Monte Pfeffer

Monte Pfeffer played one game at shortstop for the 1913 Philadelphia Athletics.

Montague Pfeiffer was born October 7, 1890, in New York City. He is often shown as having been born in 1891, but it seems that 1890 is correct; for most of his pro baseball career he was usually referred to as “Pfeffer,” but he doesn’t seem to have ever used that name outside of baseball.

Monte’s father Samuel Joseph Pfeiffer, AKA Shmuel Yosef, was a Polish Jew from Kalisz whose first language was Yiddish. He emigrated to the US as a young man. Monte’s mother, Fannie, also from Poland, seems to have been Samuel’s second wife. The two of them, who settled in Manhattan, had ten children between 1884 and 1898, two of whom died in infancy.

In the 1905 New York state census the family is living in a house at 70 E 104^th Street, at the corner of Park Avenue, near Central Park. Samuel’s occupation is given as “clothing;” son Alexander, from Samuel’s first marriage, is 24 and a lawyer; Abraham, 20, a bookkeeper; Mamie, 16, in business school; Montague, 14, an office boy; Sadie, 12, Isadore, 11, and Hannah, 7, are in school; plus there’s Emma Boley, 20, a servant from Hungary.

Fannie passed away in 1906, and in 1909 Samuel married widow Lena Davidowitz Klein, who, depending on which census you believe, was born in Hungary or Austria and spoke as a first language Yiddish, German, or Hungarian. The 1910 US census shows them at the same address as in 1905 and indicates that the house is mortgaged. Samuel is listed as a millinery store owner; Abraham, 24, is self-employed from home as a collector in the real estate field; Monte, listed as “Montefiore,” 18, a ball player; Sadie, 17, a saleslady in a millinery store, presumably her father’s; Isadore, 15, “errands,” for “store;” and Hannah, 11, is in school.

Monte (who is listed nowadays as having been 5-4, 147 pounds) was probably actually 19, and I don’t know where he was playing ball, as I found no information on him as a player before 1911. The 1911 stats show him playing 41 games for the Haverhill Hustlers in the Class B New England League, mainly at second base, and hitting .185.

In January 1912 it was reported that Monte had signed a new contract with Haverhill, but then in April he signed with the McKeesport Tubers of the Class D Ohio-Pennsylvania League. 

The league was very unstable; in June two of the eight teams dropped out, and a major shakeup at McKeesport included Monte being named manager and captain, at age 21. In mid-July two more teams dropped out and the McKeesport team moved to Salem, Ohio, then on August 6 one more team dropped out and the league dissolved. No final stats seem to have been published. Monte then made his way to the Wilkes-Barre Barons of the Class B New York State League, where he wasn’t around long enough to appear in the stats but did appear in the team photo.

Monte re-signed with Wilkes-Barre for 1913, playing for new Baron manager Joe McCarthy. The May 8 Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader reported:

Monte Pfeffer looks the goods. He played great ball again yesterday. He had three more bingles and his work in the field was all that could be desired.

While the same day the Wilkes-Barre Record said: “This department refuses to go along on that name Monte Pfeffer. Monte sounds like a real nice moniker, but it’s no name for a Dutchman.” “Dutchman” was a name often used for Germans, from “Deutsch” (like in Pennsylvania Dutch). This comment makes me suspect that Monte was hiding his Jewishness.

Monte was playing shortstop and batting second in the order for the Barons, and was getting a lot of attention for his fielding. From the May 30 Wilkes-Barre Evening News:

NEW YORK GIANTS SEND SCOUT HERE TO LOOK OVER SHORTSTOP PFEFFER

Dick Kinsella, the famous scout of the New York Giants arrived in Wilkes-Barre today and this morning witnessed the game between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre at Diamond Park for the purpose of looking over Shortstop Monte Pfeffer of the Barons, and Outfielder Finners Quinlan, of the Miners, both of whom the New Yorks are expected to grab up for a trial next spring. The work of this pair has attracted the attention of many big league scouts. Kinsella is the first to arrive here to look the two over. Several more will stroll along during the remainder of the season so that if Kinsella isn’t impressed, one of the others may be and Monte will get a deserved chance to make good with the major leaguers.

Pfeffer’s work for the Barons has been sensational. But a handful in bulk, he covers a surprising lot of ground. His stops are nothing short of remarkable while he is batting above the .300 mark. If Pfeffer continues his wonderful work, he will positively go higher next season…

Hitting over .300 was not something that lasted, and Monte got demoted to seventh in the order. But his fielding continued to earn raves. From the East Liverpool (Ohio) Evening Review, June 23:

Monte Pfeffer, or “Hassenpfeffer” as the Wilkesbarre fans call him, is touted to be the best short fielder in the New York State league. He is fielding in Wagnerian style and batting like a fiend. Monte played a classic game for McKeesport last season and should get into the big show next fall.

Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader, July 8:

Little Monte Pfeffer covers himself with glory at least once a game. The diminutive short gardener pulled off some fast stuff down his way yesterday, getting some that looked like sure hits.

Same newspaper, July 21:

Among the numerous features, the wonderful, almost uncanny fielding of Monte Pfeffer our diminutive short gardener, stood out preeminently. There is not a grain of doubt but what his brilliant stabbing and quick work saved the game for Wilkes-Barre…

But the next evening, in the Evening News:

PFEFFER, BASEBALL PLAYER QUITS TEAM BECAUSE OF ILL FEELING

Alleging that one of his fellow players passed a remark about him that put him in “Dutch” with a local girl he admired, Monte Pfeffer, the New York youngster, who has been starring for the local team, today told Manager Joe McCarthy that he was through with base ball and said that he would not report for this afternoon’s double-header with Albany.

Pfeffer was last seen at his boarding house, 65 North Washington street, this afternoon at 12:30 where, in the presence of Manager McCarthy, Secretary Harry McDonald, one of the players and The Evening News reporter, said that he would leave this afternoon for New York, where he conducts a small pool room. “I’m through with professional base ball,” he said.

Pfeffer’s head has been affected by the manner in which he has been boosted by local fandom and the press. He has become stubborn and surly and has yet not verified what he claims his teammate said about him. The player incriminated declares positively that he does not know the girl of whom Pfeffer speaks. Manager McCarthy has attempted to persuade the player to return to the club but he positively asserts that he will not only not return to the Wilkes-Barre club but will never again play professional base ball.

Pfeffer has threatened to quit the club on several occasions wanting to desert the team at Elmira and Albany, where he also had petty personal reasons. Only through coaxing has he been prevailed upon to continue in the services of the club. Recording [sic] to those who know he has been the most petted ball player that has ever come to Wilkes-Barre. No inducement could change his mind this afternoon. He gave Manager Joe McCarthy all the credit for his development. “You’ve treated me too fair,” he said to Joe before bidding him good-bye, “but I won’t play with the club any longer while they’re going around saying things about me.” He further said that he was ready to give up his promising career rather than continue here.

When the player whom he accused was taken to his boarding house this afternoon, Pfeffer struck him before he had a chance to say anything and was going to get a fine cleaning up had not the others interfered. The accused says that he will ask for his release. Although he has been in the big leagues and several minor leagues for the past few years he has never been in any trouble before and among the players is known as the quietest man on the team.

Manager McCarthy is unable to form any opinion on Pfeffer’s case. He has coached him for the past two years into the ball player he is now. He declared this afternoon that he would probably suspend him if he carried out his threat and Pfeffer stands in danger of being blacklisted from organized base ball. O’Rourke will play shortstop this afternoon.

A much shorter version of the story appeared in various newspapers across the country, under headlines like “DON’T FALL IN LOVE IF YOU PLAY BALL.” The Times-Leader had the conclusion of the episode on July 26:

PFEFFER RETURNS PRODIGAL REPENTS PLAYS WITH TEAM

“Monte” Pfeffer, the Barons’ short gardener, who left the team so suddenly Wednesday, is back. The club will lift his suspension and let the “kid” play this afternoon. After Pfeffer got to New York, he realized the errors of his ways and hence his return. It is real good of the local club to let him play again, and Pfeffer should remember it and not let anything happen again. The youngster is “solid” with the fans here, and no doubt they will rejoice at his return.

