Northeastern's Patrick Mason Named First Greg Montalbano Award Winner
December 22, 2009 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Lowell Spinners News Release
LOWELL, Mass. - The Lowell Spinners, Class-A Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, are happy to announce Patrick Mason as the first annual Greg Montalbano Award Winner, to be presented at the team's annual Alumni Dinner Tuesday, December 29 at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium.
Montalbano, a Westborough, Mass. native, was drafted by his hometown Boston Red Sox in 1999 after a great college career at Northeastern University. He made his professional debut in 2000, finishing the season with a pair of starts with the Spinners.
The following season was a banner season for Montalbano, winning 12 games and earning a mid-season promotion to Double-A Trenton. Named the Minor League Pitcher of the Year by the Red Sox organization, Montalbano appeared on the fast track for Boston.
Montalbano had overcome testicular cancer as a freshman at Northeastern in 1996 and the removal of several non-cancerous tumors in the years that followed. After arm injuries side-tracked his Red Sox career, he found himself pitching for the Worcester Tornadoes when he learned that the cancer had returned again.
A fighter, Montalbano continued to pitch while undergoing treatments, serving as a volunteer coach at St. John's High School and a South End baseball team, and as a volunteer, he educated high school and college students about testicular cancer.
Montalbano passed away Aug. 21, 2009 and the Spinners are honored to continue his legacy.
With the first of what will become annual award, the Spinners and Montalbano family selected Northeastern University assistant coach Patrick Mason as the inaugural award winner.
"[Mason] was Greg's catcher at Northeastern," said Spinners Vice President for Communications Jon Goode. "They had a strong connection on the diamond and with the work Patrick does in both the New England baseball community and community as a whole, he was a great selection by the Montalbano family for this award."
New York-Penn League Stories from December 22, 2009
- Hudson Valley Renegades Pitch For Kids Fund Announces Grants - Hudson Valley Renegades
- Northeastern's Patrick Mason Named First Greg Montalbano Award Winner - Lowell Spinners
- Spinners Announce 2010 Coaching Staff, Welcome Back Crabbe - Lowell Spinners
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