Monford Merrill “Monte” Irvin was born on February 25, 1919, and died on January 11, 2016.
He was a former left fielder and right fielder in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball (MLB).
He played with the Newark Eagles (1938–42, 46–48), New York Giants (1949–55) and Chicago Cubs (1956).
Irvin grew up in New Jersey and was a standout football player at Lincoln University.
Monte left Lincoln to spend several seasons in Negro league baseball.
Irvin career was interrupted by military service from 1943 to 1945.
He joined the New York Giants, Irvin became one of the earliest African-American MLB players.
Irvin has played in two World Series for the Giants.
When future Hall of Famer Willie Mays joined the Giants in 1951, Monte Irvin was asked to mentor him.
Monte was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973.
After his playing career, Irvin was a baseball scout and held an administrative role with the MLB commissioner’s office.
Before he died, Monte Irvin was the oldest living former Negro Leagues player, New York Giant, and Chicago Cub.
Monte Irvin lived in a retirement community in Houston prior to his death.
Monte Irvin passed away at 96 yrs old.