David Montgomery (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Montgomery
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Montgomery in 2011
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| Born | June 26, 1946 |
| Died | May 8, 2019 (aged 72) |
| Occupation | Baseball executive |
| Known for | President and CEO of the Philadelphia Phillies |
David Paul Montgomery (June 26, 1946 – May 8, 2019) was an American businessman. He was a top leader for the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team. He served as their chairman, part-owner, and president.
Early Life and Education
David Montgomery grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a kid, he loved going to Philadelphia Phillies games. He watched them play at Connie Mack Stadium.
Before college, David worked as a paper delivery boy. He also coached high school baseball. He graduated from the William Penn Charter School in 1964. Then he went to the University of Pennsylvania. He studied history there. He also attended the Wharton Business School. He graduated from Wharton in 1970.
Baseball Career
David Montgomery started working for the Phillies in 1971. He joined their sales department. By the mid-1970s, he led sales and marketing. He became head of the business department by 1980. In the early 1970s, he even operated the team's scoreboard!
In 1981, David and co-owner Bill Giles bought the team. David became the team's executive vice president. In 1997, David became the team president. He was the first person from Philadelphia to run the team in over 60 years. He worked hard to sign great players. This helped the team before Citizens Bank Park opened in 2004.
In 2014, David took time off from the Phillies. He was getting treatment for cancer. When he came back in 2015, he became the chairman.
In 2013, the Phillies opened a new training center. It was a $4 million indoor facility. It is used for training and rehabilitation. On March 22, 2018, the Phillies renamed it. It is now called the "David P. Montgomery Baseball Performance Center."
Awards and Honors
David Montgomery received many awards. He got the Allan H. (Bud) Selig Executive Leadership Award. He also received the Ed Snider Lifetime Distinguished Humanitarian Award. Many groups recognized him for his community work.
In 2018, the baseball field where he played as a child was renamed for him. It is now called Daisy Field. In May 2019, he received the Centennial Award for Civic Leadership.
On March 5, 2020, David was honored again. He received the Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is from the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Outside Baseball
David Montgomery was a trustee for the University of Pennsylvania. He also worked with many community groups. He was on the board of directors for Major League Baseball Enterprise.
Personal Life
David Montgomery and his wife Lyn had three children. They also had three grandchildren. David was diagnosed with cancer in 2014. He passed away from the disease on May 8, 2019. He was 72 years old.
