Major League Baseball star for 18 seasons (1962-1979)
with the Giants, Pirates, Expos, and Dodgers, with a lifetime batting average
of .304, held the MLB career record for pinch hits (150) for 22 seasons before
it was surpassed in 2001.
by Maria E. Perez
(ANS - Santo Domingo, D.R. – April 11) – The baseball glove, the ball, and that characteristic smell of
the playing field define the life of Manuel (Manny) Mota – a historic player and professional coach in Major
League Baseball. Among his victories, one of the most beautiful is
certainly to have married Margarita Matos, with whom he had eight children and
adopted four others: 12 children who have, so far, made him a grandfather of 18
grandchildren. Today he says that Don Bosco has always been part of
his life, and he thanks God for giving him more than he thinks he deserved.
Childhood and Salesians
In my childhood I lived in the San Juan Bosco
neighborhood of Santo Domingo. It was a very nice childhood, which I’m proud
of, and I was able to play a lot of sports. I played soccer with the Salesians
in the Don Bosco youth center, because most of the teachers involved with the
Salesians were Europeans and played soccer.
Proud of Salesian formation
To play baseball, we had to attend Mass every
Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.; then, until noon, we were allowed to play
baseball, but before Mass we had to confess. I feel proud and grateful for the
formation I was able to receive from the Salesians, as well as that of my
parents. I participated in many tournaments. I played soccer and basketball,
but I was more inclined to baseball. I believe that Salesian formation,
together with military discipline, has played a preponderant role in my life
throughout my career.
On education
For me education is fundamental: I urge children
not to leave school, and those who have the opportunity to go to university,
because that degree that they have obtained thanks to sacrifice and
perseverance will be something that no one can take away from them. Children
are the hope, pride, and future of every country; we parents are called to give
them guidance and joy, so that they know that there is always room to improve,
and that they try to be humble and to maintain good discipline, because success
depends on this.
Another great success or accomplishment of the
former athlete and coach is the Manuel Mota Foundation, created in 1967, which
provides food, schooling, and sports supplies to children and teens with
limited resources, as well as food for vulnerable elderly people.
Long
bio, including his Don Bosco connection: https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/0cd53a93
No comments:
Post a Comment