It's our sad duty to report that Nelson de la Rosa, who was known as the world's smallest actor and who was a friend of pitcher Pedro Martinez, has died at the age of 38, of unknown causes. De la rosa had just arrived in the U.S. from Chile to visit relatives. The 2-foot-4 de la Rosa had become known as Boston's good-luck charm after he became friends with Martinez during the Red Sox's championship season in 2004.

We never really liked the notion of people as mascots, by the way, and now feel even more uncomfortable after reading the following:

de la Rosa's body will be sent back to the Dominican Republic after an autopsy and could be put on display in a museum, his agent said.

When we go, please promise we won't be stuffed and placed in the blog exhibit at the Smithsonian.

de la Rosa Dies At 38 [CBS4Boston]

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