Major League Baseball was in mourning this weekend with the death at the age of 90 of former Puerto Rican player Felix Mantilla, who played 11 years in the MLB and was a member of the original Mets team, although he is best remembered for his time with the Milwaukee Braves.
On Saturday, the Milwaukee Brewers dedicated an emotional message to him after confirming his death, despite the fact that he never played in the organization, they paid tribute to him for his legacy in the city after spending six seasons with the Milwaukee Braves. The cause of his death was not revealed.
“We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Felix Mantilla, an iconic figure in Milwaukee who was an inspiration to all of us in the Milwaukee baseball community. We will always remember Felix for his time with the Milwaukee Braves, but even more so for the impact he had on thousands of children through the Felix Mantilla Little League. Our love and thoughts are with Felix’s beloved wife, Kay, and the many friends and family who join us in mourning his passing,” the Brewers said in a statement on their X account.
Félix Mantilla’s legacy in Milwaukee
According to a count by the New York Post, Felix Mantilla arrived in MLB in 1952 and after a year was part of the group of players along with Hank Aaron and Horace Garner, who helped to make Class A Jacksonville one of the first racially integrated teams in the southern United States.
His first call-up with the Braves was in 1956 and he was part of the 1957 World Series, in which they defeated the Yankees in seven games. He is also remembered for being part of the original Mets team in 1962, with a disastrous season collectively, with 120 losses, but brilliant individually, with a .275 average and 11 home runs.
He would later play for the Red Sox, where he posted the best numbers of his career, with 30 home runs in 1964, while he was an All-Star in 1965. A year later, Mantilla retired with the Astros.
After saying goodbye to Major League Baseball, seven years after his retirement, Felix Mantilla promoted a Little League team in Milwaukee and after his death, the city’s mayor, Cavalier Johnson, dedicated a message to him for his legacy in the community.
“Our city remembers Felix Mantilla. He had an extraordinary life. He was a baseball star and world champion. His community work included the Felix Mantilla Children’s League, where young people were taught teamwork, discipline and fun. My thoughts are with his family and followers,” Cavalier Johnson posted on his X account.
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