SV grad, former major leaguer Conti, dies
One of the things that Tony Conti appreciated most about his brother, Jason, was that he never changed.
“He was drafted into the major leagues, played in the major leagues, earned a World Series ring, but he stayed humble through it all,” Tony said. “He remained to me the big brother that I remember as a kid.”
Jason Conti, a 1993 Seneca Valley graduate who played for four teams during a five-year MLB career (2000-04), died unexpectedly May 16 in Arizona. He was 50.
“That’s too young. He will be missed,” said Tony, who followed in his brother’s footsteps.
“He played baseball, football and basketball at Seneca and I ended up playing all three as well (before graduating in 1998). He was a significant influence on me. He took athletics seriously, wasn’t one of those kids who just showed up to practice and expected the coaches to make him better. He put time in on his own to improve.
“He loved all those sports, but I remember there being something unique about baseball for him. I think that was his biggest passion.”
Jason was drafted out of high school in the 74th round by San Diego. He opted instead to attend the University of Pittsburgh and play for the Panthers.
He paced Pitt in hits in back-to-back seasons (1995-96) and despite playing just three seasons, is still the program’s all-time leader in career stolen bases with 89.
Following his junior campaign in 1996, Jason was taken in the 32nd round by the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks, who were to begin play in 1998.
“He heard there was a chance he’d be taken on the first day, but it didn’t happen until the second day,” Tony said. “It didn’t bother him at all. Jason was always a humble person who didn’t expect anybody else to do things for him. All he cared about was that it was a chance for him to continue playing baseball.”
Jason made his debut with Arizona in 2000 and received a World Series ring following the team’s victory over the New York Yankees the following year.
He played 130 combined games for Tampa Bay, Milwaukee and Texas over the next three seasons, then spent time with four minor league teams in 2005 and 2006.
“When he thought about hanging up his cleats, he received an offer to play in Italy and played in a league over there for six months," Tony said. "It was a great way for him to finish his career, playing for one team and not going back and forth between a number of clubs."
Jason Conti briefly got involved in the coaching side of baseball, but eventually found a way to satisfy another passion of his when he became a chef at a restaurant in Chandler, Ariz. He and his wife, Cari, had purchased a house there in 2000.
"Jason always loved cooking and he was able to find another identity," said Tony, who will always remember his brother's down-to-earth demeanor.
"He never bragged about getting to the major leagues," he said. "A lot of people have asked if there's anything they can do to help our family. We've told them to make a donation to Seneca Valley's baseball program in his honor. We've thought about starting a scholarship in his name. We need to keep his memory alive."
Jason Conti is survived by his wife, mother Carolyn, brothers Tony and Nick and sister Raechel.
