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{{Short description|Puerto Rican baseball player (1934–2025)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography {{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Félix Mantilla |name=Félix Mantilla
|image=Felix Mantilla 1965.jpg |image=Felix Mantilla 1965.jpg
|caption=Mantilla in 1965
|position=] / ] |position=], ]
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1934|7|29}} |birth_date={{birth date|1934|7|29}}
|birth_place=] |birth_place=], Puerto Rico
|death_date={{death date and age|2025|1|10|1934|7|29}}
|death_place= ]
|bats=Right |bats=Right
|throws=Right |throws=Right
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}} }}


'''Félix Mantilla Lamela''' (born July 29, 1934) is a ] former ] ], who appeared mostly as an ]. In his 11-year ] (MLB) career, Mantilla played for the ] (1956–61), ] (1962), ] (1963–65), and ] (1966). He played ] the majority of his big league career (326 games), but also adeptly played ] (180), ] (143), ] (156) and (in the latter part of his career), ] (16). Mantilla batted and threw right-handed.<ref name="bbrefmantillamaj">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/edensto01.shtml|title=Felix Mantilla Minor Leagues Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|date=2020|work=]|accessdate=January 10, 2020}}</ref> '''Félix Mantilla Lamela''' (July 29, 1934 – January 10, 2025) was a Puerto Rican ] ], who appeared mostly as an ]. In his 11-year ] (MLB) career, Mantilla played for the ] (1956–61), ] (1962), ] (1963–65), and ] (1966). He played ] the majority of his big league career (326 games), but also adeptly played ] (180), ] (143), ] (156) and (in the latter part of his career), ] (16). Mantilla batted and threw right-handed.<ref name="bbrefmantillamaj">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/edensto01.shtml|title=Felix Mantilla Minor Leagues Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|date=2020|work=]|access-date=January 10, 2020}}</ref>


== Career ==
In 1953, Mantilla (along with ]<ref name="sabrbioaaron">{{cite web|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/5a36cc6f|title=Hank Aaron SABR BioProject|date=July 31, 2014|last=Johnson|first=Bill|publisher=]|work=SABR.org|accessdate=January 10, 2020}}</ref> and career minor league outfielder Horace Garner<ref name="bbrefgarnermin">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=garner001hor|title=Horace Garner Minor Leagues Statistics & History|date=2020|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=]|accessdate=January 10, 2020}}</ref>) joined the ] ] (MiLB) ], of the ] — which was (at that time) one of the first two integrated baseball teams in the ]. (Mantilla and Aaron were roommates. In 1954, Aaron became the MLB Braves’ ] when ] broke his ankle. Mantilla joined the major league club two seasons later.) Both Mantilla and Aaron were vital contributors to Milwaukee winning the ] title over the ]. In 1953, Mantilla (along with ]<ref name="sabrbioaaron">{{cite web|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/henry-aaron/|title=Hank Aaron SABR BioProject|date=July 31, 2014|last=Johnson|first=Bill|publisher=]|work=SABR.org|access-date=January 10, 2020}}</ref> and career minor league outfielder Horace Garner<ref name="bbrefgarnermin">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=garner001hor|title=Horace Garner Minor Leagues Statistics & History|date=2020|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=]|access-date=January 10, 2020}}</ref>) joined the ] ] (MiLB) ], of the ] — which was (at that time) one of the first two integrated baseball teams in the ]. (Mantilla and Aaron were roommates).{{Cn|date=January 2025}} In 1954, Aaron became the MLB Braves’ ] when ] broke his ankle. Mantilla joined the major league club two seasons later.) Both Mantilla and Aaron were vital contributors to Milwaukee winning the ] title over the ].{{Cn|date=January 2025}}


