IL Hall of Famer Becomes Fifth Player in Franchise History to Have Number Retired
Charlie Montoyo was honored prior to the game as a member of the 2016 IL Hall of Fame class.
The Durham Bulls retired former manager and 2016 International League Hall of Fame inductee Charlie Montoyo’s No. 25 in an on-field ceremony prior to Thursday night’s game, May 19, 2016, at the DBAP against the Rochester Red Wings. The jersey retirement came as a surprise to Montoyo, who was in town for his IL Hall of Fame induction.
During the pregame ceremony, Montoyo was presented with a framed No. 25 jersey, which will never be worn again by a member of the Durham Bulls. The all-time winningest manager in Bulls history is the fifth person to have his uniform number retired by the franchise, joining MLB Hall of Famer Joe Morgan (No. 18), former Durham Bulls manager and 2012 IL Hall of Fame inductee Bill Evers (No. 20), Atlanta Braves’ great Chipper Jones (No. 10) and Crash Davis (No. 8) of Bull Durham fame. Evers was on hand for Thursday’s occasion.
“Charlie will always have a very special place in Durham Bulls history,” Bulls General Manager Mike Birling said. “What he accomplished on the field speaks for itself, but it was the relationships he formed off the field – with fans, the front office, players and coaches – that separates him from so many. We’re extremely happy to honor him by retiring his jersey.”
With 633 victories, Montoyo won more games than any skipper in Durham Bulls history. From 2007-2014 the Puerto Rico native piloted the Bulls to seven IL South Division titles, two IL Governors’ Cup titles (2009, 2013) and the 2009 Triple-A National Championship Game crown. The 50-year-old was twice named the IL Manager of the Year (2010, 2013), managed the IL All-Star team on two occasions (2010, 2014), and was honored as the 2009 Minor League Manager of the Year by Baseball America. After serving as a minor league manager at every level of the Tampa Bay organization from 1997 to 2014, Montoyo was promoted to the major league coaching staff as third base coach following the 2014 season, a position he still holds.
The Bulls are in the midst of a four-game series against the Rochester Red Wings that runs through Sunday, May 22. Single-game tickets, group ticket packages and ACC Baseball Championship ticket packages are available now. For more information visit durhambulls.com, the Frontier Ticket Communications Ticket Office, or call 919.956.BULL.
Thanks to DBBC’s Matt Sutor for this capcom story & photo.
