Original Met Félix Mantilla Passes Away at 90
Félix Mantilla, who was the Mets’ third baseman for their inaugural 1962 season, has passed away at 90 years old.
Born in Isabela, Puerto Rico, Mantilla was signed by the Milwaukee Braves after the 1951 offseason, where he played in the minors with Hank Aaron and was apart of one of the first two integrated teams in the Southern United States.
Braves second baseman Felix Mantilla (18) relays the ball to first after tagging out George Anderson of the Phillies in 1959.
1959 Press Photo Braves Felix Mantilla Tags Out Phillies Player Wisconsin
Mantilla was called up to the Braves in 1956, playing the next six seasons in Milwaukee. The infielder put up a .231/.285/.325 slashline during his time in Milwaukee and won a World Series with the organizaiton in 1957.
After the 1961 season, the Braves left Mantilla unprotected in Major League Baseball’s expansion draft, where the New York Mets selected the 26 year old.
Mantilla’s stint with the Mets lasted only one season, but it was memorable. He hit .275 and clubbed 11 homers, all while playing third, shortstop, and second base in 1962. Mantilla was also the first Puerto Rican to play for the Mets organization.
Mantilla’s 1962 season was good enough for the Red Sox to acquire him via trade in the offseason. Mantilla rewarded the Sox, clubbing 54 homers and driving in 171 runs in three seasons from 1963-1965. The 1964 season was the highlight of Mantilla’s career, where he slashed .289/.357/.553 with 30 homers. Mantilla also had a strong showing in 1965, where he made his lone All-Star appearance.
After the 1965 season, Mantilla was traded one more time to the Houston Astros, where he finished his career. The infielder only played 77 games, clubbing six homers and registering a below-average offensive season at age 31.
The 1966 season would be Mantilla’s last. He was released by the Astros on November 28, 1966, and finished his career in the Chicago Cubs organization. Mantilla tore his Achilles before the start of the 1967 season, and then didn’t break camp with the major league team in 1968.
Mantilla will live on as an infamous member of the 1962 Mets team. He joins Ed Kranepool (September 8) as a member of the 1962 Mets to pass away.
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