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The Syracuse Chiefs are a minor league baseball team based in Syracuse, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. Their home stadium is Alliance Bank Stadium (formerly known as P&C Stadium) located north of downtown Syracuse.

Franchise history[link]

Syracuse has been represented in professional baseball since 1877, when the Syracuse Stars competed in the League Alliance, an early minor league. Syracuse fielded two major league versions of the Stars, in the 1879 National League and the 1890 American Association. Apart from those seasons, however, the Stars were members of high minor leagues such as the Eastern League (forerunner to the International) and the New York State League through 1917. From 1918-27, they competed in the International League and were an early farm team of the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1928 the IL franchise moved to Montreal and became the Montreal Royals. The Stars moved down one classification to the New York-Penn League for 1½ seasons before moving to Utica, New York.^[1]

The Chiefs' franchise dates to 1934 when the International League's Jersey City Skeeters moved to Syracuse and were renamed the Chiefs. The franchise played in the IL through 1955, winning five championships, but were sold and moved to Miami as the Marlins for the 1956 campaign. A team known as the Chiefs competed in the Class A Eastern League, then two levels below the IL, during 1956-57 but moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania on July 13, 1957.^[1] Syracuse was without baseball until the 1961 season, when the Royals franchise was abandoned by its owners, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and moved to Syracuse.

The Chiefs have played in Syracuse without interruption since their rebirth in 1961. The team was renamed the SkyChiefs in 1997. The name reverted to the original "Chiefs" in December 2006.^[2]

From 1978 to 2008, the Chiefs were the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. On September 20, 2008, the Chiefs signed a two-year affiliation agreement with the Washington Nationals, ending their relationship with the Blue Jays. The Toronto–Syracuse affiliation was the longest of the eleven major league affiliations the Chiefs have had since 1936.

The Chiefs played at MacArthur Stadium from 1934 to 1996. They moved to then-P&C Stadium in 1997.

In 2008, the Chiefs wore a decal on their uniform with the letters HB to commemorate Harold Berman, a former member of the Chiefs' Board of Directors, who died after the 2007 season.

In 2009, the Chiefs wore a decal on their uniform with the letters HM on it to commemorate Hy Miller, a former State Assemblyman for New York and a former director on the Chiefs' Board of Directors, who died after the 2008 season.

In 2010, the Chiefs celebrated their fiftieth season of community owned baseball (1961–2010). They wore jerseys from the 1961 season during every Thursday home game. They also brought back some radio announcers from the past, such as Syracuse University alumnus Sean McDonough, Dan Hoard, and others. The Chiefs went 76-67, with top pitching prospect Stephen Strasburg playing for the Chiefs, going 2-1 in five appearances.

In 2011, The Chiefs played in their 51st season of community ownership. The team wore throwback jerseys at every Thursday home game in celebration of the 35th anniversary of their last International League Governors Cup Championship team, which was managed by current Syracuse Wall of Fame member, former manager Bobby Cox. The Chiefs added four other alternate jerseys to their rotation for the season. One was in conjunction with the celebration of Latin American day, a second in conjunction with Jackie Robinson day, paying tribute to Negro League uniforms, another that was worn on American celebratory holidays such as Independence Day and Memorial Day, and a fourth which the Chiefs wore in support of breast cancer awareness night. The Chiefs played the Pawtucket Red Sox on August 20 at Fenway Park as part of a doubleheader of minor league baseball in conjunction with the sixth annual Futures at Fenway event, featuring games involving Boston Red Sox Minor League teams. The Chiefs, behind starter Brad Meyers, defeated the PawSox 3-1 in front of over 29,000 fans. At Alliance Bank Stadium, the Chiefs added a "Home Plate Club" to the stadium which consists of the first four rows behind home plate being used as premium seating and features a waitstaff for merchandise and concessions. On May 14, Chiefs DH Micheal Aubrey went 4 for 4, all hits home runs, becoming only the second player in team history to hit four home runs in a game. On August 27, Stephen Strasburg pitched his only rehab game for the Chiefs vs the Rochester Redwings. He gave up two hits in the sixth inning, his only hits allowed before departing with the Chiefs ahead 1-0, though he received no decision in Syracuse's 4-3 win which sealed the Thruway Cup Championship for 2011. The club's final record for the season was 66-74 finishing 14.0 games out of first place and fourth in the six team north division.

