Books and articles about Manny Mota

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Baseball's all-time pinch-hit leader, with 150, it was said Mota could wake up on Christmas morning, step into the box, and rip a single to right. Pittsburgh's fourth outfielder from 1963 to 1968, the Dominican blossomed under manager Harry Walker's tutelage to hit .332 in 1966, his first of seven .300 seasons in eight years. Hindered by a lack of power and fielding ability, Mota's only season of more than 400 at-bats came with the 1970 Dodgers. Amid a 1974 youth movement, he emerged as a pinch hitter extraordinaire. He had ten or more pinch hits six straight seasons; 250 of his last 309 at-bats came off the bench. One of his greatest moments came in the ninth inning of Game Three of the 1977 LCS at Philadelphia. Down two strikes, he hit an RBI double, and the Dodgers rallied for three runs and a 6-5 victory. Near the end of his career, he often began the season as a coach, only to be activated each year for the stretch drive. He finally retired with a .297 pinch-hitting average. His .315 batting average is the best (1,800 or more at-bats) in Los Angeles Dodger history. (ME)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » April 2, 1963: The Pirates steal young OF Manny Mota from the Colt 45's, which had acquired him in December, sending Houston OF Howie Goss and cash. For five years, Mota will be a solid 4th outfielder for the Bucs and a pinch hitter extraordinaire. » October 12, 1963: In the first (and last) Hispanic American major league all-star game, the National League team beats the American League 5–2 at the Polo Grounds. The game features such names as Minnie Minoso, Tony Oliva, Roberto Clemente, Orlando Cepeda, Julian Javier, Felipe Alou, Luis Aparicio, and Zoilo Versalles. Vic Power receives a pregame award as the number-one Latin player. NL starter Juan Marichal strikes out six in four innings, though reliever Al McBean is the winner. Pinch hitter Manny Mota drives in two against loser Pedro Ramos. » October 14, 1968: In the National League expansion draft, the Expos choose 30 players, including Maury Wills, Jim Grant, Donn Clendenon, and Manny Mota. San Diego's 30 selections include Dave Giusti, Nate Colbert, Zoilo Versalles, Al McBean, and Clarence Gaston. » June 11, 1969: Maury Wills returns to Los Angeles with OF Manny Mota. IF Paul Popovich and OF Ron Fairly are traded to Montreal. The Expos then send Popovich to the Cubs for OF Adolfo Phillips and P Jack Lamabe. Adolfo, popular with his teammates shakes hands with everyone while leaving, except manager Leo Durocher. » September 14, 1971: The Dodgers beat the first-place Giants 6–5 to climb within one game of first place in the National League Western Division. Bobby Bonds has two homers for SF, but Manny Mota's pinch hit double in the 9th drives in three runs. » May 31, 1972: Giants RF Bobby Bonds makes a rare unassisted DP in the 4th inning of a 5–4 loss to the Dodgers in 10 innings. Manny Mota's triple drives in the winner. » October 7, 1977: Down 5–3 with two outs in the 9th inning, the Dodgers catch lightning in a bottle. Pinch hitter Vic Davalillo beats out a 2-strike drag bunt and pinch hitter Manny Mota follows with a long double off Greg Luzinski's glove. Mota reaches 3rd on a throw that Ted Sizemore mishandles. Lopes' grounder hits a seam in the carpet and caroms off Mike Schmidt's knee to Larry Bowa, and the shortstop's throw is ruled late. Los Angeles pulls out a 6–5 victory. » July 20, 1979: At Los Angeles, Steve Garvey saves a defeat for the Dodgers by belting a 2-run homer in the 10th to tie, and another 2-run homer in the 11th by Bill Russell wins it, 6–5, over the Expos. Montreal takes the lead in the 11th when Rodney Scott drives in a run with his 5th straight hit. Bob Patterson wins his first ML game, while Manny Mota has a pinch single for the 139 pinch hit of his career. » September 29, 1979: The Astros J.R. Richard shuts out the Dodgers 3–0 and fans 11 batters to break his own modern National League record for strikeouts by a righthander. Richard finishes with 313 K's, 10 more than in 1978. One of five Dodgers hits is a single by Manny Mota, his 146th pinch hit, breaking the mark of 145 formerly held by Smoky Burgess. » October 5, 2001: The Expos defeat the Mets, 8-6, as NY's Lenny Harris ties Manny Mota's major-league record with his 150th career pinch hit. » October 6, 2001: Lenny Harris breaks Manny Mota's all-time mark for pinch hits with the 151st of his career as the Mets defeat the Expos, 4-0.