Dodgers legend Manny Mota, who won a World Series as a player in 1981 and as a coach in 1988, suffered a stroke on Monday night. The 87-year-old is currently recovering in the hospital, responsive and resting comfortably. His son, José Mota, reported that Manny never lost consciousness and is responding well to treatment, moving his body and attempting to speak. Mota, an All-Star in 1973, had a .304 career batting average and holds a record for 150 pinch-hits. He was inducted into the Dodgers’ Legends of Baseball in 2023, with support from team owners and fans.
Manny Mota, a beloved figure in Dodgers history, experienced a stroke on Monday night. He famously secured a World Series title with the team as a player in 1981 and as a coach in 1988.
“He is in recovery, where he is responsive to commands and is resting comfortably,” the Dodgers announced Tuesday on X.
His son, Dodgers broadcaster José Mota, informed ESPN Deportes on Tuesday that his “dad never lost consciousness during the incident and is currently doing well.”
On Tuesday morning, Mota shared with Grandes en los Deportes that his 87-year-old father was admitted to the hospital following the stroke and that he “responded quickly to treatment.” He also mentioned that his dad “is responding to commands to move his body and attempt to speak.”
“He’s alert and responding,” José Mota stated. “Today is crucial. We’ll see the results of removing the clot. Given his age, it’s challenging to predict, but we hope he can regain all his functions.”
A specialist in pinch-hitting, Manny Mota played over 20 seasons in MLB, finishing his career with the Dodgers for the last 13 years. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Mota was named an All-Star in 1973 and retired in 1982 with a career batting average of .304 and a then-record of 150 pinch-hits.
Mota continued his association with the Dodgers in various capacities, including a coaching role from 1980 to 2013, the longest in franchise history, and working with the Spanish-language broadcast team from 2013 to 2020.
In 2023, he was honored with induction into the team’s Legends of Dodger Baseball, joining the ranks of Steve Garvey, Don Newcombe, Fernando Valenzuela, Orel Hershiser, and Dusty Baker. Ron Cey is set to be inducted this summer.
Magic Johnson and Billie Jean King, minority owners of the Dodgers, are among those who have taken to X to share their love and support for Mota.