Baseball Team Kicks off Season, Hears from Local Pro

Local baseball legend Bill Monbouquette, pictured above with Medford High School Head Baseball Coach Nick Tucci, Assistant Baseball Coach Mike Nestor, and captain Ben Waldrip, shared some words of advice with the young Mustang team at a banquet Wednesday night at Bocelli’s to kick off the season. Photo courtesy Ann Marie Cugno.

Story Updated 6:53PM, Friday, April 4, 2008

– Allison Goldsberry

Medford native and former Major League Baseball player Bill Monbouquette enjoyed a successful ten years in the game, playing alongside greats such as Ted Williams and Micky Mantle and once pitching a no-hitter for the Red Sox.

Despite his successes, the 71-year-old regrets never having earned a college degree, as he was signed right out of Medford High School. He acknowledged how fortunate he was to break into the big leagues and remain there.

Monbouquette, speaking at a banquet Wednesday night at Bocelli’s to kick off the Mustang’s season, told the young players to work hard and be patient, two things he said took him far in his career.

“When it comes to work ethic, I never took a back seat to anyone,” said Monbouquette.

Monbouquette told the players to ask plenty of questions, listen carefully, and to make the next pitch or the next throw the best one. He layered his words of advice in between stories from his career as both a player and later, a coach.

“I’ve been fortunate, guys. And you can be fortunate. But it takes a lot of work,” said Monbouquette.

The four-time American League All-Star spent eleven seasons in the Majors, playing for Red Sox, Yankees, and Detroit Tigers. Before his Major League career Monbouquette pitched for the Mustangs, and said he would catch some of the team’s home games, which are played on a field named in his honor at Playstead Park.

Monbouquette fondly recalled his time spent with the Red Sox, for whom he won twenty games.

“I loved pitching in Boston. There’s only a twenty minute ride from West Medford into Fenway on the subway,” said Monbouquette.

Medford High School Head Baseball coach Nick Tucci, in his first season with the team and also a former pro baseball player, called Monbouquette a role model and the “best Medford High School baseball player ever.”

The Mustangs open their season at Woburn on Saturday and then head home for a game against Dracut at 4PM Tuesday, April 8.

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Watch video of the banquet, courtesy MHS-TV 15