Jeffrey Paul Manto (born August 23, 1964) is an American former
journeyman
A journeyman, journeywoman, or journeyperson is a worker, skilled in a given building trade or craft, who has successfully completed an official apprenticeship qualification. Journeymen are considered competent and authorized to work in that fie ...
baseball player
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding te ...
and hitting coach. Manto is currently the manager of the
Trenton Thunder
The Trenton Thunder are a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League. They are located in Trenton, New Jersey, and play their home games at Trenton Thunder Ballpark.
From 1994 to 2020, it was a Minor League Baseball team of the ...
of the
MLB Draft League
The MLB Draft League is a collegiate summer baseball league that began play in 2021. Created by Major League Baseball (MLB) and ''Prep Baseball Report'', the league serves as a showcase for top draft-eligible prospects leading up to each summer' ...
. He is a member of eight Halls of Fame. Manto played in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
(MLB) for the
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive Fi ...
,
Philadelphia Phillies,
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. As one of the American League's eight charter ...
,
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eigh ...
,
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The team joined the American League as an expansion team ...
,
Detroit Tigers,
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of ...
, and
Colorado Rockies. He also played in
Nippon Professional Baseball
or NPB is the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning ''Professional Baseball''.
Outside Japan, it is often just referred to as "Japanese baseball". The roots of the league can be traced back to the formation ...
(NPB) for the
Yomiuri Giants
The are a Japanese professional baseball team competing in Nippon Professional Baseball's Central League. Based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, they are one of two professional baseball teams based in Tokyo, the other being the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. They ...
.
Early career
Manto attended
Temple University
Temple University (Temple or TU) is a public state-related research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1884 by the Baptist minister Russell Conwell and his congregation Grace Baptist Church of Philadelphia then calle ...
, where he accepted a full scholarship as a RH pitcher. After his freshman year, Manto was converted to a RF. During his Temple career Manto had a career BA of .412. He also held Owl records for most bases, extra base hits, highest HR percentage, and highest slugging percentage. Member of 2 Atlantic 10 Championships. Inducted into Temple University HOF in 2000. Manto was drafted in the 35th round of the
1982 Major League Baseball Draft
First round selections
The following are the first round picks in the 1982 Major League Baseball Draft.
Compensation Picks
Other notable players
* David Wells†, 2nd round, 30th overall by the Toronto Blue Jays
* Allan Anderson, 2nd ro ...
by the
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of ...
as a RH Pitcher, but opted not to sign with them. Three years later, he entered again into the draft where he was drafted in the 14th round of the
1985 Major League Baseball Draft
First round draft picks
The following are the first round picks in the 1985 Major League Baseball draft.
Supplemental First Round Selections
Background
Six of the first eight draft picks from the June regular phase had at least one full ...
by the
California Angels and signed on June 7, 1985 in that same year.
Professional career
Playing career
Manto was drafted by the Angels in 1985. He played 16 years and finally retired after the 2000 season. During that span, Manto was part of three World Series teams: the 1993 Philadelphia Phillies, the 1997 Cleveland Indians, and the 1999 New York Yankees.
Manto's nickname in his playing days was "Mickey". (Except during his short 21-game stint with the Seattle Mariners in 1996, where he was known as "Manto Can't-o" for his rally-killing .185 batting average)
Manto won the Texas League Most Valuable Player in 1988 and the
International League Most Valuable Player Award
The International League Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) is an annual award given to the best player in Minor League Baseball's International League based on their regular-season performance as voted on by league managers. Broadcasters, Minor L ...
. In 1994, a season in which he played for both the
Norfolk Tides
The Norfolk Tides are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. They are located in Norfolk, Virginia, and are named in nautical reference to the city's location on the Chesapea ...
and the
Rochester Red Wings, he won the International League Most Valuable Player.
Manto tied a major league record with four consecutive home runs in four consecutive official at bats.
Manto's most sustained run with one team was a stretch as a member of the
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons (known colloquially as the Herd) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Located in Buffalo, New York, the team plays their home games at Sahlen ...
, at the time the Indians' Class AAA affiliate. In four interrupted years (1997–2000) with the Bisons, Manto hit 79 home runs. For his achievements, Manto's number 30 was retired by the Bisons, one of only three players (
Luke Easter and
Ollie Carnegie
Oliver Angelo Carnegie (June 29, 1899 r 1898– October 4, 1976) was an Italian American professional baseball player whose playing career spanned 15 seasons. Over that time, Carnegie played in the minor leagues with the Class-B Flint Vehicles ...
being the others) to have earned the honor.
