Phillies news: Bryce Harper remembers late David Montgomery
By Matt Rappa
Friday marks one year since the passing of late Phillies chairman David Montgomery; right fielder Bryce Harper took to Instagram to remember him.
Philadelphia Phillies star outfielder Bryce Harper never got to meet late organization chairman David Montgomery.
Yet, his kind words on his Instagram story on Friday makes it seems the two knew each other for many years.
RELATED | Executive David Montgomery dies after battle with cancer
“[I] never was able to meet you David, but I just want to say thank you for all you have done for the Phillies organization,” Harper wrote. “I have felt so much love from everybody in this organization because of the way you showed them how to love all the same!”
Bryce Harper says he never got to meet former Phillies chairman David Montgomery, but thanks him
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) May 8, 2020
“It’s the way it is because of you.
I have felt so much love from everybody in this organization because of the way you showed them how to love all the same! ❤️”
📸 @bryceharper3 pic.twitter.com/IE4Ycj0zmO
Friday marked one year since the passing of the longtime Phillies front-officer member; he passed away at the age of 72 on May 8, 2019, after a courageous five-year battle against cancer.
Harper signed a then-record-breaking 13-year deal with the Phillies a couple months prior, but was not able to meet Montgomery, whose career with the team began in 1971 with him working in the ticket office and as a scoreboard operator.
“Today’s a really hard day, and a painfully sad one — beginning with the Phillies family, but extending to Philadelphia,” Phillies managing partner John Middleton said on the day of Montgomery’s passing. “But also, entwined with this sorrow should be rejoicing. This is a man who lived a great life. He was an example to all of us.”
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“We should all be grateful that David was in our lives, and for all the ways he touched us personally and thousands of other people.”
Montgomery was among the leaders in the organization who championed the annual Phillies Phestival, a fundraiser that fights Lou Gehrig’s Disease, or ALS. The 2020 date for the event had been slated for Thursday.
Montgomery meant so much to the organization over his decades of service. It is great to see Harper pay respect to his impact and contributions to the organization, but also that of his life.