Monte Cross
Encyclopedia
Montford Montgomery Cross (August 31, 1869 – June 21, 1934), was an American
Major League Baseball
baseball
player. He played fifteen seasons in the majors, between and , for five different teams.
Cross played most of his career in Philadelphia, where he was the starting shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies
from until . At that point, he jumped to the new American League
and the crosstown Philadelphia Athletics
. He was their starting shortstop from until , including the 1902 team
that won the AL pennant in the year before the World Series
began play.
After batting just .189 in , Cross relinquished the starting role to 19-year-old rookie John Knight for much of , when the Athletics won their second pennant. After batting .266 in his part-time role, Cross regained the starting role in when Knight was moved to third base to replace Lave Cross
, who had been sold to the Washington Senators
. However, he batted just .200, and would be replaced as the starter once again in , this time by Simon Nicholls
.
His major league career ended that season but Monte Cross remained in the industry, playing in three minor leagues from 1908 to 1911 (playing records). At least in 1915 he played semiprofessionally, for the Media, Pennsylvania
team in the Delaware County League at age 46.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. He played fifteen seasons in the majors, between and , for five different teams.
Cross played most of his career in Philadelphia, where he was the starting shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
from until . At that point, he jumped to the new American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
and the crosstown Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. He was their starting shortstop from until , including the 1902 team
1902 Philadelphia Athletics season
The Philadelphia Athletics season was a season in American baseball. The team finished first in the American League with a record of 83 wins and 53 losses.- Regular season :...
that won the AL pennant in the year before the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
began play.
After batting just .189 in , Cross relinquished the starting role to 19-year-old rookie John Knight for much of , when the Athletics won their second pennant. After batting .266 in his part-time role, Cross regained the starting role in when Knight was moved to third base to replace Lave Cross
Lave Cross
Lafayette Napoleon Cross was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball who played most of his 21-year career with Philadelphia-based teams in four different leagues...
, who had been sold to the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. However, he batted just .200, and would be replaced as the starter once again in , this time by Simon Nicholls
Simon Nicholls (baseball)
Simon Burdette Nicholls was a Major League Baseball shortstop who played for six seasons. He played for the Detroit Tigers in 1903, the Philadelphia Athletics from 1906 to 1909, and the Cleveland Naps in 1910.-External links:...
.
His major league career ended that season but Monte Cross remained in the industry, playing in three minor leagues from 1908 to 1911 (playing records). At least in 1915 he played semiprofessionally, for the Media, Pennsylvania
Media, Pennsylvania
The borough of Media is the county seat of Delaware County, Pennsylvania and is located west of Philadelphia. Media was incorporated in 1850 at the same time that it was named the county seat. The population was 5,533 at the 2000 census. Its school district is the Rose Tree Media School District...
team in the Delaware County League at age 46.