Today would have been Mendoza’s 57th birthday.  He is pictured here with his mother at a birthday party.

Other major events that occurred the same year Mendoza was born:

• The US launched its 1st artificial satellite, Explorer 1
• The Brooklyn Dodgers officially became the L.A. Dodgers
• US schools used Cliff’s Notes for the first time
• CBS Records announced the debut of stereophonic vinyl records
• Elvis Presley joined the army
• The Lego company patented its design for Lego bricks