Monty Basgall

Romanus “Monty” Basgall was born in 1922 in Pfeifer, an unincorporated community in Ellis County.  He studied at Sterling College and signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1942.

After one season in the minor leagues, Basgall joined the U.S. Army and served for three years.  He resumed his baseball career in 1946 with the Class AA Fort Worth Cats.

A year later, the Dodgers traded Basgall to Pittsburgh where he played in 1948 and 1949.  He was the Pirates’ starting second baseman in 1949 but hit only .218.  He was sent to the minors for two seasons and returned to play 55 games with the Pirates in 1951.

Basgall played four seasons in the Pacific Coast League before turning to coaching and managing.  In 1958, he returned to the Dodgers as a scout and infield instructor until he became their Class AA manager in 1971.  He helped convert Bill Russell and Davey Lopes to middle infielders.

In 1973, Basgall joined Walter Alston’s major league staff.  He served under Alston and Tommy Lasorda until 1987.  He was Lasorda’s right-hand man in the dugout.

Bagall died in 2005 at the age of 83.