Saturday, September 6, 2014

33 | Mario Mendoza, the Mendoza Line and Scripted Pro Sports


Mario Mendoza is known as the "worst hitter" in professional baseball history.  His career lasted from April 26, 1974, until May 22, 1982.  It should be noted that his debut date has a numerology of 33, and his closing has a numerology of 11.
  • 4/26/1974 = 4+2+6+1+9+7+4 = 33
  • 5/22/1982 = 5+2+2+1+9+8+2 = 29, reduces to 11
For the first five years of his career, he only batted above .200 one time, finishing between .170 and .199 in the other four.  The term "Mendoza Line", as in batting below .200, or having a worse than "one in five average".
  • Mendoza = 4+5+5+4+6+8+1 = 33
Imagine that, a "33" call up date, and a "33" name.  These trademarks are found often in hoaxes, from Michael Jordan's second retirement, to fake assassination attempts on Prsidents- hello Ronald Reagan.

Further, it should be noted that Mendoza was a "Pirate" and played in the "Keystone" State, Pennsylvania.  In Pennsylvania football is huge, and both of their professional teams, the Eagles and the Steelers, were established in 1933, or '33.  That is the same year the NFL split into two conferences.  The Steelers are the leader in Super Bowl wins in the NFL, and the Eagles have never won any; the duality of '33.
  • Keystone = 2+5+7+1+2+6+5+5 = 33
  • Pirate = 7+9+9+1+2+5 = 33
The Pirates currently play in PNC park.
  • PNC = 16+14+3 = 33
What else is curious about the story of Mario Mendoza, is that he was called up in the year '74; that is the number of Jesus and Cross, where Jesus was crucified at the age of 33.  Was Mario Mendoza seen as a martyr in his own regard?  Perhaps in the eyes of madmen, also known as sports team owners?

In his career, he was a 'Pirate', 'Mariner' and 'Ranger'.

  • Pirate = 7+9+9+1+2+5 = 33
  • Mariner = 4+1+9+9+5+5+9 = 42
  • Ranger = 9+1+5+7+5+9 = 36
  • Pirate-Mariner-Ranger = 33+42+36 = 111

Today, more than forty-years later, his name is still referenced daily, as the worst hitter in the history of the game.  Today players such as Jim Miller, who is known for beaning Derek Jeter, follow the legacy of Mario Mendoza.

1 comment:

  1. Again some additions:

    Mario = 4+1+9+9+6 = 29 = 11

    So he was first a Pirate, then a Mariner, and lastly a Ranger:

    Pirate = 7+9+9+1+2+5 = 33
    Mariner = 4+1+9+9+5+5+9 = 42 (Marine = 33)
    Ranger = 9+1+5+7+5+9 = 36

    33+42+36 = 111

    Line = 3+9+5+5 = 22
    Mendoza Line = 33+22 = 55

    The term was made famous by ESPN announcer Chris Berman:

    Chris Berman = 3+8+9+9+1+2+5+9+4+1+5 = 56 = 11
    Chris Berman + Mendoza Line = 56+55 = 111

    Maybe some of these are just coincidences, but I've always liked to stretch these calculations because then you can find some really interesting connections or synchronicity.

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