It's too bad he didn't stick around for a few more years, he would've won the WS. In parts of 14 seasons from 1982-1995, he had: 2,153 hits, 1,007 runs, 442 DB's, 222 HR's, 1,099 RBI's, only struck out 444 times, and a lifetime BA of .307. Pretty damn good numbers, certainly on par with Kirby Pucket and he's in the HOF, of course he did get 2 rings. Mattingly was a 9 time gold-glove winner at first base, he was a 6 time all-star, won the 1985 MVP AL, and won the batting title in 1984, and had many other awards. He had a bad back and retired relatively young in 1995 at age 34. He was the Yankees Captain and has his number 23 retired by the Yankees and has a monument in centerfield. He was a clean player and didn't use roids and was a good family man, and will probably be a great future manager of the Yankees. Any sentiment to get him into the Hall one day?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Matting...



http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/matt...

Yeah....I grew up in the 80s and Jersey too, and he was the f'n man! I used to love that team.....Winfield, Henderson, Randolph, Righetti, Guidry.....It's still hard to believe they didn't win with those guys. As for the Hall, too short of a career plagued with injuries towards the end. Maybe we'll see good ol' Donnie Baseball in there as a Manager wearing those pin stripes.

Too bad the Yankees were pathetic during his reign. I think he'll make it one day.

maybe as a manger

I honestly hope so. I grew up in awe of his numbers. He was the best pure hitter of the mid-eighties and just dominated. He was an asset on defense too. The committee has become too numbers crazy...3000 hits, 500 hrs....etc. The Hall committee needs to recognize some of these supernova players who's injuries cut their careers short. Certainly had Mattingly been healthy he would've had .320 career average with 450-500 hrs and 3000 hits...EASY. Great question..and one I have mused from time to time myself.

I thought he was already in the Hall, if he's not he will be soon.

He probably won't make it. I think he definitely deserves it though. Anyone who knows baseball knows he's a hall of famer who was knocked out of baseball early due to injuries. If he kept up those numbers for just a couple more years, he would have been a lock.

Oh, and I must disagree about you saying he would have won a championship if he stuck around. Tino was a big part of the Yankees titles in the 90's and in 2000. If we had Mattingly then we wouldn't have had Tino. Without Tino things might have been a little different.

He was a very good player but only great players make it to the HOF. I don't see him going in.

As a player, no, nor should he.

Many with pinstriped glasses permanently affixed to their heads think he'll get in "someday" as a manager, conveniently overlooking that he has yet to serve any team at any level in that role, let alone the Yankees. But such deep and abiding faith rarely needs a basis in reality, when warm happy thoughts will serve the purpose.

I have always hoped for it but I do not see it happening, he was great a few years and good for the rest on mostly bad Yankee teams. He retired because the Yankees no longer wanted him and he did not want to play elsewhere. He was a good player but not a HOF player. He was the one a lot of peopel idolized just like WIll Clark in SF but neither are going to Cooperstown without buying a ticket first.

Above average player - but not astounding numbers

Never happen, unless he makes it as a manager.

I am a die hard Mattingly fan myself. I have also met him twice. He is a good person. Donnie Baseball should make the Hall of Fame. If Ryne Sandberg can make the Hall of Fame, why not Donnie Baseball? He is easily the greatest First baseman of all time with a fielding percentage of .996. He should be in the Hall.