Ramón Monzant
Encyclopedia
Ramón Segundo Monzant Espina (January 4, 1933 in Maracaibo
, Venezuela
- August 10, 2001) was a right-handed Major League Baseball
pitcher
for the New York
and San Francisco Giants
(1954–60).
A curve
specialist, Monzant was supposed to join a pitching rotation which included veterans Johnny Antonelli
, Rubén Gómez and Sal Maglie
. Unfortunately, he disappointed the Giants' great expectations for him. His main problem was staying focused in the game, and deciding whether to pitch for the Giants or stay in his homeland longer after the winter season. He was consistently late in reporting to spring training, claiming a variety of excuses.
The best performance by Monzant took place on April 29, 1956, in a Giants 8-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies
. Phillies outfielder Del Ennis
spoiled a no-hitter
by Monzant, though he finally won the game.
Monzant compiled a 16-21 record with a 4.38 ERA
and 201 strikeout
s in 316.2 innings.
Maracaibo
Maracaibo is a city and municipality located in northwestern Venezuela off the western coast of the Lake Maracaibo. It is the second-largest city in the country after the national capital Caracas and the capital of Zulia state...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
- August 10, 2001) was a right-handed 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...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the New York
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
and San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(1954–60).
A curve
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
specialist, Monzant was supposed to join a pitching rotation which included veterans Johnny Antonelli
Johnny Antonelli
John August Antonelli is an American former left-handed starting pitcher who played for the Boston and Milwaukee Braves, New York and San Francisco Giants, and Cleveland Indians....
, Rubén Gómez and Sal Maglie
Sal Maglie
Salvatore Anthony Maglie was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He played from 1945-1958 for the New York Giants, Cleveland Indians, Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Yankees, and St. Louis Cardinals. Maglie was known as "Sal the Barber", because he gave close shaves—that is, pitched inside to...
. Unfortunately, he disappointed the Giants' great expectations for him. His main problem was staying focused in the game, and deciding whether to pitch for the Giants or stay in his homeland longer after the winter season. He was consistently late in reporting to spring training, claiming a variety of excuses.
The best performance by Monzant took place on April 29, 1956, in a Giants 8-1 victory over 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...
. Phillies outfielder Del Ennis
Del Ennis
Delmer Ennis was an American left and right fielder in Major League Baseball who played most of his career for the Philadelphia Phillies. From 1949 to 1957, Ennis accumulated more runs batted in than anyone besides Stan Musial and was 8th in the National League in home runs...
spoiled a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
by Monzant, though he finally won the game.
Monzant compiled a 16-21 record with a 4.38 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and 201 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in 316.2 innings.