In 2012, the Chiefs opened at home against the rival Rochester Red Wings on April 5. Top pick and top prospect in baseball Bryce Harper, since promoted to the Nationals, made the opening day roster. Randy Knorr did not return for his second season as manager, as Tony Beasley was promoted from the Harrisburg Senators. The Chiefs will play all 16 games against the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees at Alliance Bank Stadium in 2012 during stadium renovation in Moosic, Pennsylvania. On May 7th, The Chiefs unveiled a new HD videoboard in left field replacing the board that stood from the stadiums opening in 1997 to 2012.

Four home run games[link]

Two players in Chiefs history have hit four home runs in one game; on July 14, 1977 Gene Locklear hit four home runs in one game and on May 14, 2011 Micheal Aubrey hit four home runs in four at bats in a 11-0 Chiefs win over the Durham Bulls.

Overall attendance by season[link]

1999 446,025#; 2001 423,405#; 1998 420,488#; 2010 416,382#; 2002 413,566#; 2000 402,450#; 1997 400,804#; 2009 392,518#; 2008 392,028#; 2005 382,896#; 2007 380,152#; 1994 368,971*; 2004 364,648#; 2003 356,303#; 2006 347,699#; 1991 307,922; 1995 300,589; 1996 300,405; 1992 276,786; 1993 265,486; 1970 257,650*; 1990 250,048; 1989 233,161*; 1985 232,073*; 1971 216,115*; 1987 211,315; 1964 208,956*; 1975 201,725*; 1977 200,302; 1981 198,101; 1979 196,228*; 1976 196,121*; 1980 189,250; 1986 187,758; 1988 184,967; 1973 184,461; 1982 184,297; 1974 182,082*; 1963 180,971*; 1972 179,048; 1983 163,859; 1978 160,427; 1967 152,781; 1969 152,201*; 1965 152,072*; 1968 150,295; 1984 142,571; 1961 126,016; 1966 106,669; 1962 103,191.

• INCLUDES PLAYOFFS #Alliance Bank Stadium

Top 40 crowds since 1961[link]

1: 5/7/10 14,098; 2: 5/24/10 13,288; 3: 7/17/93 13,124; 4: 5/29/10 13,115; 5: 7/17/67 13,082; 6: 7/25/67 13,063; 7: 8/17/95 12,711; 8: 7/30/10 12,674; 9: 6/28/95 12,659; 10: 7/14/01 12,455; 11: 6/28/01 12,368; 12: 8/17/99 12,344; 13: 8/22/72 12,322; 14: 8/16/61 12,321; 15: 8/14/09 12,288; 16: 7/11/98 12,255; 17: 7/23/94 12,224; 18: 8/1/08 12,208; 19: 7/13/01 12,121; 20: 4/3/97 12,112; 21: 5/29/94 12,112; 22: 7/18/94 11,899; 23: 7/11/94 11,679; 24: 8/20/94 11,485; 25: 7/9/63 11,476; 26: 8/30/94 11,469; 27: 7/10/95 11,455; 28: 5/9/70 11,398; 29: 6/25/02 11,356; 30: 6/29/00 11,295; 31: 8/18/99 11,228; 32: 6/22/99 11,219; 33: 7/13/70 11,144; 34: 6/27/77 11,100; 35: 5/5/06 11,012; 36: 7/16/81 10,835; 37: 5/15/99 10,767; 38: 6/22/71 10,677; 39: 7/7/80 10,657; 40: 7/12/97 10,656.

