John Joseph Montefusco Jr. (born May 25, 1950 in Long Branch, New Jersey) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1974 to 1986 for the San Francisco Giants, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, and New York Yankees. Named the National League Rookie of the Year in 1975, Montefusco's nickname was "The Count", a pun on his last name which sounds like Monte Cristo. In his 13-year career, his record was 90-83, with 1,081 strikeouts, and a 3.54 ERA. He was a National League All-Star in 1976, winning a career high 16 games that year.

Before a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 4, 1975, Montefusco guaranteed he would win the game. He proceeded to throw a shutout as the Giants defeated the Dodgers 1–0.^[1]

On September 29, 1976, Montefusco threw a no-hitter for the Giants in a 9-0 victory versus the Atlanta Braves. It was the last no-hitter to be thrown by a Giant until Jonathan Sanchez threw one on July 10, 2009. [1] He also is one of only a handful of pitchers to hit a home run in his first at bat (September 3, 1974).

Montefusco is one of two players to hit a home run in his first at bat and win the Rookie of the Year Award. The other is Wally Moon.

In October 1997, Montefusco was arrested and charged with beating and raping his ex-wife, Doris, remaining jailed, unable to raise $6,000 bail. Two weeks prior to his arrest Montefusco allegedly threatened to kill his wife if she didn't have sex with him. Montefusco was charged with aggravated sexual assault, making terroristic threats, and burglary.

Doris had filed domestic violence complaints against Montefusco several times, including two within the year, but later withdrew them. After two years in jail awaiting trial, he was acquitted of all charges except assault and criminal trespass, he spent three years on probation. Montefusco then went on to coach with the Somerset Patriots of the independent Atlantic League and later became a pitching instructor for the Tampa Yankees, a minor league team.

In July 2001, a court did not rule in favor of Montefusco in a suit where he accused ex-wife Doris and ESPN for defamation a year earlier for airing a comment she had made, comparing charges against him to those of O.J. Simpson.

See also[edit]

• List of Major League Baseball no-hitters

References[edit]

^[1]

^[2]

External links[edit]

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube

1. ^ http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1997/Ex-Baseball-Star-Montefusco-Jailed/id-83aacbccc64d8996853da8c9c5c6168d
2. ^ http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/stories/2001-07-24-count.htm