Temple University Athletics
Hall of Famer Jeff Manto Receives NCAA Degree Completion Award
8.10.22 | General
PHILADELPHIA – Temple University Hall of Famer Jeff Manto, who played 10 seasons of Major League baseball and currently manages the Trenton Thunder, has received a NCAA Degree Completion Award, and continue taking classes in the fall to earn his bachelor's degree from the University.
"We are so happy that Jeff is able to utilize the NCAA program to return to Temple and finish his degree," said Vice President and Director of Athletics Arthur Johnson. "Jeff has had amazing success as a major league baseball player and coach and continues to be an ambassador for the University as the manager of the Trenton Thunder. Earning his degree over 30 years after his playing days will be just another incredible accomplishment in his Hall of Fame career and an inspiration to others."
Manto, who played three seasons (1983-85) at Temple under legendary coach Skip Wilson, entered the 1985 MLB draft following his junior season. He was selected by the California Angels. The Bristol, Pa. native played for eight different teams in the majors and was part of three World Series teams: the 1993 Philadelphia Phillies, the 1997 Cleveland Indians, and the 1999 New York Yankees. He also shares the MLB record for home runs in consecutive at-bats, hitting four straight while with the Baltimore Orioles. He accomplished this over three games in 1995 (June 8-10) and hit a fifth in that stretch to tie Johnny Blanchard's American League Record of five home runs in a three-game span which was established in 1961.
A member of nine different Halls of Fame, Manto was inducted into the Temple University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000. As an Owl, Manto batted .412 for his career, a fraction of a point behind fellow Hall of Famer John Marzano. At the time, he owned the Temple records for most total bases (147), most extra base hits/season (35), highest slugging percentage/season (.855), highest home run percentage/season (7.0) and highest slugging percentage/career (.791). During the 1985 season, he batted .441, hit 16 home runs (the Temple record for homers in a season at the time) and had 144 total bases. He was named to the East Region All Star Team in 1984, leading the Owls in batting with a .377 average and in triples with 35.
"I am so excited to be able to come back to Temple to finish my degree," said Manto, who starts classes in the fall. "I loved my time at the University and have been looking to return for some time, but the timing just never was right. With this NCAA program, and the flexibility of the University, I am thankful to be able to complete my degree path which started in the fall of 1982."
Manto credits the efforts of former Fox School of Business administrator Arlene Dowd for his eventual return to classes.
"When I was managing Lakewood during the 2002 season, I heard this woman yelling my name for eight innings trying to get my attention," he recalls. "After the game I called up to her (In the stands), what do you want? She responded by throwing me her business card and that she was my guidance counselor and she wanted me back in school.
"I called her that night as I was intrigued, but it just did not work at that time. She reached out again in 2006 when I was the hitting coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Again, the timing was not there, but it stayed with me. Now, being back in the area, the timing is right."
Manto will be the first former Temple student-athlete to utilize the NCAA program. To be eligible, the applicant must have received athletics-related financial aid from an NCAA Division I member institution and be entering at least their sixth year of post-secondary education and have exhausted institutional athletic eligibility.
Also, the applicant must be within 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of completing their first undergraduate degree.
Manto resides in Bristol, Pa. with his wife Denise. The couple have three children, Dr. Gabrielle Manto, Andreana Manto BSN, RN, and Jeffrey Manto, who is a member of the Trenton Thunder.
"We are so happy that Jeff is able to utilize the NCAA program to return to Temple and finish his degree," said Vice President and Director of Athletics Arthur Johnson. "Jeff has had amazing success as a major league baseball player and coach and continues to be an ambassador for the University as the manager of the Trenton Thunder. Earning his degree over 30 years after his playing days will be just another incredible accomplishment in his Hall of Fame career and an inspiration to others."
Manto, who played three seasons (1983-85) at Temple under legendary coach Skip Wilson, entered the 1985 MLB draft following his junior season. He was selected by the California Angels. The Bristol, Pa. native played for eight different teams in the majors and was part of three World Series teams: the 1993 Philadelphia Phillies, the 1997 Cleveland Indians, and the 1999 New York Yankees. He also shares the MLB record for home runs in consecutive at-bats, hitting four straight while with the Baltimore Orioles. He accomplished this over three games in 1995 (June 8-10) and hit a fifth in that stretch to tie Johnny Blanchard's American League Record of five home runs in a three-game span which was established in 1961.
A member of nine different Halls of Fame, Manto was inducted into the Temple University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000. As an Owl, Manto batted .412 for his career, a fraction of a point behind fellow Hall of Famer John Marzano. At the time, he owned the Temple records for most total bases (147), most extra base hits/season (35), highest slugging percentage/season (.855), highest home run percentage/season (7.0) and highest slugging percentage/career (.791). During the 1985 season, he batted .441, hit 16 home runs (the Temple record for homers in a season at the time) and had 144 total bases. He was named to the East Region All Star Team in 1984, leading the Owls in batting with a .377 average and in triples with 35.
"I am so excited to be able to come back to Temple to finish my degree," said Manto, who starts classes in the fall. "I loved my time at the University and have been looking to return for some time, but the timing just never was right. With this NCAA program, and the flexibility of the University, I am thankful to be able to complete my degree path which started in the fall of 1982."
Manto credits the efforts of former Fox School of Business administrator Arlene Dowd for his eventual return to classes.
"When I was managing Lakewood during the 2002 season, I heard this woman yelling my name for eight innings trying to get my attention," he recalls. "After the game I called up to her (In the stands), what do you want? She responded by throwing me her business card and that she was my guidance counselor and she wanted me back in school.
"I called her that night as I was intrigued, but it just did not work at that time. She reached out again in 2006 when I was the hitting coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Again, the timing was not there, but it stayed with me. Now, being back in the area, the timing is right."
Manto will be the first former Temple student-athlete to utilize the NCAA program. To be eligible, the applicant must have received athletics-related financial aid from an NCAA Division I member institution and be entering at least their sixth year of post-secondary education and have exhausted institutional athletic eligibility.
Also, the applicant must be within 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of completing their first undergraduate degree.
Manto resides in Bristol, Pa. with his wife Denise. The couple have three children, Dr. Gabrielle Manto, Andreana Manto BSN, RN, and Jeffrey Manto, who is a member of the Trenton Thunder.
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