Pepe Mangual – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

José Manuel “Pepe” Mangual had a short but memorable run in Major League Baseball during the 1970s. He played outfield for the Montreal Expos and New York Mets. Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on May 23, 1952, Mangual made his big league debut at just 20. People knew him for his speed and solid glove in center field.

Mangual retired from Major League Baseball in 1977 after his final game on October 2. That wrapped up a career of six seasons and 319 games.

He finished with a .242 batting average, 16 home runs, and 83 RBIs. But those stats don’t really capture his whole journey. Mangual’s story is more about his path through the minor leagues and his place as one of the first homegrown Montreal Expos.

The Puerto Rican outfielder offers a real glimpse into 1970s baseball. He started strong with Montreal, struggled in New York, and then kept playing in the minors well into the 1980s.

His story even ties into baseball history through his brother Angel Mangual, who played for the Oakland Athletics and faced the Mets in the 1973 World Series.

Early Life and Background

José Manuel “Pepe” Mangual was born on May 23, 1952, in Ponce, Puerto Rico. His family produced several Major League Baseball players.

He started his journey to pro baseball as a teenager. The Montreal Expos signed him as an outfielder in 1969.

Birth and Hometown

Pepe Mangual arrived in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on May 23, 1952. Ponce, the island’s second-largest city, has a deep baseball tradition.

Growing up in Puerto Rico in the 1950s and 60s, Mangual got to know baseball early. The island already had a reputation for producing big league talent.

His full name was José Manuel Mangual Guilbe. As a pro, he stood 5’10” and weighed 165 pounds.

Puerto Rico’s baseball culture gave young players like Mangual plenty of chances to develop. Local leagues thrived, and scouts from MLB teams visited often.

Path to Professional Baseball

The Montreal Expos signed Mangual as an outfielder in 1969 when he was just 17. That was the Expos’ first year as an expansion team.

He spent three years working on his game in the minors. Mangual focused on his outfield skills and base running during that stretch.

On September 6, 1972, Mangual made his big league debut with the Montreal Expos at age 20. He played in parts of three seasons from 1972 to 1974 before earning more playing time.

His speed stood out right away. Mangual became a fast base runner who could steal bases and cover a lot of ground in the outfield.

Family and Baseball Legacy

Pepe Mangual came from a baseball family with plenty of MLB ties. His brother Angel Mangual played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Oakland Athletics.

Angel had more success, playing on three straight Oakland Athletics championship teams from 1972 to 1974. He even faced the New York Mets in the 1973 World Series.

The Mangual brothers were cousins with Coco Laboy, another Puerto Rican player. Laboy played for the Montreal Expos and nearly won Rookie of the Year in 1969.

This family connection helped Pepe along the way. Their shared experience in pro baseball brought them closer.

MLB Debut and Montreal Expos Years

Pepe Mangual started his major league career with the Montreal Expos in 1972 at age 20. He spent most of his six-year MLB career with the Expos.

His time in Montreal saw him go from a part-time player to the team’s everyday centerfielder. Mangual’s speed and base-stealing ability really stood out.

Draft and First Appearances

The Montreal Expos signed Jose “Pepe” Mangual as an outfielder in 1969, right after their expansion began. Mangual was only 17 and fresh out of Ponce, Puerto Rico.

He debuted in the big leagues on September 6, 1972. In his first 8 games, he got 11 at bats and 3 hits, batting .273.

Mangual didn’t play much at first as he worked on his game. In 1973, he played 33 games, hitting just .177 but with 3 home runs. The next year, he hit .311 in 23 games, showing some growth.

Breakout Season and Performance Metrics

Mangual’s real breakout came in 1975 as Montreal’s everyday centerfielder. He played 140 games and got 514 at bats, his only full season in the majors.

He hit .245 with 126 hits and 9 home runs. He also showed patience at the plate, drawing 74 walks for a .340 on-base percentage.

Mangual scored 84 runs that season, proving he could get on base and create chances. That performance earned him a regular spot in the Expos’ outfield.

