Felix Mantilla
Born: 7/29/1934 in Isabella, P.R.
Died: 1/10/2025 in Milwaukee, WI, USA
MLB Debut: 1956-06-21 | Final Game: 1966-10-02
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 160 lbs
Biography
Felix Mantilla was a professional baseball player born in 1934, who made a significant impact in Major League Baseball from 1956 to 1966. Known for his versatility on the field, Mantilla primarily played as an infielder but showcased his skills as a position player across multiple roles. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 969 games, accumulating 707 hits, 89 home runs, and 330 RBIs, while finishing with a batting average of .261. His speed on the bases was evident, as he recorded 27 stolen bases, reflecting his aggressive playing style.
Mantilla's career was highlighted by his selection as an All-Star, which underscored his excellence during an era marked by transition and competitiveness in baseball. He played during a time when the game was evolving with the introduction of more diverse playing styles and strategies. His contributions to the teams he played for, including the Milwaukee Braves and the New York Mets, were significant, as he helped shape the dynamics of the infield while providing valuable experience to younger players. Felix Mantilla's legacy endures as a testament to the talent and determination of players from the mid-20th century.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 969 | 2707 | 360 | 707 | 97 | 10 | 89 | 330 | 27 | 256 | 352 | 0.261 | 0.329 | 0.403 | 0.732 | 2544.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | ATL | NL | 35 | 53 | 9 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0.283 | -103.6 |
| 1957 | ATL | NL | 71 | 182 | 28 | 43 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 21 | 2 | 14 | 34 | 0.236 | -270.5 |
| 1958 | ATL | NL | 85 | 226 | 37 | 50 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 19 | 2 | 20 | 20 | 0.221 | -553.6 |
| 1959 | ATL | NL | 103 | 251 | 26 | 54 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 6 | 16 | 31 | 0.215 | -1184.1 |
| 1960 | ATL | NL | 63 | 148 | 21 | 38 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 16 | 0.257 | -239.0 |
| 1961 | ATL | NL | 45 | 93 | 13 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 16 | 0.215 | -306.6 |
| 1962 | NYN | NL | 141 | 466 | 54 | 128 | 17 | 4 | 11 | 59 | 3 | 37 | 51 | 0.275 | 76.9 |
| 1963 | BOS | AL | 66 | 178 | 27 | 56 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 15 | 2 | 20 | 14 | 0.315 | 779.3 |
| 1964 | BOS | AL | 133 | 425 | 69 | 123 | 20 | 1 | 30 | 64 | 0 | 41 | 46 | 0.289 | 2538.9 |
| 1965 | BOS | AL | 150 | 534 | 60 | 147 | 17 | 2 | 18 | 92 | 7 | 79 | 84 | 0.275 | 1956.6 |
| 1966 | HOU | NL | 77 | 151 | 16 | 33 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 22 | 1 | 11 | 32 | 0.219 | -149.6 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | WS | ML1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 1957 | WS | ML1 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 16 | 13 | 108 | 4 | 1 | 8 |
| 2B | 326 | 281 | 623 | 709 | 31 | 152 |
| 3B | 143 | 123 | 116 | 260 | 24 | 26 |
| OF | 156 | 123 | 219 | 7 | 5 | 0 |
| SS | 180 | 127 | 242 | 411 | 34 | 86 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | ML1 | 3B | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 1956 | ML1 | SS | 15 | 8 | 19 | 41 | 0 | 8 |
| 1957 | ML1 | 2B | 13 | 7 | 20 | 29 | 1 | 6 |
| 1957 | ML1 | 3B | 7 | 7 | 9 | 17 | 0 | 1 |
| 1957 | ML1 | SS | 35 | 30 | 58 | 90 | 11 | 21 |
| 1957 | ML1 | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1958 | ML1 | 2B | 21 | 18 | 41 | 47 | 3 | 12 |
| 1958 | ML1 | 3B | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1958 | ML1 | SS | 5 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 0 | 3 |
| 1958 | ML1 | OF | 43 | 28 | 73 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1959 | ML1 | 2B | 60 | 44 | 97 | 126 | 7 | 26 |
| 1959 | ML1 | 3B | 9 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 1 |
| 1959 | ML1 | SS | 23 | 20 | 29 | 76 | 8 | 13 |
| 1959 | ML1 | OF | 7 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1960 | ML1 | 2B | 26 | 12 | 38 | 27 | 3 | 6 |
| 1960 | ML1 | SS | 25 | 20 | 35 | 58 | 6 | 9 |
| 1960 | ML1 | OF | 8 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1961 | ML1 | 2B | 10 | 10 | 25 | 27 | 1 | 4 |
| 1961 | ML1 | 3B | 6 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 1 |
| 1961 | ML1 | SS | 19 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| 1961 | ML1 | OF | 10 | 8 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1962 | NYN | 2B | 14 | 9 | 35 | 24 | 2 | 4 |
| 1962 | NYN | 3B | 95 | 88 | 76 | 179 | 14 | 22 |
| 1962 | NYN | SS | 25 | 17 | 28 | 48 | 4 | 10 |
| 1963 | BOS | 2B | 5 | 6 | 13 | 11 | 0 | 3 |
| 1963 | BOS | SS | 27 | 23 | 49 | 62 | 4 | 16 |
| 1963 | BOS | OF | 11 | 11 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1964 | BOS | 2B | 45 | 46 | 97 | 119 | 1 | 25 |
| 1964 | BOS | 3B | 7 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| 1964 | BOS | SS | 6 | 4 | 11 | 16 | 0 | 4 |
| 1964 | BOS | OF | 48 | 41 | 60 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1965 | BOS | 1B | 2 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965 | BOS | 2B | 123 | 120 | 251 | 286 | 13 | 64 |
| 1965 | BOS | OF | 27 | 26 | 37 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 1966 | HOU | 1B | 14 | 12 | 100 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| 1966 | HOU | 2B | 9 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 0 | 2 |
| 1966 | HOU | 3B | 14 | 11 | 15 | 30 | 3 | 1 |
| 1966 | HOU | OF | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 15 |
| Second Base | 328 |
| Third Base | 142 |
| Shortstop | 181 |
| Left Field | 73 |
| Center Field | 75 |
| Right Field | 11 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 29th | 2.0 | 280 | 0 |