Monte’s going AWOL was blamed on homesickness. He went right back into the lineup at short, and was hitting .287 as of late July, but slumped after that and finished the season at .252. In 135 games he scored 88 runs, had 33 stolen bases and a .335 on-base percentage, and played shortstop in all 135 of those games, leading the league in putouts and assists. On September 16 the Evening News reported that he had been drafted by the Philadelphia Athletics, saying “Pfeffer’s ability to shine higher up is doubtful but with a manager like Connie Mack to look after him he may develop into a sensation.”

Rather than the following spring, Mack had Monte report to the Athletics, who would win the pennant and the World Series, immediately. He got into one game, on September 29 in Washington, as reported in the next day’s Wilkes-Barre Record:

PFEFFER PLAYS WITH ATHLETICS

Monte Pfeffer, the clever little shortstop for the Barons last season, who was drafted by the Athletics, played with that team yesterday, against Washington. He didn’t hit safely, but considering that he was up against Walter Johnson, there is a very good reason for him going hitless.

The Record added the following day:

Monte Pfeffer made a good impression on the critics by his work as an Athletic on Monday.

The Philadelphia Public Ledger says:

“The bright spot of the contest was the brilliant shortstopping of Pfeffer, the Wilkes-Barre recruit. He handled four of his five chances in great style, and his stop and throw of Milan’s grass cutter in the third inning brought the fans to their feet.”

Of course, fielding four out of five gave him a fielding percentage of .800. Monte batted sixth in the lineup, between George Brickley and Billy Orr, as the Athletics fielded a lineup of almost all prospects, the only regular being left fielder Jimmy Walsh. Still, pitcher Weldon Wyckoff allowed just three hits to Walter Johnson’s four, but his teammates made five errors and Johnson won 1-0 for his 36^th victory of the season. Monte was 0 for 3 with a strikeout, and was hit by a pitch.

For 1914 the Athletics sent Monte to the Kansas City Blues of the Class AA American Association. The fact that they sent him down after drafting him from Wilkes-Barre meant that the Barons could have him back for the waiver price of $1200, but they waived their claim. From the April 29 Ottawa (Kansas) Daily Republic:

BLUES WON IN THIRTEENTH       

KANSAS CITY, MO., April 29.—With the hassocks dripping with Blues in the last of the thirteenth round of the opening battle with William Hinchman’s Columbus Senators yesterday afternoon, “Midget” Monte Pfeffer waddled up to the platter and broke up the combat by sending a long spiral glide over Shelton’s dome in center, scoring “Bunny” Brief with the much needed count that gave Boss Armour’s athletes a 5 to 4 victory over the visiting statesmen.

On May 9 the Wilkes-Barre Record reported to its readers that Monte had been benched for light hitting, but that day he played shortstop and batted leadoff—though he may have wished he hadn’t, as told in the next day’s Indianapolis Star:

Tribe Does a Great Job in Missouri

PFEFFER IS BLAMED FOR INDIANS TYING THE SCORE

Monte Nestles the Ball in His Warm Hands so the Indianapolis Club Takes Advantage of Opening and Wins.

Indians, 13; Blues, 4.

(Special to The Indianapolis Star)

KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 9.—When Pfeffer did a double whirl at second and didn’t even peg the ball with an easy double play in sight he paved the way for the Indians to count the tying run at 4 and 4 and Morgan, who has been hitting the rough places, hit them a little harder in the next round. His support also fell apart, so to speak, and the men of Hendrick scored eight tallies on three hits, winning the final game of the series 13 to 4…

Cole singled and Metz drove a fast bounder at Rath, whose throw to Pfeffer forced Cole.

Pfeffer had all the time needed to complete a double play but turned around twice for the motion pictures and then froze tightly to the pill. Possibly Monte feared the ball would rear up on its hind legs and walk away from him…

But that wasn’t all. McCarty opened the ninth with a double back of Pfeffer. Some day Monte is going to get his bean in the way of a short fly, accidentally of course, and get rightfully beaned…

In early June Monte broke his leg in a collision with a teammate. His replacement did such a good job that Monte was considered expendable, and when he returned from the injury in early July he was sent to the Topeka Jayhawks of the Class A Western League. However, the Jayhawks picked up another shortstop at the same time, and after playing just three games with them Monte was sent back to Kansas City. The Blues still couldn’t use him, though, and they gave him his release. I’m not sure how that worked when he was actually owned by Philadelphia—maybe it was actually the Athletics who released him. The Columbus Dispatch reported on August 4:

Monte Pfeffer also drew his release today. Marinette in the Wisconsin league is to get him but Pfeffer says he will not report there. He would like to join the Feds, but not having been asked, can’t do so.

