Bill Monbouquette: Former Mets Pitching Coach & Minor League Manager (1981-1983)
In 1956 the five foot eleven right handed pitcher, signed with his local Boston Red Sox as an amateur fee agent.
From 1960-1965 Monbo won 14 games or more for four straight seasons. In 1963 & 1964 he led
the AL in innings pitched both seasons.
1960 All Star: That year he was the AL starter in the first All Star Game, played in the game at at Kansas City's Municipal Stadium. He gave up four runs including HRs to Ernie Banks & Del Crandall taking the loss. He made two more All Star Games (1962 & 1963) but did not pitch.
17 K Game: On May 12th 1961 in the Nation's Capitol, Monbo set a Red Sox record by striking out seventeen Senators in a 2-1 five hit win. The record stood for 25 years until Roger Clemens struck out 20 batters in 1986.
No Hitter: On August 1st, 1962 at Comiskey Park, Monbo threw a no hitter beating Early Wynn & the White Sox 1-0 in a classic pitcher's duel at Comiskey Park. He struck out seven & walked one.
He finished the year at 15-13 (9th most wins in the AL) posting a 3.33 ERA with eleven complete games.
In 1963 he had his best season pitching for manager Johnny Pesky, winning twenty games (4th best in the AL) going 20-10, posting a 3.81 ERA with a career high 174 strike outs in 266.3 innings of work (3rd most in the AL).
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Monboquette spent eight years with the Red Sox going 96-91 in that time with a 3.69 ERA. Unfortunately he pitched at Fenway Park during a dark period in Sox history, as he was a much better pitcher than the stats show. 1
Career Stats: Lifetime in 11 seasons, he was 114-112 with three saves, a 3.68 ERA, striking out 1122 batters while walking 462 in 1961 innings pitched. Monbo threw 18 shut outs with 78 complete games in 343 appearances. On the mound he posted perfect fielding percentages in four seasons.
Retirement & Coaching: In 1976 Monbo began coaching in the New York Mets. He was brought in with the old fashioned mentality to start building from the ground up.
In that time he saw a young Dwight Gooden starting out, instructing him that no matter what he hears don’t let anyone change his delivery. It was also coach Mombouqutte who suggested that Jesse Orosco become a full time reliever after watching his arm go flat after four innings as a starter.
In 1982 he was named the Mets pitching coach under new manager George Bamberger. In those days he also doubled as the Mets bull pen coach.
Quotes- Bill Monbouquette: "You cant have two pitching coaches on the same club. Two opinions could be conflicting, maybe it was confusing at times."
Trivia: In 2010 the Boston Rock band “The Remains” recorded a song called “Monbo Time” in his honor, donating 50% of the profits to cancer research.
Signed by the Sox: The day he signed with the Red Sox he attended the Red Sox game & things got ugly when somebody spilled beer on his mother. He & his father ended up getting into a fight & then got arrested by Boston Police, until the Red Sox team bailed him out.
In 1956 he was a 15 game winner in the minor leagues & the following season won double figures as well.
In 1956 he was a 15 game winner in the minor leagues & the following season won double figures as well.
In 1958 Monbo made it to the Red Sox staff establishing himself as a quality starter over the next two seasons. By 1960 he was a 14 game winner going 14-11 (7th most wins in the AL) with a 3.64 ERA.
the AL in innings pitched both seasons.
1960 All Star: That year he was the AL starter in the first All Star Game, played in the game at at Kansas City's Municipal Stadium. He gave up four runs including HRs to Ernie Banks & Del Crandall taking the loss. He made two more All Star Games (1962 & 1963) but did not pitch.
17 K Game: On May 12th 1961 in the Nation's Capitol, Monbo set a Red Sox record by striking out seventeen Senators in a 2-1 five hit win. The record stood for 25 years until Roger Clemens struck out 20 batters in 1986.