Mantilla was selected by the New York Mets in the ] and became their regular third baseman (95 games — 88 as a starter) in {{by|1962}}, while establishing career statistical highs in ], ], and ] (RBI) (.275/11/59). During the 1962 Winter Meetings, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox for ], ], and ]. Mantilla was selected by the New York Mets in the ] and became their regular third baseman (95 games — 88 as a starter) in {{baseball year|1962}}, while establishing career statistical highs in ], ], and ] (RBI) (.275/11/59). During the 1962 Winter Meetings, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox for ], ], and ].{{Cn|date=January 2025}}


Mantilla's numbers improved dramatically in the hitter-friendly ]: batting average of .315 in 66 games ({{by|1963}}); .289 with 30 home runs ({{by|1964}}) (five fewer than he had hit in his career prior to that season); a career-high with 92 RBI ({{by|1965}}). That season, he was also named to the ] (AL) ] team for the only time in his career. Mantilla's numbers improved dramatically in the hitter-friendly ]: batting average of .315 in 66 games ({{baseball year|1963}}); .289 with 30 home runs ({{baseball year|1964}}) (five fewer than he had hit in his career prior to that season); a career-high with 92 RBI ({{baseball year|1965}}). That season, he was also named to the ] (AL) ] team for the only time in his career.{{Cn|date=January 2025}} As the starting second baseman, he went hitless in two at-bats before being replaced by ].{{Cn|date=January 2025}}


Prior to the start of the {{by|1966}} season, the Red Sox traded Mantilla to the Houston Astros for ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2205&dat=19660405&id=HMIlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HPUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4665,1628012&hl=en|title=Red Sox trade Felix Mantilla|date=April 5, 1966|page=22|agency=UPI|publisher=]|accessdate=January 11, 2020}}</ref> Mantilla spent that year as a utility player before being released on November 28, 1966. Prior to the start of the {{baseball year|1966}} season, the Red Sox traded Mantilla to the Houston Astros for ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2205&dat=19660405&id=HMIlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HPUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4665,1628012&hl=en|title=Red Sox trade Felix Mantilla|date=April 5, 1966|page=22|agency=UPI|publisher=]|access-date=January 11, 2020}}</ref> Mantilla spent that year as a utility player before being released on November 28, 1966.{{Cn|date=January 2025}}


The ] signed Mantilla as a free agent before the start of the {{by|1967}} season; however, during spring training he suffered an ] injury that required surgery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1967/04/19/page/63/article/mantilla-has-leg-surgery-out-3-months|title=Mantilla Has Leg Surgery: Out 3 Months|date=April 19, 1967|page=63|publisher=]|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223175027/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1967/04/19/page/63/article/mantilla-has-leg-surgery-out-3-months|archivedate=December 23, 2014|accessdate=January 11, 2020}}</ref> Mantilla never played a game for them and was released on July 6. He went to spring training with the Cubs in 1968 as a non-roster player; at the end of camp the Cubs signed him to a minor league contract,<ref></ref> but he never appeared in another professional game. The ] signed Mantilla as a free agent before the start of the {{baseball year|1967}} season; however, during spring training he suffered an ] injury that required surgery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1967/04/19/page/63/article/mantilla-has-leg-surgery-out-3-months|title=Mantilla Has Leg Surgery: Out 3 Months|date=April 19, 1967|page=63|publisher=]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223175027/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1967/04/19/page/63/article/mantilla-has-leg-surgery-out-3-months|archive-date=December 23, 2014|access-date=January 11, 2020}}</ref> Mantilla never played a game for them and was released on July 6. He went to spring training with the Cubs in 1968 as a non-roster player; at the end of camp the Cubs signed him to a minor league contract,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1968/04/03/page/73/article/cubs-lose-in-wind|title=Florida Final: Cubs Lose in Wind (Send Mantilla to Tacoma Farm Club)|date=April 3, 1968|page=73|last=Dozer|first=Richard|publisher=]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223182212/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1968/04/03/page/73/article/cubs-lose-in-wind/|archive-date=December 23, 2014|access-date=January 11, 2020}}</ref> but he never appeared in another professional game.{{Cn|date=January 2025}}


