Mario Mendoza---1975
Mario Mendoza could be the poster
child for the definition of a “good
field, no hit” middle infielder. As far
as Mendoza is concerned, that would
be preferable compared to the
contribution to baseball’s vernacular
his name is associated with.
A Mexican League standout in the
early 1970s who was nicknamed
Manos de Sedas (“Silk Hands”), the
smooth fielding shortstop signed with
the Pirates and reached the big
leagues shortly thereafter, in 1974.
He toiled with Pittsburgh for five
seasons prior to requesting a trade,
and was sent to the fledgling Seattle
Mariners. With the M’s Mendoza
spent the 1979 campaign as the
starting shortstop and responded by
hitting .198, which would prove to be
one of five times in nine big league
seasons in which he failed to bat .
200 or better.
*******************************************
Why does Mario Mendoza's card ask
the question, "How does Sparky Lyle
celebrate his birthday?"
And what is so special about the
answer that Lyle celebrates "By
eating birthday cake?"
Am I the only one confused
here????????
(6/24-25/08)
child for the definition of a “good
field, no hit” middle infielder. As far
as Mendoza is concerned, that would
be preferable compared to the
contribution to baseball’s vernacular
his name is associated with.
A Mexican League standout in the
early 1970s who was nicknamed
Manos de Sedas (“Silk Hands”), the
smooth fielding shortstop signed with
the Pirates and reached the big
leagues shortly thereafter, in 1974.
He toiled with Pittsburgh for five
seasons prior to requesting a trade,
and was sent to the fledgling Seattle
Mariners. With the M’s Mendoza
spent the 1979 campaign as the
starting shortstop and responded by
hitting .198, which would prove to be
one of five times in nine big league
seasons in which he failed to bat .
200 or better.
*******************************************
Why does Mario Mendoza's card ask
the question, "How does Sparky Lyle
celebrate his birthday?"
And what is so special about the
answer that Lyle celebrates "By
eating birthday cake?"
Am I the only one confused
here????????
(6/24-25/08)
During Mendoza’s two-season stint with the Mariners, Kansas City third baseman George
Brett made an off-hand remark regarding batting statistics. In those days, while Al Gore
was apparently putting the final touches of his brain-child known as the Internet, Sunday
newspapers listed the batting averages of every player from both leagues, beginning with
the highest norms and continuing to the lowest. Brett referred to those hitting below .200
as the “Mendoza line.” With ESPN and other media outlets becoming more popular at that
time, the term stuck and continues to thrive to this day.
Mendoza has always despised the term. Even though he rarely reached base, with his
inability to put the ball in play or draw a walk consistently resulting in a career on-base
percentage of .245, he bristled at the description prior to calling it quits in the big leagues
after the 1982 campaign with Texas. A career .215 hitter in 1,337 at-bats, Mendoza later
coached and managed in the minors for more than a decade with the Angels and Giants
prior to becoming a skipper in the Mexican League, beginning in 2003.
Brett made an off-hand remark regarding batting statistics. In those days, while Al Gore
was apparently putting the final touches of his brain-child known as the Internet, Sunday
newspapers listed the batting averages of every player from both leagues, beginning with
the highest norms and continuing to the lowest. Brett referred to those hitting below .200
as the “Mendoza line.” With ESPN and other media outlets becoming more popular at that
time, the term stuck and continues to thrive to this day.
Mendoza has always despised the term. Even though he rarely reached base, with his
inability to put the ball in play or draw a walk consistently resulting in a career on-base
percentage of .245, he bristled at the description prior to calling it quits in the big leagues
after the 1982 campaign with Texas. A career .215 hitter in 1,337 at-bats, Mendoza later
coached and managed in the minors for more than a decade with the Angels and Giants
prior to becoming a skipper in the Mexican League, beginning in 2003.