No Hitter: On August 1st, 1962 at Comiskey Park, Monbo threw a no hitter beating Early Wynn & the White Sox 1-0 in a classic pitcher's duel at Comiskey Park. He struck out seven & walked one.
In 1963 he had his best season pitching for manager Johnny Pesky, winning twenty games (4th best in the AL) going 20-10, posting a 3.81 ERA with a career high 174 strike outs in 266.3 innings of work (3rd most in the AL).
On the down side he also allowed the most earned runs (113) & hits (258) in the league. He allowed the most hits in the league again the next season, dropping to a 13-14 record. In 1965 he led the AL in losses (18) going 10-18 on a ninth place Boston team that lost 100 games. Monbo notched double digits in wins for the sixth straight year. posting a 3.70 ERA.
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Monboquette spent eight years with the Red Sox going 96-91 in that time with a 3.69 ERA. Unfortunately he pitched at Fenway Park during a dark period in Sox history, as he was a much better pitcher than the stats show. 1In 1966 he was traded to the Detroit Tigers where he began being used as a reliever. He pitched for the Tigers midway thru 1967 when he was released. From there he signed on with the A.L. New York going 6-5 for the ninth place team under manager Ralph Houk.
In 1968 he was traded to the San Francisco Giants for Lindy McDaniel, he appeared in seven games & was released the next year when he retired.
Career Stats: Lifetime in 11 seasons, he was 114-112 with three saves, a 3.68 ERA, striking out 1122 batters while walking 462 in 1961 innings pitched. Monbo threw 18 shut outs with 78 complete games in 343 appearances. On the mound he posted perfect fielding percentages in four seasons.
Retirement & Coaching: In 1976 Monbo began coaching in the New York Mets. He was brought in with the old fashioned mentality to start building from the ground up.
In 1982 he was named the Mets pitching coach under new manager George Bamberger. In those days he also doubled as the Mets bull pen coach.
Mets Trivia: Bill replaced long time legendary Mets coach pitching Rube Walker who had been in that position since 1968.
Monbo’s pitching staff was led by Craig Swan who won 11 games that season. His other starters included Pete Falcone (eight wins) Charlie Puleo (nine wins) a young Mike Scott & Randy Jones who was past his prime. In June the Mets were in contention in third place but finished the year at 67-95.
Monbo’s pitching staff was led by Craig Swan who won 11 games that season. His other starters included Pete Falcone (eight wins) Charlie Puleo (nine wins) a young Mike Scott & Randy Jones who was past his prime. In June the Mets were in contention in third place but finished the year at 67-95.
In 1983 Bill was assigned to scouting duties as manager George Bamberger took on the dual role as manager & pitching coach. Bamberger denied there was any conflicts between the two.
Monbo went on to coach in the New York Penn League with the A ball Oneonta Tigers & for the AL New York team's minor leagues.
Honors: In 2000 he was inducted into the Red sox Hall of Fame. After the Sox won the 2004 World Series they gave out some rings to their alumni, Monbo was one of them.
Family: In 1964 Bill married his first wife Patricia (Overton) who was an airline stewardess. He met her the night he threw his no-hitter. They later divorced.
Family: In 1964 Bill married his first wife Patricia (Overton) who was an airline stewardess. He met her the night he threw his no-hitter. They later divorced.
In 2005 Monbo married the former Josephine Ritchie. 40 years earlier he had asked her out in high school but she turned him down. The two reunited at a class reunion & eventually married. It was his second marriage.
Passing: In 2008 he was diagnosed with leukemia. Thru chemotherapy the cancer went into remission but he needed a bone marrow, stem cell transplant. On January 25th, 2015 Monbouquette passed at 78 years old.
Passing: In 2008 he was diagnosed with leukemia. Thru chemotherapy the cancer went into remission but he needed a bone marrow, stem cell transplant. On January 25th, 2015 Monbouquette passed at 78 years old.
Trivia: In 2010 the Boston Rock band “The Remains” recorded a song called “Monbo Time” in his honor, donating 50% of the profits to cancer research.