Titles and pennants[link]

The Chiefs have won the Governors' Cup, the championship of the IL Playoffs, eight times, and have played in the championship series 17 times.

The Chiefs have won the International League pennant—finishing the regular season with the best record in the league—eight times. The first Chiefs pennant was in 1885, and the most recent was in 1989.

Syracuse Chiefs year by year[link]

YEAR, WIN-LOSS, WINNING PERCENTAGE, POSITION,MANAGER, GM or OWNER, ATTENDANCE. W/Playoffs (gms)

• 2011 66-74 .471 10 Randy Knorr John Simone 374,680
• 2010 76-67 .531 5 Trent Jewett John Simone 416,382
• 2009 76-68 .528 5 Tim Foli John Simone 392,518
• 2008 69-73 .485 7 Doug Davis John Simone 392,028
• 2007 64-80 .444 11 Doug Davis John Simone 380,152
• 2006 64-79 .448 12 Mike Basso John Simone 347,699
• 2005 71-73 .493 8 Marty Pevey John Simone 382,896
• 2004 66-78 .458 11 Marty Pevey John Simone 364,648
• 2003 62-79 .440 14 Omar Malave John Simone 356,303
• 2002 64-80 .444 10 Omar Malave John Simone 413,566
• 2001 71-73 .493 6 Omar Malave John Simone 423,405
• 2000 74-66 .529 7 Kelly/Queen/Malave John Simone 402,450
• 1999 73-71 .507 8 Pat Kelly John Simone 446,025
• 1998 80-62 .577 2 Terry Bevington John Simone 420,488
• 1997 55-87 .387 9 Garth Iorg John Simone 400,804
• 1996 67-75 .472 7 Richie Hebner Tex Simone 300,405
• 1995 59-82 .418 10 Didier/Torres/Hebner Tex Simone 300,589
• 1994 71-71 .500 5 Bob Didier Tex Simone 341,820 368,573 (4)
• 1993 59-82 .418 10 Leyva/Didier Tex Simone 265,486
• 1992 60-83 .420 7 Nick Leyva Tex Simone 276,786
• 1991 73-71 .507 6 Bob Bailor Tex Simone 307,922
• 1990 62-83 .428 6 Bob Bailor Tex Simone 250,048
• 1989 83-62 .572 1 Bob Bailor Tex Simone 226,327 233,161 (2)
• 1988 70-71 .496 3 Bob Bailor Tex Simone 184,967
• 1987 68-72 .486 6 Doug Ault Tex Simone 211,315
• 1986 72-67 .518 5 Doug Ault Tex Simone 187,758
• 1985 79-61 .564 1 Doug Ault Tex Simone 222,725 232,073 (2)
• 1984 58-81 .417 7 Jim Beauchamp Tex Simone 142,571
• 1983 61-78 .439 7 Jim Beauchamp Tex Simone 163,859
• 1982 64-76 .457 6 Jim Beauchamp Tex Simone 184,596
• 1981 60-80 .429 7 Bob Humphreys Tex Simone 198,101
• 1980 58-81 .417 8 Harry Warner Tex Simone 189,250
• 1979 77-63 .550 2 Vern Benson Tex Simone 176,548 196,228 (6)
• 1978 50-90 .357 8 Vern Benson Tex Simone 160,427
• 1977 70-70 .500 5 Pete Ward Tex Simone 200,302
• 1976 82-57 .590 2 Bobby Cox Tex Simone 187,195 196,121 (5)
• 1975 76-70 .521 4 Bobby Cox Tex Simone 194,111 201,725 (4)
• 1974 72-64 .529 3 Bobby Cox Tex Simone 174,669 182,082 (5)
• 1973 74-70 .514 4 Bobby Cox Tex Simone 184,461
• 1972 64-80 .444 8 Frank Verdi Tex Simone 179,048
• 1971 74-70 .514 3 Loren Babe Tex Simone 209,425 216,115 (2)
• 1970 84-56 .600 1 Frank Verdi Tex Simone 221,520 257,650 (9)
• 1969 75-65 .536 3 Frank Verdi Don Labbruzzo 124,663 152,201 (6)
• 1968 72-75 .490 5 Blaylock/Verdi Don Labbruzzo 150,295
• 1967 63-77 .450 8 Gary Blaylock Don Labbruzzo 152,781
• 1966 54-93 .367 8 Frank Carswell Don Labbruzzo 106,669
• 1965 74-73 .503 4 Frank Carswell Don Labbruzzo 143,875 152,072 (3)
• 1964 88-66 .571 2 Frank Carswell Don Labbruzzo 189,096 208,956 (7)
• 1963 80-70 .533 3 Swift/Carswell Don Labbruzzo 169,359 180,971 (2)
• 1962 53-99 .344 8 Johnny Vander MeerVDMeer/Verdi Don Labbruzzo 103,191