Looking upon Mantilla‘s major league career stat line, he posed solid numbers, including a lifetime batting average of .261, with 89 home runs, and 330 RBI. Looking upon Mantilla‘s major league career stat line, he posed solid numbers, including a lifetime batting average of .261, with 89 home runs, and 330 RBI.{{Cn|date=January 2025}}


On May 26, 1959, in the 13th inning of a game against the ] at ], Mantilla ruined ]'s ]. Leading off the inning, he hit a ground ball to third baseman ], whose throw to first pulled ] off the bag for an error.<ref>{{cite book|title=Baseball's Top 100: The Game's Greatest Records|page=|first=Kerry|last=Banks|year=2010|publisher=Greystone Books|location=Vancouver, BC|isbn=978-1-55365-507-7|url=https://archive.org/details/baseballstop100g0000bank/page/29}}</ref> (Mantilla had not even been in the starting lineup; he entered the game in the 11th after ] had pinch-hit for ].) Mantilla was sacrificed to second by ], followed by an intentional ] to Hank Aaron. The following batter, ], hit one over the right-center field wall, just beyond the reach of right fielder ] (who was making his Major League debut), for an apparent 3–0 victory. Mantilla scored the winning run, but Aaron, thinking the ball was still in play and that the game ended when Mantilla scored the winning run, rounded second and then headed for the dugout. Adcock, running out his home run, passed Aaron on the bases; as a result, the ruling from ] (NL) president ] was that Adcock's hit was a double (not a home run), only Mantilla's run counted and the final score was 1–0.<ref name="sihaddixpg">{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/vault/2009/06/01/105819842/the-greatest-game-ever-pitched|title=The Greatest Game Ever Pitched|date=June 1, 2009|pages=62–67|last=Chen|first=Albert|publisher=Sports Illustrated|work=]|accessdate=October 22, 2015}}</ref> On May 26, 1959, in the 13th inning of a game against the ] at ], Mantilla ruined ]'s ].<ref name="bbrefhaddixperfect">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MLN/MLN195905260.shtml|title=Milwaukee Braves 1, Pittsburgh Pirates 0 Box Score|date=May 26, 1959|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=]|access-date=January 10, 2020}}</ref> Leading off the inning, he hit a ground ball to third baseman ], whose throw to first pulled ] off the bag for an error.<ref>{{cite book|title=Baseball's Top 100: The Game's Greatest Records|page=|first=Kerry|last=Banks|year=2010|publisher=Greystone Books|location=Vancouver, BC|isbn=978-1-55365-507-7|url=https://archive.org/details/baseballstop100g0000bank/page/29}}</ref> (Mantilla had not even been in the starting lineup; he entered the game in the 11th after ] had pinch-hit for ].) Mantilla was sacrificed to second by ], followed by an intentional ] to Hank Aaron. The following batter, ], hit one over the right-center field wall, just beyond the reach of right fielder ] (who was making his Major League debut), for an apparent 3–0 victory. Mantilla scored the winning run, but Aaron, thinking the ball was still in play and that the game ended when Mantilla scored the winning run, rounded second and then headed for the dugout. Adcock, running out his home run, passed Aaron on the bases; as a result, the ruling from ] (NL) president ] was that Adcock's hit was a double (not a home run), only Mantilla's run counted and the final score was 1–0.<ref name="sihaddixpg">{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/vault/2009/06/01/105819842/the-greatest-game-ever-pitched|title=The Greatest Game Ever Pitched|date=June 1, 2009|pages=62–67|last=Chen|first=Albert|publisher=Sports Illustrated|work=]|access-date=October 22, 2015}}</ref>


