Mariano Juaristi Mendizábal
Encyclopedia
Mariano Juaristi Mendizábal (February 21, 1904 – January 12, 2001) was an Azkoitia
n Basque pelota player known as Atano III. He is often considered one of the best pelotaris of all time, dominating the 1st hand-pelota category from 1926 to 1948 and winner of 4 championships (1940, 1942, 1944 and 1946).
, Guipúzcoa in the Caserío
Atano from which his family pseudonym comes. The Juaristi (or Atano) family formed a pelotari dinasty, six of them were pelotaris and one of them manufactured balls. Mariano, Atano III, was the most well-known of them.
Atano VII, his younger brother, also was a very important player, as was Atano X, son of Atano I.
Mendizábal was also known for his fragil hands that only allowed him to play only once a month to prevent injury. During his career he beat the best hand-pelota players of the 1920s
such as Zabala II from Elgoibar
and Ulacia from Guetaria, losing only to Artamendi II, in Marquina with a final score of 13-22.
Mendizábal's winning streak started in 1926 when he beat the best player of the time and champion, Juan Bautista Azcárate. For turn into a contender he had to play a first game against the champion where his superiority was attributed to the fact that he was able to play with both hands while Azcárate was only able to play with one. During the title dispute, played in a series of three games, Mendizábal beat his rival with the final scores of 22-19, 22-12 and 22-9. The last one was played on January 1, 1927 in Bilbao
.
At the height of his career, Mendizábal earned 6000 Pesetas per appearance at a time when a regular pelotari earned only 250; in addition, due to the frequent injuries caused by the fragility of his hands, his games were highly anticipated and recorded large attendances.
in 1940. There, he revived his title after winning to Txikito from Iraeta with a final score of 22-8.
The championship was played every two years and Mendizábal won the title in the following three editions: 1942 (beat Atano VII 22-5), 1944 (beat Felipe 22-8) and 1946 (beat Akarregi 22-16). He was finally defeated in his final championship 22-6 by Miguel Gallastegui in 1948.
was renamed from Anoeta to Atano III
after him.
Azkoitia
Azkoitia is a town located in the province of Gipuzkoa, in the Autonomous Community of Basque Country, in the northern Spain...
n Basque pelota player known as Atano III. He is often considered one of the best pelotaris of all time, dominating the 1st hand-pelota category from 1926 to 1948 and winner of 4 championships (1940, 1942, 1944 and 1946).
Early life
Mariano Mendizábal was born on 1904 in AzkoitiaAzkoitia
Azkoitia is a town located in the province of Gipuzkoa, in the Autonomous Community of Basque Country, in the northern Spain...
, Guipúzcoa in the Caserío
Baserri
A baserri is a traditional type of half-timbered or stone-built farmhouse found in the Basque Country in Northern Spain and Southwestern France. The baserris, with their gently sloping roofs and entrace portals, are highly characteristic of the region and form a vital part in traditional Basque...
Atano from which his family pseudonym comes. The Juaristi (or Atano) family formed a pelotari dinasty, six of them were pelotaris and one of them manufactured balls. Mariano, Atano III, was the most well-known of them.
Atano VII, his younger brother, also was a very important player, as was Atano X, son of Atano I.
Professional career
Mendizábal made his professional debut in 1920, on the Azkoitia fronton. He was noted for his speed, flexibility, fast plays and powerful serves that soon turned him in a revolutionary icon for the sport at a time when the prevailing playing style was one characterized by heavy rebounds and slow plays.Mendizábal was also known for his fragil hands that only allowed him to play only once a month to prevent injury. During his career he beat the best hand-pelota players of the 1920s
1920s
File:1920s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: Third Tipperary Brigade Flying Column No. 2 under Sean Hogan during the Irish Civil War; Prohibition agents destroying barrels of alcohol in accordance to the 18th amendment, which made alcoholic beverages illegal throughout the entire decade; In...
such as Zabala II from Elgoibar
Elgoibar
Elgoibar is an industrial town located in the province of Gipuzkoa, in the Autonomous Community of Basque Country, northern Spain.It is located in a valley and it is traversed by the Deba river....
and Ulacia from Guetaria, losing only to Artamendi II, in Marquina with a final score of 13-22.
Mendizábal's winning streak started in 1926 when he beat the best player of the time and champion, Juan Bautista Azcárate. For turn into a contender he had to play a first game against the champion where his superiority was attributed to the fact that he was able to play with both hands while Azcárate was only able to play with one. During the title dispute, played in a series of three games, Mendizábal beat his rival with the final scores of 22-19, 22-12 and 22-9. The last one was played on January 1, 1927 in Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
.
At the height of his career, Mendizábal earned 6000 Pesetas per appearance at a time when a regular pelotari earned only 250; in addition, due to the frequent injuries caused by the fragility of his hands, his games were highly anticipated and recorded large attendances.
1st Hand-pelota Championships
Mendizábal went unchallenged for fourteen years, until the pelota federation established the first Hand-Pelota Championship1st Hand-Pelota singles championship
The 1st Hand-Pelota singles championship is the most important tournament competition of Hand-pelota category of Basque pelota. It was created in 1940, when the new Basque Pelota Spanish Federation, to have a champion of the category. In its beginnings, the championship was disputed every two...
in 1940. There, he revived his title after winning to Txikito from Iraeta with a final score of 22-8.
The championship was played every two years and Mendizábal won the title in the following three editions: 1942 (beat Atano VII 22-5), 1944 (beat Felipe 22-8) and 1946 (beat Akarregi 22-16). He was finally defeated in his final championship 22-6 by Miguel Gallastegui in 1948.
| Year | Champion | Subchampion | Score | Fronton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | Atano III | Txikito de Iraeta | 22-08 | Gros fronton |
| 1942 | Atano III | Atano VII | 22-05 | Gros fronton |
| 1944 | Atano III | Felipe | 22-08 | Deportivo fronton |
| 1946 | Atano III | Akarregi | 22-16 | Astelena fronton |
| 1948 | Gallastegui | Atano III | 22-06 | Bergara fronton |
Death
Mendizábal lost the ability to walk and was limited to a wheelchair in his last years, dying on January 12, 2001.Legacy
After his retirament, in 1967 revieved the deportive merith medal and the main fronton of San SebastiánSan Sebastián
Donostia-San Sebastián is a city and municipality located in the north of Spain, in the coast of the Bay of Biscay and 20 km away from the French border. The city is the capital of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. The municipality’s population is 186,122 , and its...
was renamed from Anoeta to Atano III
Atano III fronton
Atano III is a Basque pelota short fronton, located in San Sebastián, in the Basque Country, Spain.-History:The fronton was built in 1963 by the municipality, due to the high demand by the professional and aficionate players of the Guipúzcoa province, originally named Anoeta fronton.In 1995, after...
after him.