Matt Galante

American baseball player and coach (born 1944)

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Baseball player

Matt Galante

Coach
Born: (1944-03-22)March 22, 1944 (age 81)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Teams
As manager

* Houston Astros (1999)

As coach

* Houston Astros (1985–1996, 1998–2001)
* New York Mets (2002–2004)

Matthew Joseph Galante (born March 22, 1944) is an American former infielder and coach in Major League Baseball (MLB) who served as the interim manager for the Houston Astros in 1999. He has also managed the Italy national team in international competittion.

## Playing career

[edit]

The 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m), 157 lb (71 kg) Galante attended St. John's University. While at St. John's in 1964, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League and was named a league all-star.[1][2][3] Galante was selected as the 833rd and final pick of the 1966 Major League Baseball draft by the New York Yankees. He played in the Yankees system from 1966 to 1971, and spent the 1972 and 1973 seasons with the Evansville Triplets, the AAA affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.[4]

## Coaching career

[edit]

After his playing career ended, he spent several years as a minor league manager and scout. He was a coach for the Astros from 1985 to 2001 with the exception of 1997, when he worked in the club's front office and then stepped in as manager of the AAA New Orleans Zephyrs when Steve Swisher resigned a few days into the season.

Galante was the acting manager of the Astros for 27 games in 1999, when manager Larry Dierker was sidelined for health reasons. He compiled a record of 13-14.[5] He was a member of the New York Mets coaching staff from 2002 to 2004.[6] He rejoined the Astros front office in 2005.

Craig Biggio credited Galante with assisting him in transitioning from a catcher to a second baseman, a move that extended his career to 20 years in the Majors. In his Hall of Fame address, he asked Galante to stand up for special recognition, saying, "I wouldn't be here without him."[7]

Galante also managed Team Italy in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. He is currently an Astros' scout.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Meet the Kettleers". Barnstable Patriot. Barnstable, MA. July 30, 1964. p. 8.
2. ^ "All-Time Cotuit Kettleers Alumni". kettleers.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
3. ^ "Upper Cape All-Stars". Cape Cod Standard-Times. Hyannis, MA. July 14, 1964. p. 7.
4. ^ "Matt Galante Minor and Winter League". Baseball Reference. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
5. ^ "Houston's Lima Wins 13th". The New York Times. 12 July 1999. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
6. ^ "Matt Galante". Retrosheet. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
7. ^ de Jesûs Ortíz, José (July 26, 2015). "Biggio offers heartfelt tip of his cap to Galante". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 29, 2021.

Preceded by

Sandy Johnson

|  Newark Co-Pilots Manager
1973  | Succeeded by

John Felske

|
|

Preceded by

Sandy Johnson

|  Danville Warriors Manager
1974  | Succeeded by

team disbanded

Preceded by

Rene Lachemann

|  Burlington Bees Manager
1975–1976  | Succeeded by

Denis Menke

Preceded by

first manager

|  Holyoke Millers Manager
1977  | Succeeded by

George Farson

Preceded by

Chris Krug

|  Little Falls Mets Manager
1979  | Succeeded by

Dan Monzon

Preceded by

Jimmy Johnson

|  Columbus Astros Manager
1980–1982  | Succeeded by

Jack Hiatt

Preceded by

Jimmy Johnson

|  Tucson Toros Manager
1983–1984  | Succeeded by

Jimmy Johnson

Preceded by

Cot Deal

|  Houston Astros First Base Coach
1985–1988  | Succeeded by

Phil Garner

Preceded by

Yogi Berra

|  Houston Astros Bench Coach
1989–1993  | Succeeded by

Julio Linares

Preceded by

Tom Spencer

|  Houston Astros Third Base Coach
1994–1996  | Succeeded by

Mike Cubbage

Preceded by

Steve Swisher

|  New Orleans Zephyrs Manager
1997  | Succeeded by

John Tamargo

Preceded by

Bill Virdon

|  Houston Astros Bench Coach
1998–2000  | Succeeded by

Mike Cubbage

Preceded by

Larry Dierker

|  Houston Astros Manager (interim)
1999  | Succeeded by

Larry Dierker

Preceded by

Steve Swisher

|  Houston Astros Third Base Coach
2001  | Succeeded by

Gene Lamont

Preceded by

Cookie Rojas

|  New York Mets Third Base Coach
2002–2004  | Succeeded by

Manny Acta

* v
* t
* e

1966 College Baseball All-America Team selections

* P Steve Arlin
* P Bill Frost
* C Jim Hibbs
* 1B Ed Maras
* 2B Matt Galante

* 3B Bob Willet
* SS Eddie Leon
* O Dale Ford
* O Jim Lyttle
* O Reggie Jackson

* v
* t
* e

Houston Astros managers

* Harry Craft (1962–1964)
* Lum Harris (1964–1965)
* Grady Hatton (1966–1968)
* Harry Walker (1968–1972)
* Salty Parker (1972)
* Leo Durocher (1972–1973)
* Preston Gómez (1974–1975)
* Bill Virdon (1975–1982)
* Bob Lillis (1982–1985)
* Hal Lanier (1986–1988)
* Art Howe (1989–1993)
* Terry Collins (1994–1996)
* Larry Dierker (1997–2001)
* Matt Galante (1999)
* Jimy Williams (2002–2004)
* Phil Garner (2004–2007)
* Cecil Cooper (2007–2009)
* Dave Clark (2009)
* Brad Mills (2010–2012)
* Tony DeFrancesco (2012)
* Bo Porter (2013–2014)
* Tom Lawless (2014)
* A. J. Hinch (2015–2019)
* Dusty Baker (2020–2023)
* Joe Espada (2024–present)

* v
* t
* e

Italy national baseball team — managers

World Baseball Classic|

* Galante (2006)
* Mazzieri (2009, 2013, 2017)
* Piazza (2023)

Summer Olympics|

* Ambrosini (1992, 1996, 2000)
* Faraone (2004)

IBAF / FIBA / WBSC|

* Mazzieri

* v
* t
* e

Italy roster – 2006 World Baseball Classic

* 1 Jack Santora
* 3 Jim Buccheri
* 4 Frank Menechino
* 6 Tony Giarratano
* 13 John Mangieri
* 14 Matt Ceriani
* 15 Vince Sinisi
* 17 Alex Maestri
* 18 Mark Saccomanno
* 20 Tom Gregorio
* 22 Tony Fiore
* 24 Dustin Delucchi
* 25 Pete Zoccolillo
* 26 Jairo Ramos Gizzi
* 27 Frank Catalanotto
* 28 Fabio Milano
* 31 Mike Piazza
* 34 Davide Dallospedale
* 35 Valentino Pascucci
* 36 Marc LaMacchia
* 37 David Rollandini
* 38 Todd Incantalupo
* 40 Kasey Olenberger
* 42 Claudio Liverziani
* 43 Riccardo De Santis
* 45 Mike Gallo
* 49 Jason Grilli
* 53 Philip Barzilla
* 55 Lenny DiNardo
* 58 Dan Miceli

* Manager Matt Galante

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