 Mario Mendoza Aizpuru is a former Major League Baseball infielder. Mendoza's most lasting contribution to the game was having his name associated with the "Mendoza Line," meaning a batting average below .200
Define: "The Mendoza Line" In 1980, during his pursuit of a .400 season batting average, George Brett reportedly stated, “The first thing I look for in the Sunday papers is who is below the Mendoza line” during an interview. The reference caught the attention of ESPN announcer Chris Berman, and the "Mendoza Line" became part of popular culture. It should be noted that Brett also praised the defensive abilities of Mendoza, claiming Mendoza robbed him of sure base hits on several occasions with exceptional defensive plays.
An alternate explanation for the term refers to the concept of a player failing to "hit his weight." Pirates announcer Bob Prince used this meaning in the 1970s while Mendoza played for Pittsburgh. During his playing career, Mendoza weighed 187 pounds, and literally batted less than his own weight quite a bit of the time as his career batting average was .204 at the time of his trade to Seattle. Since then, the Mendoza Line has been arbitrarily set at values ranging from .180 to .215. Mariner teammates Bruce Bochte and Tom Paciorek have also been credited as creators of the expression.
Pittsburgh Pirates - Mendoza first caught the eye of the Pittsburgh Pirates while playing for the Mexico City Red Devils (Diablos Rojos) of the Mexican League in 1970. His ability for picking grounders prompted the Pirates to purchase Mendoza's contract from Mexico City.
Mendoza played four seasons in the Pirates' farm system before debuting with the Pirates on April 26, 1974 as a pinch runner for Willie Stargell. With the Pirates down 3-2 in the ninth inning to the Houston Astros, Mendoza scored the tying run in the Pirates' 4-3 victory. For the season, Mendoza batted .221 in 91 games, however, had only 177 plate appearances as he has primarily a defensive replacement when starting Pirates shortstop Frank Taveras (who himself only had a .246 batting average in 1974) had been pinch hit for late in a game. He reached the post season for the only time in his career his rookie season. He started game three of the 1974 National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and went one for three with a walk and an RBI infield single.
Mendoza remained with the Pirates as a defensive replacement through 1978, playing some second and third base as well. In five seasons with the Pirates, Mendoza batted .221, .180, .185, .198 and .218, respectively. Following the 1978 season, Mendoza's request for a trade was granted as he, Odell Jones and Rafael Vasquez were sent to the Seattle Mariners for Rick Jones, Tom McMillan and Enrique Romo on December 5, 1978.
Seattle Mariners - In his first season in Seattle, Mendoza made a career high 401 plate appearances in a career high 148 games and 132 starts at short. While providing the Mariners with a steady glove, he ended the season with a .198 batting average—making him only the fourth major leaguer ever to play as many as 148 games in a season and fail to break .200.
Texas Rangers - Following the season, Mendoza was sent to the Texas Rangers in a blockbuster deal along with Larry Cox, Rick Honeycutt, Willie Horton and Leon Roberts for Brian Allard, Rick Auerbach, Ken Clay, Jerry Don Gleaton, Richie Zisk and Steve Finch. In 1981, Mendoza split time at short with Mark Wagner with Mendoza receiving the bulk of the playing time. However, he was released in June of 1982 with a .118 batting average.
Mario Mendoza Return to Mexico - Mendoza received an invite to Spring training with the Pirates in 1983. After failing to make the team, he accepted a player-coach position with their triple A Pacific Coast League affiliate, the Hawaii Islanders. After one season in Hawaii, Mendoza returned to Mexico to as player/manager of the Monclova Acereros.
Mendoza only managed Monclova for part of his first season back in the Mexico League, however his playing career in Mexico lasted seven seasons after his major league career ended. His career batting average in Mexico is a substantially better .291, and he earned the nick-name "Manos de Seda," or "Silk Hands" for his fielding prowess.
Mario Mendoza Managers Career - Bill Bavasi, an executive with the Anaheim Angels, believed Mendoza was someone who had potential as a manager, and offered him the reins to the Angels' Class A advanced California League affiliate, Lake Elsinore Storm, for the 1998 season. He remained with the Storm until they became a San Diego Padres affiliate in 2001, managing his son, Mario Jr., in 2000.
Mendoza was inducted into the Mexican League Hall of Fame in 2000. After managing the San Francisco Giants' double A Texas League affiliate Shreveport SwampDragons in 2002, Mendoza returned to Mexico to manage Dos Laredos in 2003, the Angelopolis Tigres in 2004, the Olmecas de Tabasco in 2005 and 2006, and the Piratas de Campeche in 2007
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