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Ed Montague’s baseball heritage begins with his father, a pro ball player from 1923-1939. An infielder by trade, the elder Montague totaled 615 big league at bats sprinkled over four seasons with Cleveland.

After retiring, Montague got into scouting. The most famous of his signings was Willie Mays. Mays got his start in the Negro Leagues at age 17 in 1948, the year after Jackie Robinson’s Dodger debut. The New York Giants sent Montague to determine if Mays could play in the big leagues.

With the scout’s favorable reviews, the Giants signed Mays who many consider the most complete ball player of all time.

Montague worked for the Giants for 40 years. He retired in 1982 at the age of 77.

In the collection is this Heilbroner Baseball Bureau information card filled out and signed by Montague in the then-18 year old in 1925.

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Ed Montague followed in his father’s footsteps and carved out a career in professional baseball. The San Francisco native began umpiring professionally in 1972 in the California League before working his way up through the Pacific Coast League, and finally to the National League in 1976.

During his 34 seasons at baseball’s highest level Montague worked seven Divisional Championship Series, eight League Championship Series, and six Fall Classics – four as crew chief. He also worked four All Star Games, the last three behind the plate.

Montague had many memorable games. He was the first base umpire when Pete Rose broke Ty Cobb’s hit record in 1985. The following season as right field umpire in the ’86 World Series, Montague retrieved the ball that went through Bill Buckner’s legs. In 1997 he called balls and strikes for Game 7 of the 1997 World Series.

Montague retired following the 2009 season after working 34 years and 4,369 career games. After the end of his on-field career Montague appeared as a credited role as an umpire in the Academy Award-nominated film Moneyball. In 2011 Montague became an Umpire Supervisor for Major Leagues.

One of the most respected arbiters of his day, Montague earned a spot on the Veterans Committee ballot in 2023.

Shown here is a check from the National League of Professional Baseball issued on January 31, 1986. Signed by NL President Chub Feeney, it is made out to Montague who was just completed his first decade as a big league umpire.

 

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Ed Montague first received consideration for Hall of Fame induction in 2023. The Contemporary Baseball Era Committee for Managers/Executives/Umpires put him on the ballot with fellow umpire Joe West, skippers Cito Gaston, Davey Johnson, Jim Leyland, and Lou Piniella, and executives Hank Peters, and Bill White.

Fifteen of the 16 men of the electorate voted for Leyland. He was the only one of the 8 candidates to gain induction. Piniella fell one vote short while White was two votes short of election. Gaston, Johnson, Peters, West and Montague each received less than five votes.

Shown here is the reverse of the check in the previous image. Montague added his signature in the form of an endorsement.