== In popular culture ==
Mantilla's ] 1962 ] was featured in the 2000 film '']'' as the top card in a stack being thrown into a fire as part of a right of passage/growing up event between a stern grandfather (]) and his grandson (]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sabrbaseballcards.blog/2017/04/19/skipped-parts|title=Skipped Parts: SABR’s Baseball Cards Research Committee|date=April 19, 2017|last=Armour|first=Mark|publisher=]|work=sabrbaseballcards.blog|accessdate=April 19, 2017}}</ref> Mantilla's ] 1962 ] was featured in the 2000 film '']'' as the top card in a stack being thrown into a fire as part of a right of passage/growing up event between a stern grandfather (]) and his grandson (]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sabrbaseballcards.blog/2017/04/19/skipped-parts/|title=Skipped Parts: SABR's Baseball Cards Research Committee|date=April 19, 2017|last=Armour|first=Mark|publisher=]|work=sabrbaseballcards.blog|access-date=April 19, 2017}}</ref>

== Death ==
Mantilla died on January 10, 2025, at the age of 90.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Polishuk |first1=Mark |title=Felix Mantilla Passes Away |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/felix-mantilla-passes-away.html |access-date=11 January 2025 |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |date=11 January 2025}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
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==External links== ==External links==
{{baseballstats|br=m/mantife01}} {{baseballstats|mlb=118257|espn=24621|br=m/mantife01|fangraphs=1008081|brm=mantil001fel|retro=M/Pmantf101}}
*{{IMDb name| 2912332}}
* at SABR (Baseball BioProject)


{{1957 Milwaukee Braves}} {{1957 Milwaukee Braves}}
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Latest revision as of 05:24, 16 January 2025

Puerto Rican baseball player (1934–2025)

Baseball player
Félix Mantilla
Mantilla in 1965
Infielder, outfielder
Born: (1934-07-29)July 29, 1934
Isabela, Puerto Rico
Died: January 10, 2025(2025-01-10) (aged 90)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Batted: RightThrew: Right
MLB debut
June 21, 1956, for the Milwaukee Braves
Last MLB appearance
October 2, 1966, for the Houston Astros
MLB statistics
Batting average.261
Home runs89
Runs batted in330
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Félix Mantilla Lamela (July 29, 1934 – January 10, 2025) was a Puerto Rican professional baseball utility player, who appeared mostly as an infielder. In his 11-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, Mantilla played for the Milwaukee Braves (1956–61), New York Mets (1962), Boston Red Sox (1963–65), and Houston Astros (1966). He played second base the majority of his big league career (326 games), but also adeptly played shortstop (180), third base (143), outfield (156) and (in the latter part of his career), first base (16). Mantilla batted and threw right-handed.

Career

In 1953, Mantilla (along with Hank Aaron and career minor league outfielder Horace Garner) joined the Class-A Minor League Baseball (MiLB) Jacksonville Braves, of the South Atlantic League — which was (at that time) one of the first two integrated baseball teams in the Southern United States. (Mantilla and Aaron were roommates). In 1954, Aaron became the MLB Braves’ left fielder when Bobby Thomson broke his ankle. Mantilla joined the major league club two seasons later.) Both Mantilla and Aaron were vital contributors to Milwaukee winning the 1957 World Series title over the New York Yankees.

Mantilla was selected by the New York Mets in the expansion draft and became their regular third baseman (95 games — 88 as a starter) in 1962, while establishing career statistical highs in batting average, home runs, and runs batted in (RBI) (.275/11/59). During the 1962 Winter Meetings, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox for Pumpsie Green, Tracy Stallard, and Al Moran.

Mantilla's numbers improved dramatically in the hitter-friendly Fenway Park: batting average of .315 in 66 games (1963); .289 with 30 home runs (1964) (five fewer than he had hit in his career prior to that season); a career-high with 92 RBI (1965). That season, he was also named to the American League (AL) All-Star team for the only time in his career. As the starting second baseman, he went hitless in two at-bats before being replaced by Bobby Richardson.

Prior to the start of the 1966 season, the Red Sox traded Mantilla to the Houston Astros for Eddie Kasko. Mantilla spent that year as a utility player before being released on November 28, 1966.

The Chicago Cubs signed Mantilla as a free agent before the start of the 1967 season; however, during spring training he suffered an Achilles tendon injury that required surgery. Mantilla never played a game for them and was released on July 6. He went to spring training with the Cubs in 1968 as a non-roster player; at the end of camp the Cubs signed him to a minor league contract, but he never appeared in another professional game.