• 1961 56-98 .364 8 Verble/Verdi Don Labbruzzo 126,016
• 1957 56-84 .400 5 Frank Calo Joe Reardon 30,737
• 1956 62-74 .446 5 McQln/Torpey/Calo Joe Reardon 53,431
• 1955 74-79 .484 5 S. Newsome Marty Haske 85,191
• 1954 79-76 .510 4 S. Newsome Marty Haske 81,809 121,652 (9)
• 1953 58-95 .379 7 Bruno Betzel Bill Hoffman, Jr. 83,992
• 1952 88-66 .571 2 Bruno Betzel Bill Hoffman, Jr. 133,013 141,741 (2)
• 1951 82-71 .536 3 Bruno Betzel Bill Hoffman, Jr. 114,597 150,219 (6)
• 1950 74-79 .484 6 Bruno Betzel Bill Hoffman 106,939
• 1949 74-79 .484 6 Jewel Ens Bill Hoffman 190,255
• 1948 77-63 .550 3 Jewel Ens Bill Hoffman 143,865 202,259 (6)
• 1947 88-65 .575 3 Jewel Ens Bill Hoffman 196,592 288,141 (9)
• 1946 81-72 .549 2 Jewel Ens Bill Hoffman 175,861 237,235 (6)
• 1945 64-89 .418 7 Jewel Ens Bill Hoffman 87,858
• 1944 68-84 .447 8 Jewel Ens C. Schindler 90,619
• 1943 82-71 .536 3 Jewel Ens C. Schindler 66,831 129,494 (9)
• 1942 78-74 .513 3 Jewel Ens C. Schindler 117,231 164,466 (9)
• 1941 70-83 .458 6 Bennie Borgmann C. Schindler 109,002
• 1940 71-90 .441 7 Dick Porter C. Schindler 118,244
• 1939 81-74 .523 5 Dick Porter John Corbett 178,671
• 1938 87-67 .565 2 Bottomley/Porter John Corbett 171,219 183,050 (2)
• 1937 76-75 .503 3 Mike Kelly John Corbett 207,745 215,745 (2)
• 1936 59-95 .383 7 Leibold/Kelly John Corbett 125,387
• 1935 87-67 .565 2 Nemo Leibold John Corbett 171,679 206,179 (5)
• 1934 60-94 .390 7 High/Sweeney John Corbett 91,390
• 1929 19-23 .452 DNF Kaiser Wilhelm
• 1928 64-74 .464 6 Mike O’Neill
• 1927 102-66.607 2 Burt Shotton 174,059
• 1926 70-91 .435 7 Burt Shotton 123,214
• 1925 74-87 .460 6 Frank Shaughnessy/Harry Myers 110,892
• 1924 79-83 .488 6 Frank Shaughnessy 99,378
• 1923 73-92 .442 6 Frank Shaughnessy 95,236
• 1922 64-102.386 7 Frank Shaughnessy 97,587
• 1921 71-96 .425 6 Tom Madden/Shaughnessy 115,985
• 1920 33-116.221 8 Tony Cummings/Amby McConnell/John Engman/Madden
• 1918 28-56 .378 7 Patsy Donovan
• 1917 64-51 .557 3 Mike O’Neill
• 1916 81-52 .609 1 Mike O’Neill
• 1915 60-60 .500 5 Mike O’Neill
• 1914 48-79 .378 7 Fred Payne
• 1913 61-78 .439 6 Fred Burchell/Payne
• 1912 54-82 .397 7 Edward McCafferty/Burchell
• 1911 65-74 .467 6 Edward Ashenbach/Snake Deal
• 1910 78-57 .577 2 Edward Ashenbach
• 1909 60-78 .435 7 Sandy Griffin
• 1908 76-64 .543 4 Sandy Griffin
• 1907 61-75 .449 6 Sandy Griffin
• 1906 70-65 .519 3 Sandy Griffin
• 1905 70-51 .579 2 Sandy Griffin
• 1904 91-44 .674 1 Sandy Griffin
• 1903 80-54 .597 2 Sandy Griffin
• 1902 61-55 .526 4 Sandy Griffin
• 1901 28-39 .418 7 Frank Leonard
• 1900 43-84 .339 8 Arthur Irwin
• 1899 39-68 .364 8 Lew Whistler/Griffin
• 1898 52-63 .452 6 George Kuntzsch
• 1897 83-50 .624 1 Al Buckenberger
• 1886 59-62 .488 5 Charlie Reilly/Kuntzsch
• 1895 62-53 .539 4 Griffin/Reilly
• 1894 63-56 .529 3 Jay Faatz/Kuntzsch/Griffin
• 1892 24-36 .400 DNFFaatz/Kuntzsch
• 1891 56-42 .571 DNFGeorge Frazier
• 1890 55-72 .433 6 Frazier/Fessenden
• 1889 63-44 .589 2 Jack Chapman
• 1888 81-30 .730 1 Charles Hackett/Chapman
• 1887 61-40 .604 3 James Gifford/Simmons
• 1886 46-47 .491 6 Henry Ormsbee/Frank Olin/Gifford
• 1885 52-37 .584 1 Ormsbee/John Humphries
• 1879 22-48-1.3148 Dorgan/Holbert/Macullar
• 1878 29-11-1.7251 Rae/Dorgan
• 1877 68-45-3.602 Marsh/Ryder
• 1876 56-14 .800 Hackett/Dorgan

