Ramón Montoya (baseball)

Ramón "Diablo" Montoya Lerma (8 December 1940 – 24 January 2018) was a Mexican professional baseball outfielder and coach. Montoya spent all his career in the Mexican League playing center field for the Diablos Rojos del México. Nicknamed "Diablo" (Devil), Montoya also participated in the Mexican Pacific League and played one season, in 1964, for the El Paso Sun Kings of the Texas League. After retiring, he coached for the Diablos Rojos. Montoya was inducted into the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the class of 1990.

Early career
Montoya was born on 8 December 1940 in Mexicali, Baja California. Nicknamed "Diablo" since his early days in local Mexicali, Montoya was part of the Mexican squad that competed in the 1961 Amateur World Series played in Costa Rica, where they placed second with a 7–2 record.

Professional career
Montoya started his professional career in 1961 as Rodolfo Montoya in the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League, playing eight games. In 1962, Montoya registered using his real name and became the Diablos Rojos starting centerfielder, a position he held for the next 15 seasons with the México squad.

In 1964, Montoya played in the Texas League for the El Paso Sun Kings, where he appeared in 90 games, but he had to return to Mexico due to a clavicle fracture. "Diablo" won four Mexican League championships with the Diablos Rojos, in 1968, 1973, 1974 and 1976. Montoya retired in 1976; that same year, his number, 32, was retired by the Diablos Rojos.

Montoya also played thirteen seasons in the Mexican Pacific League (LMP), debuting in the 1961–62 season for the Naranjeros de Hermosillo. He also played for the Rieleros de Empalme, Algodoneros de Guasave, Yaquis de Obregón, Tomateros de Culiacán and Ostioneros de Guaymas. During the 1963–64 season, while playing for the Rieleros, Montoya set the LMP single season record for most hits, with 130; as of 2023, the record is still active.

On 13 July 1990, Montoya was elected to the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame. Montoya is also part of his hometown's Mexicali Hall of Fame.

During the seventies, the Diablos Rojos had a mascot named Ramoncito modelled after Montoya disguised as a red devil. The mascot made a comeback in 2024.

Coaching career
After retiring as player, Montoya kept working with the Diablos Rojos as a coach and was even considered as a successor to legendary manager Cananea Reyes.

In his last years of life, Montoya worked as an instructor for the Alfredo Harp Helú Baseball Academy.

Death
Montoya died on 24 January 2018 in Cuernavaca, Morelos, aged 77.

Mexican Pacific League
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