Former Phillie Jeff Manto, of Bristol, joining Conwell-Egan as baseball coach
Former Philadelphia Phillie and Bucks County native Jeff Manto is coming home.
He will join Conwell-Egan Catholic High School in Bristol Township this year as the private school's new head baseball coach.
Manto is currently the manager of the Trenton Thunder of the MLB Draft League, and will leave the team after the season, he said Thursday after CEC announced his hiring.
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Manto played MLB for 16 years with stints with the Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees and Colorado Rockies.
"This is a great opportunity and I'm very excited about it," said Manto, who was born and raised in Bristol Borough, and still lives there with his wife and three children. "Opportunities like this don't come around often. I know it's going to be a challenge, but I'm looking forward to it."
After starring at Bristol High School, Manto attended Temple University where he was a member of two Atlantic 10 Championship teams. Inducted into the Temple University Hall of Fame in 2000, Manto was drafted in the 35th round of the 1982 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees as a right-handed pitcher, but opted not to sign.
Three years later, he re-entered the draft and was drafted in the 14th round by the California Angels. He signed that same year and played 16 years as a utility man. Manto retired after the 2000 season.
During that span, Manto was part of three World Series teams, including the 1993 Philadelphia Phillies and the 1997 Cleveland Indians. He was on the winning World Series champion 1999 New York Yankees.
Even after his playing days, he never veered far from the baseball diamond.
After his playing career ended, Manto worked as a hitting coach, as well as manager, for the Phillies’ Lakewood BlueClaws in New Jersey. He was hired as the Pittsburgh Pirates hitting coordinator in 2003, and then was named the Pirates' hitting coach in November 2005. In 2011, Manto was named hitting coach for the Chicago White Sox.
In 2021, Manto was announced as the manager of the Trenton Thunder for the inaugural season of the MLB Draft League. The team finished in first place with a 30-18-8 record. The Thunder finished 20-18 in the first half of the season and are 1-4 in the second half.
"Jeff is well-known and well-liked," said Conwell-Egan principal Matthew Fischer. "We had an opening and Jeff was looking for an opportunity to showcase his talents. It was a good fit and we're very happy about it. His presence is going to make our program much better."
The Eagles haven't enjoyed a winning season since 2011 when Bob Wagner guided them to a 15-10 finish. CEC lost 5-1 to Springfield-Montco in the playoffs that year.
"We're thrilled to have Jeff join the CEC family," said Conwell-Egan athletic director Patrick Donlen in a prepared statement. "His expertise and knowledge of the game will have a profound impact on the baseball program at CEC. His proven track record of success along with his personal connection to the community make him a special fit for this position.”
Manto is soon be a member of nine Halls of Fame. He's already been inducted to the Bristol High School, Bucks County, Temple University, Pennsylvania Sports, Buffalo Bison, Rochester Red Wings, Greater Buffalo and International League halls, and will be inducted in the Trenton Baseball Hall of Fame on Aug. 12. His number 30 is also retired for the Buffalo Bisons.
Manto shares two crazy MLB records: he once hit five home runs in three days, and also belted four home runs in four straight at-bats. He hopes to bring his success to Conwell-Egan.
"CEC has a clear vision for sustained success and I'm looking forward to being a part of it,” said Manto. "We have a lot of things to be excited about. I'm glad that I'll have a chance to hopefully build something."
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Former Phillie Jeff Manto, of Bristol, joining Conwell-Egan as baseball coach
