Manny Mota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Manny Mota |
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Mota in 1966
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: February 18, 1938 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
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| debut | |||
| April 16, 1962, for the San Francisco Giants | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 1, 1982, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .304 | ||
| Home runs | 31 | ||
| Runs batted in | 438 | ||
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As player
As coach
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 1998 | ||
Manuel Rafael Mota Geronimo, known as Manny Mota, was born on February 18, 1938. He is a former Dominican Major League Baseball player. He played as an outfielder for 20 seasons.
Mota played for the San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Montreal Expos. He was also a special pinch hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers. A pinch hitter is a player who bats in place of another player. He stopped playing baseball when he was 44 years old.
After his playing career, Mota became a coach for the Dodgers. He coached from 1980 to 2013. His 34 years as a Dodgers coach is the longest time anyone has coached for the team. It's also the second-longest coaching streak in all of MLB history. Today, Mota works as a hitting instructor for younger players and as a Spanish-language TV announcer for the Dodgers.
Contents
Manny Mota's Baseball Journey
Starting in the Minor Leagues
Manny Mota began his baseball career at 19 years old. He signed with the New York Giants in 1957. He started playing in the minor leagues, which are lower-level professional baseball teams.
In his first year, he played for the Michigan City White Caps. He hit very well, with a .314 batting average. This means he got a hit about 314 times out of every 1000 chances. He continued to play well in different minor league teams, always hitting above .300.
First Steps in Major League Baseball
Mota made his big league debut on April 16, 1962. He played for the San Francisco Giants against the Los Angeles Dodgers. His first hit in the major leagues was a single on April 21, 1962. He played 47 games for the Giants that year.
Playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates
In 1963, Mota joined the Pittsburgh Pirates. He quickly became known as a great hitter. During his six years with the Pirates, he played in 642 games. He had a strong batting average of .297. His first home run was hit in 1964.
A Short Time with the Montreal Expos
In 1968, the Montreal Expos picked Mota in a special draft for new teams. He played 31 games for them. He continued to hit well, with a .315 batting average.
Becoming a Dodgers Legend
In 1969, Mota was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. This is where he truly shined. He became the team's main pinch hitter. For the next five seasons, he consistently hit over .300.
In 1973, Mota was chosen for the National League All-Star team. This was because he was leading the league in batting average. From 1974 to 1979, he was often called upon in the late parts of games. He would come in as a pinch hitter and get important hits. He got about 10 pinch hits each season for six years.
The Dodgers played in the World Series in 1974, 1977, and 1978. In 1979, Mota set a record for the most career pinch hits. He was known for his quick swing. He could often hit the ball just past the first baseman for a single.
In 1981, Mota was part of his fourth World Series, but this time as a coach. He stopped playing after the 1982 season. He finished his playing career with a record 149 pinch hits. This record has since been broken by other players. His overall batting average was .304. His .315 batting average with the Dodgers is the second-best in their Los Angeles history.
Life After Playing Baseball
Coaching and Broadcasting
Mota continued to serve the Dodgers as a coach after he stopped playing. He was a player-coach for his last few seasons. He then stayed on as a full-time coach. He coached the Dodgers in the 1988 World Series, which was his fifth World Series with the team.
In 2013, Mota retired from coaching. He became a full-time broadcaster for the Dodgers. He provides commentary in Spanish for their games.
Pop Culture and Charity Work
Manny Mota's fame as a pinch-hitter was even mentioned in the 1980 movie Airplane!. In the movie, a baseball announcer calls out his name.
When he wasn't working, Mota lived in the Dominican Republic with his wife, Margarita. They ran the Manny Mota International Foundation. This organization helps young people and families in need. They provide resources and support in both the Dominican Republic and the United States.
Awards and Recognition
Mota has received many honors for his contributions to baseball.
- He was inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame in 2003.
- In 2013, he was inducted into the Shrine of the Eternals.
Mota's Family in Baseball
Manny Mota comes from a baseball family. Two of his sons, Andy and José, also played in the major leagues. His youngest son, Tony, played in the minor leagues and coached for the Dodgers. His son Jose is also a Spanish-language baseball broadcaster. Manny was married to Margarita Mota for 60 years until her passing in 2023.
See also
In Spanish: Manny Mota para niños