Thruway Series[link]

The I-90 Thruway Series is the name given to all the games played between the Buffalo Bisons, Rochester Red Wings, and Syracuse Chiefs. The Series became official when the Buffalo Bisons joined the International League in 1998 after moving from the Triple A American Association. All teams are located in cities along the New York State toll road and all within less than 90 minutes of each other with the exception of Syracuse and Buffalo which are both at the furthest ends and 150 minutes driving time from each stadium. Each year the team that has the best record amongst the games played between these three cities is crowned the Thruway Cup Champion. The Chiefs have won only three Thruway Cups and they were in 1999, 2010, and 2011.

Current roster[link]

Alumni[link]

• AJ Burnett, One time Highest Paid Pitcher in Baseball
• Chris Carpenter, 3-time All-Star pitcher, World Series Champion in 2011
• Bobby Cox, Hall of Fame MLB Manager with Toronto Blue Jays and most notably Atlanta Braves
• Carlos Delgado, 2-time All-Star first baseman. 4 HR game with Toronto vs Tampa Bay Rays
• Tony Fernandez, All time Blue Jays Hit leader, 5-Time All Star Infielder, 4-Time Gold Glove Winner
• Shawn Green, 2-time All-Star outfielder
• Ron Guidry, 4-time All-Star pitcher
• Roy Halladay, 7-time All-Star pitcher
• Bryce Harper, 2011 #1 MLB overall pick.
• Aaron Hill
• Casey Janssen
• Zach Jackson
• Jimmy Key, World Series Champion
• Adam Lind
• Gene Locklear Hit 4 Hr in one game, Played for New York Yankees
• Fred McGriff
• Denny McLain Won 31 games for the Detroit Tigers in 1968
• Thurman Munson, 7-time All-Star catcher
• Goody Rosen, All-Star outfielder
• Deion Sanders, NFL Hall of famer, Super Bowl Champion
• Hank Sauer, All Time Chiefs Single Season Home Run Leader
• Travis Snider
• Luis Sojo
• Ed Sprague Jr.
• Stephen Strasburg, Highest Paid Contract For Drafted Player
• Johnny Reder
• Alex Rios
• David Wells, Owner of a perfect game with the New York Yankees
• Vernon Wells

Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame[link]

The Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame was established in 1998 in conjunction with the 140th anniversary of the first organized baseball team in Syracuse. The categories for induction are: -First 75 years of professional baseball (1858–1933) -Former Chiefs/SkyChiefs player (1934–present) -Professional baseball player or person affiliated with professional baseball Contributor to the game of baseball.^[3]

Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame Committee: Ron Gersbacher, John Simone, Tex Simone, Bob Snyder

1998 Grover Cleveland Alexander Red Barrett, Bill Dinneen, Dave Giusti, Mack Jones, Hank Sauer

1999 Jim Bottomley, Rob Gardner, Bill Kelly, Dutch Mele, Jimmy Outlaw, Lawrence Skiddy, Frank Verdi

2000 Jack Corbett, Jewel Ens, Tom Henke, Willie Horton, Bob Shawkey, Ed Shokes, Hooks Wiltse

2001 Len Boehmer, Johnny Gee, Dave Lemanczyk, Frank McCormick, Jim Northrup, Frank Schulte, Tex Simone

2002 Rick Bladt, Wally Cazen, Frank DiPino, Mike Dorgan, Anthony Henninger, Dixie Howell, Jim Walsh

2003 Mike Barlow, Dave Bergman, Tony Fernandez, Sandy Griffin, Henry McCormick, Red Parton, Goody Rosen

2004 Mike Bragman, Dutch Dotterer, Howard Ehmke, Jack Fifield, Carden Gillenwater, Mickey Klutts, Willie Smith

2005 Dom Dallessandro, John Harmon^{[disambiguation needed ]}, John Johnstone, Pepper Martin, Thurman Munson, Jim Owens, Vic Willis

2006 Alan Closter, Steve Grilli, Tom Higgins, Bob Keegan, Conny Murphy, Doc Scanlan, Frank Tepedino

2007 Dutch Dotterer, Jr., Ron Guidry, Fred McGriff, Dick Rockwell, Specs Toporcer, Otto Velez

2008 Bobby Cox, Pat Gillick, Ted Kleinhans, Vic Power, Tommy Thevenow, Greg "Boomer" Wells, Terry Whitfield

2009 Cupid Childs, Babe Dahlgren, William Hofmann, Sr., Rick Leach, Gino Petralli, Jon Ratliff, Randy St. Claire

2010 Shawn Green, Earl Harrist, Chris Jones, Dick Ryan, Mickey Stanley, Don Waful

2011 Jerry Brooks, Lou Johnson, Joseph Kren, Gene Locklear, Gus Mancuso, Jim Prendergast

2012 Carlos Delgado

Retired numbers[link]

Television and radio[link]

All Chiefs games are heard locally in central New York on 1260 AM The Score and www.thescore1260.com, broadcast by Jason Benetti. In Addition all Chiefs home games and road games are seen on MILB.TV, an internet video subscription service. Select games are broadcast live on Time Warner Cable SportsNet a central New York regional sports channel provided on Time Warner Cable services throughout the Central and Northern New York area. The games on TWCS are called by Jason Benetti and Syracuse Wall of Fame member and former Major Leaguer Steve Grilli. All games versus thurway rivals Rochester or Buffalo are broadcast on TWCS and fed between the cities, with the host city providing the presentation and announcers.

