Al Monchak facts for kids

Alex Monchak (March 5, 1917 – September 12, 2015) was an American baseball player. He was a shortstop who played briefly for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1940. Al Monchak was best known as a first-base coach. He worked with all the MLB teams managed by Chuck Tanner from 1971 to 1988. This included the 1979 World Series Champion Pittsburgh Pirates.

Al Monchak's Baseball Journey

Al Monchak was born in Bayonne, New Jersey. Before his baseball career, he served in World War II. He was a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army. He fought in important battles like Normandy and the Ardennes. He also received several awards for his service.

His short time as a player in Major League Baseball began in 1940. He played shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies. In 19 games, he had a batting average of .143. He also had one run and one stolen base.

From Player to Coach

After the war, Monchak continued his baseball dream. He became a Minor League manager. He managed teams from 1949 to 1961. For some of those years, he was a player-manager. He led his teams to win four championship titles.

Later, he worked as a scout and instructor. This was for the California Angels from 1962 to 1970. In 1970, he became a first-base coach for Chuck Tanner. He coached alongside Joe Lonnett.

Coaching with Chuck Tanner

Monchak, Lonnett, and Tanner worked together for many years. They coached the Chicago White Sox (1971–1975). Then they moved to the Oakland Athletics (1976). Finally, they joined the Pittsburgh Pirates (1977–1984).

Al Monchak's biggest moment was with the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates. This team was known as the "We Are Family" Pirates. They won the 1979 World Series, becoming MLB World Champions. He continued to be Tanner's first-base coach. He joined him with the Atlanta Braves from 1986 to 1988.

Awards and Later Life

In 2009, Al Monchak received the Roland Hemond Award. This award is given by Baseball America. It honors people who have made big contributions. These contributions are in scouting and developing new players.

Al Monchak passed away on September 12, 2015. He was 98 years old. At the time of his death, he was one of the oldest living Major League baseball players.

Winning Championships as a Manager

Al Monchak led his Minor League teams to win four championship titles: