Better Know a Metstache: Félix Millán

Eventually, he'd just hold the bat upside down.

Today we travel a little further back in Mets history to profile one of the finest staches in the team’s illustrious history.  We look at a man with a stache as thick and luxurious as any we have seen.  A man with a nickname, El Gatito (the Kitten) that is just plain awesome.  Today we focus on Félix Millán.

Félix joined the Mets before the 1973 season as part of a trade with the Braves.  He came to the blue and orange as a three-time All Star and two-time Gold Glove winner at second base.

He’d go on to spend five seasons with the Mets.  While he didn’t match the accolades that he had received in Atlanta, he proved himself as a slick fielder and solid contributor at the plate.  He batted .278 as a Met with a .326 OBP.  He led the league in sacrifice hits in 1974 with 24, which stands today as the Mets single-season record and led the league in hit by pitch in 1975.  The man knew how to contribute.

Félix was forced to retire due to one of the most bad-ass injuries ever.  On August 12, 1977, Mel Ed Ott of the Pirates slid hard into second base and Félix took umbrage with the aggressiveness.  Félix shouted at Ott and then hit him with a baseball in his hand.  Ott was peeved by this, so he picked up Félix and slammed him hard into the Three Rivers Stadium Turf.  Félix’s soldier shoulder was severely injured and he never played in the Major Leagues again.

Félix would play some ball in the Japanese Central League with the Taiyo Whales and then eventually retired from baseball for good.  But he’ll forever be remembered for his awesome batting stance and sweet, thick stache.

So, screw you, Mel Ott.

And now you better know a Metstache.

Thanks to my Cousin Tommy for the Félix Millán idea.

4 Comments

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  By Joe, April 3, 2009 @ 3:39 pm

  Dude. . .It is “ED” Ott. Mel Ott was a famed NY Giant hitter and was long retired before 1977

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  By Teufel Stubble:
  April 3rd, 2009 at 4:25 pm

  corrected. thanks.

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  By John Francophobe, April 3, 2009 @ 4:08 pm

  So Teufel, was it his shoulder or his “soldier”, you know the little guy that stands up straight and salutes, that was injured? For Felix’s sake and for the sake of all mankind, please tell me it had to do with his shoulder. I just cant stand the thought of the alternative.

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  By Teufel Stubble:
  April 3rd, 2009 at 4:27 pm

  John, at least my typo was funny, right? Right!? Thankfully, it was his shoulder. Here’s hoping he was as healthy and virile as his stache suggests.

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