affiliate in 2001, managing his son, Mario Jr., in 2000. Mendoza was inducted into the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000. After managing the San Francisco Giants' double A Texas League affiliate Shreveport SwampDragons in 2002, Mendoza returned to Mexico to manage Dos Laredos in 2003, the Angelopolis Tigres in 2004, the Olmecas de Tabasco in 2005 and 2006, and the Piratas de Campeche in 2007. He was named manager of the Broncos de Reynosa during the 2012 season. He was dismissed as Reynosa's manager in May 2013 after the team started in first place with a 30–23 win–loss record; team leadership cited differences of opinion with Mendoza. "The Mendoza Line" Mendoza claims that the term was invented in 1979 by his Mariner teammates Bruce Bochte and Tom Paciorek. Bochte and Paciorek would tease Mendoza about his low batting average, as he struggled to hit .200 for the season - and throughout his career, finishing below .200 five times in his nine seasons in the big leagues. Although Mendoza finished his career with a batting average of .215, the Mendoza Line is almost universally accepted as being at .200, an average Mendoza flirted with all that year. From May 10 to the end of the season it fluctuated between .175 and .210, usually staying within just a few points of .200 before finishing at .198. The 'Mendoza Line' phrase was overheard by Kansas City Royals batting champion George Brett, who used it in an interview in 1980 during his pursuit of a .400 batting average. He reportedly stated, "The first thing I look for in the Sunday papers is who is below the Mendoza line." The reference caught the attention of ESPN announcer Chris Berman, and the "Mendoza Line" became part of popular culture. However, Brett also praised Mendoza's defensive abilities, claiming Mendoza robbed him of sure base hits on several occasions with exceptional defensive plays. References Mendoza's Heroes: Fifty Batters Below .200, Al Pepper, 2002, Poco Press External links 1950 births Acereros de Monclova players Águilas de Mexicali players Anaheim Angels scouts Baseball players from Chihuahua Charleston Charlies players Charros de Jalisco players Diablos Rojos del México players Gulf Coast Tourists players Hawaii Islanders players Living people Major League Baseball players from Mexico Major League Baseball shortstops Mayos de Navojoa players Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Mexican expatriate baseball players in the United States Mexican League