On August 11, 1975, he struck out five times in a nine-inning game, tying a major league record. Not his best memory, probably.

Stolen Bases and Speed Impact

Speed defined Mangual’s Montreal years. In 1975, he stole 33 bases, ranking sixth in the National League.

His speed made up for a lower batting average. Mangual’s ability to steal and score made him valuable even with a .245 average that year.

He totaled 57 stolen bases in 270 games with Montreal from 1972 to 1976. His speed in center field was a defensive asset, though his range numbers changed from year to year.

In July 1976, the Expos traded Mangual to the New York Mets. That ended his main run with the team that developed him.

New York Mets Career

Pepe Mangual joined the New York Mets after a midseason trade in July 1976. He struggled to repeat his Montreal success in New York.

His Mets stint brought disappointing stats and not much playing time over two seasons.

Trade to the Mets

On July 21, 1976, the Montreal Expos traded Pepe Mangual and Jim Dwyer to the New York Mets. The Mets sent Wayne Garrett and Del Unser to Montreal.

Mangual had been doing well for the Expos before the trade, batting .260 with 50 walks and 17 stolen bases. Montreal made the move because Ellis Valentine, a young center fielder, was coming up from the minors and looking sharp.

The Expos had other promising outfielders like Andre Dawson and Warren Cromartie ready for the majors too.

Key Games and Season Highlights

Mangual didn’t have many big moments with the Mets. He played 41 games for New York after the trade in 1976.

His best numbers had come with Montreal in 1975, not with the Mets. That year, he stole 33 bases and scored 84 runs, but his stats dropped off in New York.

In 1977, Mangual spent most of his time with the AAA Tidewater Tides. He played 140 games in the minors, batting .252 with 20 home runs and 72 RBI.

He got one last call-up in September 1977. In his final MLB stint, he went 1-for-7 in a handful of at bats.

Performance Overview

Mangual’s hitting fell off with the Mets. He hit just .186 in 41 games in late 1976, a steep drop from his Montreal numbers.

He finished his MLB career with a .242 average over 319 games. Mangual hit 16 home runs and drove in 83 runs between Montreal and New York.

Career Statistics Summary:

• Batting Average: .242
• Home Runs: 16
• RBI: 83
• Games Played: 319
• Stolen Bases: 33 (1975 season)

The Mets traded Mangual to the California Angels in July 1978. He was the player to be named later in a deal for Gil Flores.

Retirement in 1977 and Minor League Activity

Pepe Mangual’s MLB career ended in 1977 after limited time with the Mets. He kept playing in AAA baseball for a few more years.

His final MLB appearance came on October 2, 1977. Most of that season, he played with the Tidewater Tides.

Final MLB Games

Mangual’s last MLB season was tough. He appeared in just 8 games for the Mets in 1977.

He only had 7 at bats with 1 hit, batting .143. His last game was October 2, 1977, against the St. Louis Cardinals, but he didn’t get to bat.

That closed out his six-year MLB career with 319 games for Montreal and New York.

Time in AAA

Mangual spent most of 1977 with the Tidewater Tides in AAA. He played 140 games for the International League team.

He put up solid numbers. Mangual hit .252 with 20 home runs and 62 RBIs that year.

Key 1977 AAA Stats:

• Games: 140
• Home runs: 20 (team leader)
• Batting average: .252
• At bats: 476

The Tides finished third in the International League with a 73-67 record. Mangual was their main power hitter.

Transition Out of Major League Baseball

After 1977, Mangual never made it back to MLB. He played several more seasons in AAA with different teams.

He joined the California Angels’ AAA affiliate and played for Salt Lake City in the Pacific Coast League starting in 1978.

Mangual kept playing pro baseball through 1984. His last season was with Waterbury in AA at age 32.

He put together impressive minor league numbers. Mangual hit .268 with 161 home runs and 303 stolen bases in his minor league career.

Career Achievements and Legacy

Pepe Mangual made his mark with his speed and as one of the Montreal Expos’ first homegrown players. His best season came in 1975 as the team’s center fielder, when he ranked sixth in the National League for stolen bases.

