Félix Mantilla

Félix "the Cat" 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, Boston Red Sox (1963–65), and Houston Astros (1966). He played second base the majority of his big league career (326 games) but also shortstop (180), third base (143), outfield (156) and first base (16). He batted and threw right-handed. He began playing organized baseball in Puerto Rico at age 9. In 1951, Mantilla was on the Puerto Rican national team that won the 1951 Amateur World Series, defeating Cuba in the final game 6–5.

Career

Puerto Rican baseball Mantilla played professionally in the Puerto Rican Winter League for the Caguas Criollos and the San Juan Senadores. His Caguas teams won a number of Puerto Rico league championships and a Caribbean League World Series Championship. One of his Caguas teammates in 1952 was Hank Aaron. Mantilla was ultimately inducted into the Puerto Rico Sports Hall of Fame, the Caguas Criollos Hall of Fame, and the Sports Hall of Fame in Isabela. Isabela's baseball stadium is named in his honor. He was the Three-I Rookie of the Year and was named to the All-Star team. and career minor league outfielder Horace Garner ) joined the Class-A Minor League Baseball (MiLB) Jacksonville Braves, of the South Atlantic League (Sally League). They were the first three black players to integrate the team. At that time, Jacksonville was one of the first two integrated baseball teams in the Sally League (along with the Savannah Indians), and one of only a few in the entire Southern United States. Mantilla recalled being booed solely because of his color. Aaron, manager Ben Geraghty, and some of their white teammates helped Mantilla (who did not speak English and had not known segregation in Puerto Rico) navigate his way in difficult circumstances. In Jacksonville's segregated community, Mantilla, Aaron and Garner lived in the home of a local Afro-Puerto Rican businessman.

The 1953 team had the best record in the Sally League's regular season (93-44), but lost in the league championship to the Columbia Reds in a seven game series. Mantilla played shortstop and had a .278 batting average that year. Aaron was the Sally League MVP, hitting .362, with 22 home runs, 115 runs scored, and 125 runs batted in (RBI).

In 1954-55, Mantilla played Triple-A baseball for the Toledo Sox, principally playing shortstop. In those two years, he played in 129 and 115 games, with .273 and .275 batting averages, respectively. The Braves were National League champions and defeated the New York Yankees 4 games to 3 in the 1957 World Series. Mantilla played in four World Series games, but had no hits in 10 at bats.

In 1959, playing winter baseball at Caugus, manager Ben Geraghty realized the Braves would have a need at second base in 1959, due to Schoendienst being seriously ill, so he moved Mantilla to second base.

New York Mets The Braves left Mantilla exposed in the October 1961 expansion draft, and Mantilla was selected by the New York Mets with the 12th pick. In their first year of existence (1962), Mantilla became the Mets regular third baseman (95 games — 88 as a starter). He also started 17 games at shortstop and nine games at second base. He established career statistical highs in batting average, home runs, and RBIs (.275/11/59). His 466 at bats were over 200 more than any season with the Braves.

Final years Prior to the start of the season, the Red Sox traded Mantilla to the Houston Astros for Eddie Kasko, after Mantilla hurt his arm in spring training. Mantilla never played a game for them and was released on July 6. but he never appeared in another professional game.

Harvey Haddix's near perfect game 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.

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

Personal life Mantilla was dedicated to promoting youth baseball in Milwaukee, Isabela, and Puerto Rico. Along with Latino leaders in the Milwaukee community, Mantilla created the Félix Mantilla Little League in 1972, which has existed for over 50 years as a cornerstone of youth baseball, and promotes academic development initiatives for underprivileged children. Mantilla was personally involved in working with the children on their baseball skills and qualities necessary to be successful. He also worked to improve youth baseball in Puerto Rico, serving as both a coach and a mentor to young players. In 2017, Cardinal Stritch University awarded Mantilla an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

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