Monte is a lover of all sports; however, baseball has always been special to him. Quote: “Being fortunate enough just to play the game, not to mention any accomplishments, was in itself an accomplishment.” His first award of any type was being named to the Medford National Little League All Stars at age 11, and the following year being a member of the All-Star team taking the State Championship.

His awards in school athletics included Outstanding Athlete at McLaughlin Junior High, Medford Mid-High, and Medford Senior High. At Medford Senior High he was All Conference football, voted Most Valuable Player by his teammates his senior year and an academic All American that year (1975-76), also a 2-time All-Conference selection in baseball, making the All-State team his senior year.

During summer baseball, American Legion, he played in back-to-back State Championships, (1975 and 1976), winning it all in 1976.

The next stop for Monte was San Diego State University which he attended on an athletic scholarship from 1976-1980. He was named to 2 consecutive Western Athletic Conference teams and was on the 2nd team All American squad in 1979. He is in the top 5 or number one in 8 of 10 offensive categories at San Diego State University.

Monte went on to play professional baseball for both the Oakland A’s and the Chicago White Sox, making All-League and All-Star teams in the Northwest League, California League, and the Midwest League.

His praise of Medford: “I would like to thank the people of Medford for their continuous support, a beautiful town to grow up in as an athlete.”