Looking upon Mantilla‘s major league career stat line, he posed solid numbers, including a lifetime batting average of .261, with 89 home runs, and 330 RBI.

On May 26, 1959, in the 13th inning of a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Milwaukee County Stadium, Mantilla ruined Harvey Haddix's bid for a perfect game. Leading off the inning, he hit a ground ball to third baseman Don Hoak, whose throw to first pulled Rocky Nelson off the bag for an error. (Mantilla had not even been in the starting lineup; he entered the game in the 11th after Del Rice had pinch-hit for Johnny O'Brien.) Mantilla was sacrificed to second by Eddie Mathews, followed by an intentional walk to Hank Aaron. The following batter, Joe Adcock, hit one over the right-center field wall, just beyond the reach of right fielder Joe Christopher (who was making his Major League debut), for an apparent 3–0 victory. Mantilla scored the winning run, but Aaron, thinking the ball was still in play and that the game ended when Mantilla scored the winning run, rounded second and then headed for the dugout. Adcock, running out his home run, passed Aaron on the bases; as a result, the ruling from National League (NL) president Warren Giles was that Adcock's hit was a double (not a home run), only Mantilla's run counted and the final score was 1–0.

In popular culture

Mantilla's Topps 1962 baseball card was featured in the 2000 film Skipped Parts as the top card in a stack being thrown into a fire as part of a right of passage/growing up event between a stern grandfather (R. Lee Ermey) and his grandson (Bug Hall).

Death

Mantilla died on January 10, 2025, at the age of 90.

See also

References

  1. "Felix Mantilla Minor Leagues Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  2. Johnson, Bill (July 31, 2014). "Hank Aaron SABR BioProject". SABR.org. Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  3. "Horace Garner Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  4. "Red Sox trade Felix Mantilla". The Baltimore Afro-American. UPI. April 5, 1966. p. 22. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  5. "Mantilla Has Leg Surgery: Out 3 Months". The Chicago Tribune. April 19, 1967. p. 63. Archived from the original on December 23, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  6. Dozer, Richard (April 3, 1968). "Florida Final: Cubs Lose in Wind (Send Mantilla to Tacoma Farm Club)". The Chicago Tribune. p. 73. Archived from the original on December 23, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  7. "Milwaukee Braves 1, Pittsburgh Pirates 0 Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. May 26, 1959. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  8. Banks, Kerry (2010). Baseball's Top 100: The Game's Greatest Records. Vancouver, BC: Greystone Books. p. 29. ISBN 978-1-55365-507-7.
  9. Chen, Albert (June 1, 2009). "The Greatest Game Ever Pitched". SI.com. Sports Illustrated. pp. 62–67. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  10. Armour, Mark (April 19, 2017). "Skipped Parts: SABR's Baseball Cards Research Committee". sabrbaseballcards.blog. Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  11. Polishuk, Mark (January 11, 2025). "Felix Mantilla Passes Away". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved January 11, 2025.

External links

Milwaukee Braves 1957 World Series champions
1 Del Crandall
4 Red Schoendienst
5 Félix Mantilla
7 Del Rice
9 Joe Adcock
10 Bob Buhl
12 Bob Hazle
14 Frank Torre
15 Carl Sawatski
16 Dave Jolly
17 Taylor Phillips
18 John DeMerit
20 Don McMahon
21 Warren Spahn (CYA)
22 Gene Conley
23 Johnny Logan
25 Nippy Jones
30 Bob Trowbridge
32 Ernie Johnson
33 Lew Burdette (World Series MVP)
34 Juan Pizarro
41 Eddie Mathews
43 Wes Covington
44 Hank Aaron (NL MVP)
48 Andy Pafko
Manager
2 Fred Haney
Coaches
3 Johnny Riddle
8 Connie Ryan
31 Charlie Root
35 Bob Keely
Regular season
Categories: