The 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m), 157 lb (71 kg) Galante attended St. John's University. While at St. John's in 1964, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League and was named a league all-star.^[1][2][3] Galante was selected as the 833rd and final pick of the 1966 Major League Baseball draft by the New York Yankees. He played in the Yankees system from 1966 to 1971, and spent the 1972 and 1973 seasons with the Evansville Triplets, the AAA affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.^[4]

After his playing career ended, he spent several years as a minor league manager and scout. He was a Houston Astros coach from 1985 to 2001 with the exception of 1997, when he worked in the club's front office and then stepped in as manager of the AAA New Orleans Zephyrs when Steve Swisher resigned a few days into the season.

Matt Galante was acting manager of the Houston Astros for 27 games in 1999, when the manager Larry Dierker was sidelined for health reasons. He compiled a record of 13–14.^[5] He was a member of the New York Mets coaching staff from 2002 to 2004.^[6] He rejoined the Astros front office in 2005.

Craig Biggio credited Galante with assisting him in transitioning from a Catcher to a Second Baseman, a move that extended his career to 20 years in the Majors. In his Hall of Fame address, he asked Galante to stand up for special recognition, saying, "I wouldn't be here without him."^[7]

Galante also managed the Italian baseball team as a part of the 2006 World Baseball Classic. He is currently an Astros' scout.