In popular culture[link]

Writer Ken Levine based the Springfield Isotopes minor league team in The Simpsons episode Dancin' Homer on experiences as an announcer for the Syracuse Chiefs. The episode includes references to former announcer Dan Hoard and owner Anthony "Tex" Simone (named Antoine "Tex" O'Hara in the episode).

Logos and uniforms[link]

• 

  1976-1979 Hat Logo

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Syracuse Chiefs

• Syracuse Chiefs web site
• Photographs of Alliance Bank Stadium, home of the Syracuse Chiefs - Rochester Area Ballparks

Jesús Montero
Seattle Mariners – No. 63
Catcher / Designated hitter
Born: (1989-11-28) November 28, 1989 (age 22) Guacara, Venezuela
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 1, 2011 for the New York Yankees
Career statistics (through May 27, 2012)
Batting average	.269
Home runs	10
Runs batted in	34
Teams
New York Yankees (2011) Seattle Mariners (2012–present)

Jesús Alejandro Montero (born November 28, 1989) is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball. He was originally signed by the New York Yankees before being traded to the Mariners. At the time of his signing, the Yankees projected him as a possible future replacement for Jorge Posada, however there were doubts about whether his height and weight were conducive to being an everyday catcher.^[1][2]

Career[link]

Minor leagues[link]

On July 2, 2006, Montero signed with the New York Yankees, receiving $1.6 million.^[3] Montero was considered to be the best player and to have the best power of any 2006 international signee.^[4]

In 2007, at the age of 17, Montero made his professional debut for the Gulf Coast Yankees. He was invited to 2008 Spring Training, where he hit a home run in his only at bat before being assigned to minor league camp.^[5] He spent the 2008 season with the Class A Charleston RiverDogs, where he batted .326 with 17 home runs and 87 RBI, with 2 stolen bases.^[6]

He began 2009 with the Tampa Yankees, the Class A-Advanced Florida State League affiliate of the Yankees, but on June 3, 2009, Montero was promoted to the Double-A Trenton Thunder.^[7] Despite having played only a portion of the 2009 season in Trenton, Montero was added to the Eastern League All-Star roster.^[8] He was named the Yankees' second best prospect for 2009^[9] and the third best prospect in baseball by Baseball America.^[10] He was named to the All-Star Futures Game for the second year in a row, which features baseball's best minor league prospects. Montero's season ended prematurely when he sustained a broken finger while catching.^[11][12]

Montero with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, Triple-A affiliates of the New York Yankees, in 2010.

Montero was named the Yankees' best prospect for 2010 by Baseball America^[13] and the fifth best in all of baseball.^[14] He was invited to spring training,^[15] where Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long declared him ready for the Majors as a hitter,^[16] though the team wanted to see improvement on defense. Montero spent the 2010 season with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Early in the season, Montero struggled,^[17] but he improved after the All-Star break.^[18] He was named to the International League All-Star game^[19] the Postseason All-Star team,^[20] and was chosen as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Player of the Year.^[21]

At the 2010 MLB trade deadline, the Yankees and Seattle Mariners almost completed a deal that would have sent Montero, Zach McAllister, and David Adams to the Mariners for Cliff Lee. When the teams shared medical reports, the Mariners were concerned by Adams' health. As a result, they chose to trade Lee to the Texas Rangers in a package centered around Justin Smoak.^[22]

Montero contended for a spot on the Yankees' 25 man roster in 2011 spring training.^[23] Yankees officials believed Montero was ready to be the starting catcher, which would have enabled Jorge Posada to shift to designated hitter,^[24] though the signing of Russell Martin allowed the Yankees to be patient with Montero.^[25] A spring training injury to Francisco Cervelli gave the Yankees an opportunity to use Montero as Martin's backup,^[26][27] but they decided to have Montero begin the 2011 season in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.^[28]

Major leagues[link]

New York Yankees[link]

