Legislature Fails to Pass Budget; Mota Leads Dodgers

July 2, 1969: The Sacramento debating society recesses without passing a budget. Why is crime down? Police credit the Neighborhood Watch program. Photograph by Steve Dykes / Los Angeles Times Feb. 13, 1992: Dodgers batting instructor Matty Mota, left, and his son Jose discuss the finer points of hitting in a workout at Dodger Stadium.

Manny Mota was the new kid on the block then, trying to stay in the lineup no matter how he felt. It's hard to picture Mota as the Dodgers' new guy since this season marks his 30th as a Dodger coach, according to dodgers.com. Mota, who played for the Dodgers until 1980 with one at-bat in 1982, was acquired in the same trade with Montreal that brought Maury Wills back to Los Angeles. Mota was still in the outfield then, not the premier pinch-hitter he would eventually become for the Dodgers. Despite playing with a painful elbow, Mota hit an inside-the-park home run that was a key blow in a 4-1 victory over the Astros. "The man is remarkable," Wills told The Times' John Wiebusch. "In all those years in Pittsburgh, when he hit so well but played so little, he never said a word. ... It's too bad he couldn't have gotten here five years ago. He'd be an idol here now." Mota, a career .305 hitter, finished with a .323 average for the Dodgers in 1969. --Keith Thursby

Comments

[Chris Morales]

Manny Mota is one of the last examples of Dodger Blue.

He's been with the team for so long and has demonstrated dignity, loyalty and leadership.

Unfortunately because he's modest and steady, he has never received his due as a killer pinch hitter, as a coach, and as an avuncular figure to the Latin American players.

Its always great to see Manny Mota!