Batting and Fielding Records

Mangual put together a career batting average of .242 over 319 major league games. He hit 16 home runs and drove in 83 runs during his six seasons from 1972 to 1977.

In 1975 with Montreal, he had his most productive year. That season, he played in 140 games and posted a .245 batting average with a .340 on-base percentage.

Mangual drew 74 walks and scored 84 runs in 1975. Throughout his career, he showed real patience at the plate, which probably helped balance out his modest batting average.

He stood 5’10” and weighed 165 pounds. Mangual batted and threw right-handed, which seemed pretty typical for players back then.

Stolen Base Rankings

Speed really set Mangual apart on the field. In 1975, he stole 33 bases, ranking sixth in the National League that year.

That season marked the peak of his base-stealing ability. His speed kept pitchers and catchers on edge every time he reached base.

Those 33 stolen bases came during his only full season in the majors. In the first half of 1976, before the Expos traded him to the Mets, he managed to swipe 17 more.

He flashed his base-stealing skills in the minors too. With Memphis in 1974, he stole 46 bases, and in 1972 with Peninsula, he took 39.

Notable Teammates and Relatives

While with the Montreal Expos, Mangual played alongside future Hall of Famer Gary Carter. Carter was just a rookie in 1975, the same season Mangual put up his best numbers.

Other notable teammates included Larry Parrish and pitcher Dan Warthen. These young guys formed the core group Montreal hoped to build around in the mid-1970s.

Jose Manuel Mangual had a brother, Angel Mangual, who also played professional baseball. Clearly, baseball talent ran in the Mangual family.

The Expos developed Mangual and brought him up to the majors early in their franchise history. Only Balor Moore, Terry Humphrey, and Joe Gilbert reached the big leagues from Montreal’s system before him. First players

Personal Life and Net Worth

After he retired from Major League Baseball in 1977, José Manuel “Pepe” Mangual kept a pretty low profile but stayed connected to the game. His financial situation reflected what a lot of players from the mid-1970s experienced, when salaries weren’t even close to what you see today.

Life After Baseball

Pepe Mangual’s post-baseball life stayed mostly out of the public eye. After his final MLB game in 1977, he kept playing professionally at the AAA level through 1984 in the Pacific Coast League.

That long minor league career really shows how much he loved the game. Plenty of former major leaguers from his era moved into coaching or scouting, but honestly, there’s not much public info about what Mangual did next.

He was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on May 23, 1952, and grew up in a baseball family. His brother Angel Mangual also made it to the majors, even playing in the 1973 World Series with the Oakland Athletics.

The brothers were cousins of Coco Laboy, another Puerto Rican player who stood out for the Montreal Expos in their first season back in 1969.

Influence on Puerto Rican Baseball

Mangual represented Puerto Rico during a key time for Latin American players in Major League Baseball. His six-season career helped open doors for future Puerto Rican talent.

He played mostly for the Montreal Expos from 1972 to 1976. Mangual was part of that growing wave of Caribbean players making an impact in the majors.

His speed on the bases really stood out, stealing 64 bases in 90 attempts during his career.

The Mangual family’s baseball legacy stretched beyond just Pepe and Angel. Their success helped put Puerto Rico on the map as a major source of big league talent in the 1970s.

Net Worth and Public Image

Mangual’s financial situation really shows what life was like for baseball players in the 1970s. Back then, MLB salaries just didn’t compare to today’s numbers, and most guys brought home what you’d call working-class paychecks.

He put up a .242 batting average and hit 16 home runs over six seasons. Those stats made him more of a role player than a star, so teams usually paid him less and endorsements were pretty rare.

Most players from his era didn’t walk away with much wealth from baseball. After they hung up their cleats, a lot of them needed regular jobs just to stay afloat.

There’s not much public info about Mangual’s current net worth. Honestly, that’s pretty normal for players from his time, since a lot of them liked to keep their private lives quiet after retiring.