Monte did not get asked to join the Federal League, and he did report to the Marinette-Menominee Twins of the Class C Wisconsin-Illinois League, where he finished the season, playing third base. For Kansas City he hit .177 in 32 games, but had a very respectable .336 on-base percentage due to having more walks than hits. With the Twins he hit .175 in 38 games, with a .298 OBP on an equal number of walks and hits. He appeared on the Marinette-Menominee reserve list in the off-season. Also in the off-season, on October 18, he married 18-year-old Rose Schachter in Manhattan; I have no idea whether she was the same young woman spoken of when Monte bolted from Wilkes-Barre in 1913.

In March 1915 it was reported that Monte had been placed on the suspended list by the Twins; whatever the reason, it didn’t make much difference since the Wisconsin-Illinois League folded before the season opened. On May 4 the Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader reported that he had signed with Brantford of the Class B Canadian League, but if he played with them at all it wasn’t enough to appear in the official stats. On June 4 it was reported that he had signed with St. Boniface, Manitoba, of the Class C Northern League. He played 72 games there, all at shortstop, and batted .169. On August 11 Rose gave birth to daughter Frances; on August 27 Rose died.

I don’t know whether Monte and Rose had been living with Samuel and Lena during their ten months of marriage, but that’s where Monte lived afterwards, while Frances was brought up by Monte’s sister Mamie and her husband, Aaron Balzer, as their daughter.

I found nothing about Monte playing baseball during 1916—except that after the season he appeared on the reserve list of the Winnipeg Maroons of the Class C Northern League, with the notation “suspended.” If he did play with them during 1916 it wasn’t enough to appear in the stats; my guess would be that they had acquired his rights but he never reported, so they put him on the suspended list.

On May 8, 1917, Monte filled out his draft card. He gave his last name as Pfeiffer, his address as his father’s at 70 E 104th, his birth year as 1890, his occupation as signal and repair for Interborough Rapid Transit (the company that operated the subway), his marital status as single, his height as medium (a bit of a stretch), and his build as medium, with black eyes and brown hair. In the Brooklyn Standard Union of September 1, he is named as the new third baseman for a team called the American Nationals that would be playing the next day at Dexter Park against the Cypress Hills Club.

Monte was inducted into the infantry on May 26, 1918, and was honorably discharged four weeks later, as a private; he was reported as 60% disabled, but in what way I don’t know. On August 29, 1919, Samuel died. The 1920 census, taken on January 7, showed the family now as one of four renting at 54 E 118^th Street, still in Manhattan. Lena is 58; Monte, 29, is an electrician for Interborough Rapid Transit; Sadie, 26, is a millinery saleslady; Isadore, 25, is a wholesale clothing shipping clerk; and Hannah, 21, is a milliner.

In the 1925 New York state census Monte is the only stepchild left living with Lena, and they’re now at 660 W 179^th Street, along with 17 other households. Monte, now a switchman, has aged just two years in the last five while Lena has aged seven (and she had aged 12 between the 1910 and 1920 censuses). It appears that her true age in 1925 was 64.

In the 1930 census Lena and Monte have apparently moved across the street, to 661 W 179^th Street, where their rent was $55 a month and they were one of six households. Monte is now listed as a subway electrician, and he is designated as married, though if he had a wife she was not living with him.

Lena passed away in 1936. In the 1940 census Monte is living at 280 Fort Washington Avenue with sister Sadie, her husband Jacob Wolins, and their three teenage children. Monte is shown as a divorced railroad machinist with an eighth grade education and a yearly income of $2500.

On September 27, 1941, Monte died at home on Fort Washington Avenue, of hypertensive heart disease. He was 51. He was listed as a signal repairman, and Frances, identified as his daughter and not his niece, was the informant on the death certificate. His headstone reads, in Hebrew, “Moshe ben Shmuel Yosef” and, in English: Monte Pfeiffer Born October 7, 1890 Died September 27, 1941 Beloved Husband, Dear Father. I did not find an obituary for him.

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/P/Ppeffm101.htm

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/peffemo01.shtml