Though Manto's stay in Rochester was brief, he forever made a name for himself in franchise history. In the winter of 1995, the city of Rochester was at risk of losing the franchise. Governor
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki (; born June 24, 1945) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 53rd governor of New York from 1995 to 2006. An attorney by profession, Pataki was elected mayor of his hometown of Peekskill, New York, and went on ...
had reversed a previous decision of his, and opted to deny the city the state funds needed to build the new stadium and keep the Red Wings in town. When team owners staged a rally called "StadiumStock" Jeff, along with his father Michael, drove from Philadelphia through a massive snowstorm to attend the rally. Manto spoke at great length of his passion for the city, its fans, and the Silver family, which ran the Red Wings. The rally was successful and funding was restored. Manto made the Orioles team the following spring. After Baltimore let him go the following winter, Manto signed on with the
Yomiuri Giants
The are a Japanese professional baseball team competing in Nippon Professional Baseball's Central League. Based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, they are one of two professional baseball teams based in Tokyo, the other being the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. They ...
in Japan, but struggled. He was released. Though he called Baltimore several times about signing a minor league deal,
Syd Thrift, the Orioles GM, declined. Manto ended up in Syracuse and then Buffalo. However, the Orioles decision not to bring back Manto to Rochester after what he did to help keep the franchise intact inflicted a wound that never healed, and the once warm relationship between Rochester and Baltimore began to show chinks in the armour.
Coaching career
After Manto's playing career ended, he worked as a hitting coach, as well as
manager
Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business.
Management includes the activities ...
for the Philadelphia Phillies’
Lakewood BlueClaws
The Jersey Shore BlueClaws (formerly Lakewood BlueClaws) are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. They are located in Lakewood, New Jersey, and are named for their locat ...
. Was hired as the Pittsburgh Pirates Hitting Coordinator in 2003 and then was named the
Pittsburgh Pirates hitting coach in November 2005. He was the hitting coach for the Pirates for two seasons from 2006–2007. In 2006, Manto phelped guide Freddy Sanchez to the NL Batting Title with a .344 batting average. Also, during his time as the Pirates hitting coach, Manto saw the future breakout potential of then Pirate, José Bautista. According to Keith Olbermann, Manto had said of Bautista, "If we can get him to replicate his swing three days in a row, José Bautista could hit 25 homers a year. In fact, I think he could hit 40. He is just so easily frustrated when it doesn’t go right that he blames himself and forgets what he's learned. Or ignores it. But of all these guys I have, if you want one of them who will eventually do something special in this game, I’d pick him. I wouldn’t be very surprised."
On October 31, 2011, Manto was named hitting coach for the
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and ...
where he helped guide Adam Dunn to AL Comeback Player of the Year in 2012.
He currently serves as the Minor League Hitting Coordinator for the Baltimore Orioles.
On April 12, 2021, Manto was announced as the manager of the
Trenton Thunder
The Trenton Thunder are a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League. They are located in Trenton, New Jersey, and play their home games at Trenton Thunder Ballpark.
From 1994 to 2020, it was a Minor League Baseball team of the ...
for the inaugural season of the
MLB Draft League
The MLB Draft League is a collegiate summer baseball league that began play in 2021. Created by Major League Baseball (MLB) and ''Prep Baseball Report'', the league serves as a showcase for top draft-eligible prospects leading up to each summer' ...
.
Honors
Manto is a member of 8 Halls of Fame:
* Bristol High School HOF
* Bucks County (Pa) HOF
* Temple University HOF
* Pennsylvania Sports HOF
* Buffalo Bison HOF
* Rochester Red Wings HOF
* Greater Buffalo HOF
* International League HOF.
His Number 30 is Retired for the Buffalo Bisons. He also has numerous artifacts in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.
He's been a member of three World Series teams:
* 1993 NL Phillies
* 1997 AL Cleveland Indians
* 1999 AL NY Yankees
Records
* Tied MLB record for 4 consecutive HR's in 4 consecutive AB's.
* Tied AL record for 5 HR in 3 games.
References
External links
Manto Player Development Center
{{DEFAULTSORT:Manto, Jeff
1964 births
Living people
American expatriate baseball players in Canada
American expatriate baseball players in Japan
Baltimore Orioles players
Baseball coaches from Pennsylvania
Baseball players from Pennsylvania
Boston Red Sox players
Bowie Baysox players
Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players
Chicago White Sox coaches
Cleveland Indians players
Colorado Rockies players
Colorado Springs Sky Sox players
Detroit Tigers players
Edmonton Trappers players
Frederick Keys players
International League MVP award winners
Midland Angels players
New York Yankees players
Nippon Professional Baseball third basemen
Norfolk Tides players
Palm Springs Angels players
Pawtucket Red Sox players
People from Bristol, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Phillies players
Pittsburgh Pirates coaches
Quad Cities Angels players
Richmond Braves players
Rochester Red Wings players
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons players
Seattle Mariners players
Syracuse SkyChiefs players
Temple Owls baseball players
Trenton Thunder players
Yomiuri Giants players