Mendoza Line
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of Mendoza Line
First recorded in 1975–80; named after Mario Mendoza Aizpuru (born 1950), Mexican baseball shortstop whose batting average was consistently around .200
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Belly” became the Dodgers’ chief rally killer as he flirted with the Mendoza Line most of his last two years with the team.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 2, 2023
In their losing stretch, they have averaged just 2.5 runs per game, and on any given night start five players hovering near or well-below the Mendoza Line.
From Seattle Times • May 10, 2022
Many have even sunk below .200, a threshold known as the Mendoza Line, which was named for Mario Mendoza, a light-hitting infielder in the 1970s.
From New York Times • Sep. 24, 2021
Amarista, who is flirting with the Mendoza Line, can neither hit nor field well enough to play the position every day.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 15, 2015
Until Albert Pujols pulls himself above the Mendoza Line or at least hits his second home run, I'm going to refrain from passing along any fantasy baseball advice.
From Golf Digest • May 15, 2012
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