Montero was promoted to the Yankees on September 1, 2011. He started his first major league game that same day as the designated hitter against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Montero went 0-4 and was hit by a pitch, but scored the go-ahead run when he was driven in by Yankee catcher Russell Martin in the seventh inning.^[29] He made his first start at Yankee Stadium on September 3, 2011, against the Toronto Blue Jays. He went 1-3, hitting a single to left field in the 6th inning with 2 outs for his first major league hit.^[30] Montero hit his first and second Major League home runs on September 5, 2011 against the Baltimore Orioles in an 11–10 victory,^[31] becoming the first 21-year-old player to hit two home runs in a game since Manny Ramirez in 1993.^[32] Montero started his first game as a catcher against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on September 11.^[33] Against the Red Sox on September 24, Montero fell a triple short of hitting for the cycle.^[34] Montero ended the year with a .328 batting average, having hit 4 home runs.

Seattle Mariners[link]

During the 2011-12 offseason, the Yankees traded Montero to the Mariners with Héctor Noesí for Michael Pineda and José Campos.^[35]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jesús Montero

	Baseball portal
	Venezuela portal

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)

Carlos Delgado
First baseman
Born: (1972-06-25) June 25, 1972 (age 40) Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
Batted: Left	Threw: Right
MLB debut
October 1, 1993 for the Toronto Blue Jays
Last MLB appearance
May 10, 2009 for the New York Mets
Career statistics
Batting average	.280
Home runs	473
Runs batted in	1,512
Teams
Toronto Blue Jays (1993–2004) Florida Marlins (2005) New York Mets (2006–2009)
Career highlights and awards
2× All-Star (2000, 2003) 3× Silver Slugger Award winner (1999, 2000, 2003) 2000 AL Hank Aaron Award 2006 Roberto Clemente Award Hit 4 home runs in one game on September 25, 2003

Carlos Juan Delgado Hernández (born June 25, 1972) is a retired Puerto Rican professional baseball player. With 473 home runs and 1,512 RBI, he holds the all-time home run and RBI records among Puerto Rican players. He is one of only six players in Major League history to hit 30 home runs in ten consecutive seasons, becoming the fourth player to do so.

During his twelve years with the Toronto Blue Jays, Delgado set many team records, including home runs (336), RBI (1,058), walks (827), slugging percentage (.556), OPS (.949), runs (889), total bases (2,786), doubles (343), runs created (1,077), extra base hits (690), times on base (2,362), hit by pitch (122), intentional walks (128) and at bats per home run (14.9). Delgado also played for the Florida Marlins and New York Mets.

Early life[link]

Delgado was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico to Carlos "Cao" Delgado and Carmen Digna Hérnandez. He grew up in the El Prado section of Aguadilla.^[1] There, he attended elementary school alongside his three siblings.^[1] Both his father, "Don Cao", and his grandfather, Asdrúbal "Pingolo" Delgado, were well-known figures in the town. Carlos has said that this made him feel "protected", but that it also demanded that he had to behave properly.^[1]

Carlos attended Agustín Stahl Middle School and José de Diego High School, from which he graduated in 1989.^[1] Delgado has expressed his strong feelings of pride in being an Aguadillano, noting everything he holds dear is found in the municipality, and his off-season house is located there.^[1] He developed friendships with several of the town's inhabitants, with whom he began playing baseball in the little leagues.^[1]

Professional career[link]

Toronto Blue Jays[link]

In his senior year, several major league organizations including the Cincinnati Reds, Montreal Expos, New York Mets, Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays saw his potential and attempted to sign him. He chose the Blue Jays, and made his major league debut with the team during the 1993 season. Though he didn't play in the 1993 World Series, he was awarded a World Series ring.

Originally a catcher, he later switched to first base (after experiment with the Jays placing him in left field failed)^[2] and became one of the most productive sluggers in the major leagues. A two-time All-Star, in 2000 and 2003, Delgado holds several Blue Jays single-season and career records. He won the Hank Aaron and The Sporting News' Player of the Year Awards in 2000, and the Silver Slugger Award in 1999, 2000, and 2003.