing some outfielder, third & first base, going 16-76 in 36 games. In 1950 he started out in Jersey City again but was batting .510 after 18 games & arrived in the major leagues for good in May.

After going 0-1 in his first game, he got three hits with 2 HRs & 8 RBIs in his next three games. He split time playing at both first base & in the outfield batting .299 with 15 HRs 19 doubles & 66 RBIs in only 374 at bats.

By 1951 Irvin was a star on the Giants NL Pennant winner, coming in third place in the NL MVP Voting. He led the league in RBIs (121) batting .312 with a .415 on base %, 24 HRs (10th in the NL) 19 doubles & 11 triples (3rd in the NL) while serving as a mentor to a young rookie, Willie Mays. He stole 12 bases (8th in the league) & posted the third best fielding % in the outfield (.996).

In the three game playoff series against Brooklyn to determine the NL Pennant winner, Irvin was hit by a pitch then scored on Bobby Thomson’s HR to put the Giants ahead. He added an insurance run in the top of the 8th inning with a solo HR off Ralph Branca. In the third game, he led off the 7th inning with a double off Don Newcombe & scored the tying run on Bobby Thomson’s sac fly.

Post Season: In the 1951 World Series, Irvin had a great Game #2 getting four hits & stole home off pitcher Allie Reynolds. Overall in the Series he hit .458 (11-24) with two walks & a .500 on base percentage. He drove in two runs, scored three runs, stole two bases & hit a triple. Monte hit .500 (4- 8) in both Games at the Polo Grounds. He made history in the World Series as he, Willie Mays & Hank Thompson formed baseballs first all black outfield.

In 1952 he broke his ankle in April and was limited to just 46 games all season. He hit .310 & made his only All Star appearance. In 1953 he was having another MVP type season but he reinjured the same leg in August and his numbers tailed off. He finished the year batting .329 with 21 HRs 21 doubles 5 triples & 97 RBIs while posting a .406 on base %.

In the 1954 Giants Championship season Irvin was now 35 years old with bad legs. He slowed up a bit, batting .262 with 19 HRs 13 doubles 3 triples & 64 RBIs. In the 1954 World Series Monte hit .222 (2-9) seeing less playing time due to his aging & the huge Series Dusty Rhodes was having. In the final Game #4, Monte got both of his hits driving in two runs and scoring another. Overall in his career, Irvin played in two World Series’, batting .394 (13-33)with 13 hits four RBIs & two stolen bases.

1955 would be his last year with the Giants, he was limited to only 51 games hitting .253 with one HR & 17 RBIs. He spent his final season with the Chicago Cubs after being drafted (Rule V) away from the Giants. In his final season he batted .271, with 15 HRs 13 doubles & 50 RBIs while playing in 111 games.

He retired at the age of 37 in 1956 after an eight year playing career in the majors. Lifetime he batted .293, with 731 hits 99 HRs 443 RBIs 366 runs scored 97 doubles & 31 triples in 764 games played. His Dodger rival, Roy Campanella once said “Irvin was the best all around player I ever saw”.

Retirement: While in New York, he & Willie Mays owned the Wilmont Liquor store located in Washington Heights.

After his playing days he served as a scout for the New York Mets in the late sixties. Then he spent seventeen years (1968-1984) as a public relations specialist for the baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn. In 1973 he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame for his play in both MLB & NLB. He also served as a member of the Halls Veterans & Negro Leagues Committee.

On June 26th 2010, Irvin’s uniform number was officially retired by the Giants in a ceremony at AT & T Park.

Irvin joined fellow Giants Hall of Famers; Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal, Gaylord Perry & Orlando Cepeda in tossing out the ceremonial first pitch of the 2010 World Series. Today he turns 93! A Happy Birthday to a great one!