By Patrick McHugh, News Staff
Former Northeastern baseball pitcher and Northeastern Athletics Hall of Famer Greg Montalbano died in his Westborough home Aug. 21 following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 31.
Born Aug. 24, 1977 in Worcester, Mr. Montalbano starred on the St. John’s High School baseball team in Shrewsbury until he graduated in 1995. He was one of NU head baseball coach Neil McPhee’s top recruits in 1996.
Upon arriving at Northeastern in 1996, Mr. Montalbano was diagnosed with testicular cancer and endured two surgeries and six weeks of chemotherapy.
He returned to the mound the next year and went on to have one of the top careers in school history. From 1997 to 2000, Mr. Montalbano compiled a record of 19-7 with a 2.55 ERA and 217 strikeouts, which at the time was a school record. He still holds the Husky record for career shutouts with five, four of which came in 1999. That season he was named an All-American, All-New England, All-America East, and was the America East Pitcher of the Year.
The Boston Red Sox made him a fifth-round pick in the 1999 MLB Draft and he played in the organization until 2004. In 2001 he was the team’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year, finishing with a 12-6 record, 3.49 ERA, and 122 strikeouts.
While playing in the minor leagues, Mr. Montalbano learned that his cancer had returned and that he would need treatment before each season began. In an effort to promote a cure for his illness, he worked at several Jimmy Fund events to encourage people to donate for cancer
research. He volunteered as an assistant coach for his St. John’s team and traveled across New England to educate high school and college students about cancer awareness.
Mr. Montalbano received the Eastern College Athletic Conference’s Award of Valor and the New England Hero Award from Northeastern’s Center for the Study of Sport in Society. In 2005 he was inducted into the NU Athletics Hall of Fame, and a year later he completed his degree in civil engineering.
After Mr. Montalbano died, his former teammates dedicated their games on Aug. 22 to him. Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis, a former minor league teammate of Mr. Montalbano, hit two home runs in a victory over the New York Yankees and pointed to the sky after each home run.
‘When I pointed to the sky to him when I went to the dugout, that was for him,’ Youkilis said after the game. ‘That’s one of those things. There are some crazy things that have happened in my life where you always feel there’s somebody out there pushing balls out and doing great things for you.’
Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Carlos Pena, a teammate of Mr. Montalbano at Northeastern, also hit two home runs in a game against the Texas Rangers.
‘I was crushed,’ Pena said after the game. ‘He was my right hand in college. He’s been battling cancer for 10 years. He was always smiling. The only thing that comforts me is I know he’s in a better place, but we’re going to miss him greatly. I dedicated this game to his memory and his family.’
Mr. Montalbano leaves his parents, Sharon and Andrew; a sister, Kristen; a grandmother, Lorraine; and his girlfriend, Dana Hotchkiss.
