Minnie Mendoza | |
---|---|
Infielder | |
Born: Ceiba del Agua, Cuba | December 3, 1934|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 9, 1970, for the Minnesota Twins | |
Last MLB appearance | |
June 7, 1970, for the Minnesota Twins | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .188 |
Home runs | 0 |
Runs batted in | 20 |
Teams | |
Cristobal Rigoberto Mendoza Carreras (born December 3,1934),better known as Minnie Mendoza,is a former Major League Baseball infielder and coach who played for the Minnesota Twins during the 1970 MLB season.
Minnie Mendoza was born on December 3,1934,in Ceiba del Agua,Cuba. [1]
Mendoza played 10 years for minor league Charlotte Hornets. [2]
Mendoza played 16 games for the Minnesota Twins during the 1970 MLB season as a 36-year-old rookie. In 16 at-bats,Mendoza compiled 3 hits and 2 runs,while recording a .188 batting average. [1]
Mendoza is featured in the controversy surrounding the naming of the Mendoza Line,meaning a .200 batting average. While most believe that the "Mendoza Line" first referred to by George Brett is named after 9-year veteran Mario Mendoza (who had a .215 career batting average and hit .198 in his biggest season),there is some controversy as to whether Brett was actually referring to Minnie Mendoza when he coined the famous phrase. [3] However,Minnie did not play during the time of George Brett.
After retiring as a player,Mendoza was a coach for the Charlotte O's. Mendoza was also a first base coach for the Baltimore Orioles during the 1988 season. After the 1988 season,he became a roving minor league instructor in the Orioles organization. [2] [4] [5]
Mendoza was a coach for the Burlington Indians in the Appalachian League and was manager for the team in 1992. [2] As of 2008,Mendoza the Latin America field coordinator in the Cleveland Indians organization. [6]
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