David Montgomery (baseball)

David Montgomery
Born (1946-06-26) June 26, 1946
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nationality United States
Occupation Baseball executive
Known for President and CEO of the Philadelphia Phillies

David Montgomery (born June 26, 1946) is the chairman, minority-owner,[1] and former[2] President of the Philadelphia Phillies.[3]

Early life and education

As a child, Montgomery attended Phillies games at Connie Mack Stadium. Before attending college, Montgomery worked as a paper delivery boy and a high school baseball coach.[4] Montgomery is a 1964 alumnus of the William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia[5] and as an undergraduate attended the University of Pennsylvania where he was first a liberal arts major,[4] and then a history major.[6] Montgomery was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity while an undergraduate. Montgomery continued to attend Phillies games as a college student with future governor Ed Rendell, where he recalled "[trying] to eat all the food that $5 could buy... as they shared their thoughts with the players".[6] He also attended the Wharton Business School as a graduate student, graduating in 1970.[7] During his tenure at Wharton, he also coached the linemen for the varsity football team at Germantown Academy.[6]

Baseball career

After interviewing for positions with the Scott Paper Company and Quaker Oats and being encouraged by Rendell to apply for a job with the Philadelphia 76ers, Montgomery reached out to former Phillies ace Robin Roberts, whose son he coached at Germantown, about a job with the baseball club.[6] Montgomery was hired as a member of the Phillies' sales department in 1971,[7] becoming director of sales and marketing in the mid-1970s and the head of the business department by 1980.[6] During the early 1970s, he was also the team's scoreboard operator.[6]

Montgomery, along with co-owner Bill Giles, purchased the team in 1981 for $30,000,000 ($78,000,000 today);[8] Giles, the primary owner, named Montgomery the executive vice president of the team.[6] In 1997, when Giles left the team presidency to become the chairman and focus on winning a new stadium for the team,[9] he recommended Montgomery to replace him as team president.[6] In so doing, Montgomery became the first native of Philadelphia to run the club in over 60 years.[10] One of his focuses with the team has been brand development, evidenced by the team's commitment to signing successful players to long-term contracts prior to the opening of Citizens Bank Park in 2004.[6][7]

In August 2014, Montgomery took a leave of absence from the Phillies, while undergoing treatment for jaw bone cancer. When he returned to the team in January 2015, he assumed the title of chairman, while Giles became chairman emeritus. Pat Gillick, who served as interim president during Montgomery's leave, assumed the role permanently.[11]

Outside baseball

Montgomery has been a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, served community action groups, and been a member of Major League Baseball Enterprise's board of directors.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Salisbury, Jim (July 14, 2015). "No longer a team owner, Bill Giles still has Phillies opinions". Comcast Sportsnet Philly L.P. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Phillies Announce David Montgomery is Out as President". CBS Local Media. January 28, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Front Office". Philadelphia Phillies. Retrieved August 19, 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 Silverman, Rachel (October 2, 2002). "Phillies CEO gives life lesson". The Daily Pennsylvanian. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  5. ↑ "David Montgomery". Bloomberg Link. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Kepner, Tyler (October 22, 2008). "Phillies' President Took Path From Upper Deck to the Owner's Box". The New York Times. p. B12. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  7. 1 2 3 Capece, David; Berneman, Dana (February 17, 2003). "Batting practice in Huntsman: David Montgomery WG'70". The Wharton Journal. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  8. ↑ Ozanian, Michael K., ed (April 7, 2005). "MLB Team Valuations 2005". Forbes. Retrieved August 19, 2008.
  9. ↑ Jordan, David M. (2002). Occasional glory: the history of the Philadelphia Phillies. McFarland. p. 245. ISBN 0-7864-1260-7.
  10. ↑ Westcott, Rich (2010). Philadelphia Phillies Past & Present. MBI Publishing Company. p. 36. ISBN 0-7603-3784-5.
  11. ↑ Zolecki, Todd (2015-01-28). "Montgomery Returns to Phillies as Chairman". MLB.com. Retrieved 2015-02-03.

External links

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