Why This Baseball Icon NEEDS to be in the Hall of Fame 

For me the Hall is for the top players during the time they played, Don Mattingly was one of the top players of his era. He belongs in the Hall Of Fame.

Mattingly was a top 5 player in the game for roughly 5-6 years. I think that’s important. He wasn’t simply good, he was great.

When I think of my greatest childhood memories, I think of Don Mattingly!

Grew up in the 70's and 80's. Mattingly was truly my favorite ballplayer. It was a shame the injuries he had cutting his career short. Really pisses me off he had to retire just 1 year before the Yankee dynasty started. Perhaps if he had that 1996 WS ring, he may have got in the hall of fame. He is a hall of famer in my eyes.

Man he was amazing in the '80's. I watched so many games on WPIX and his defense was so far above....and his bat was so dangerous. He had that presence of the top 1% of the game. And work ethic, likeability, humbleness. Only player I ever really teared up at when he was at end of career. Donny Baseball was the perfect nickname. I hope he does get in, he's everything good about baseball.

If Don Mattingly should be in the Hall of Fame, then so should Steve Garvey. Garvey was the best first baseman in baseball throughout the 70s. Garvey had over 2500 hits, has a 294 lifetime batting average, he was a four time gold glove winner, played in 10 all star games, with two all star mvp awards, played in five world series; with two different teams, winning one in 1981, Garvey was in the top 10 in mvp voting 10 times winning the NL mvp in 1974, played in a National League record 1207 straight games. When I think of 70s baseball first basemen when I was a kid growing up in the 70s, Steve Garvey was the man and was the best at his position. It's a shame he's still not in the Hall.

Life long Red Sox fan. Mattingly is a hall of gamer in my book. Rare combination of power, defensive, and rarely struck out. Class ball player right there.

First game I ever saw live was when I was 6 and sat on the first baseline at yankee stadium with Mattingly right in front of me. The guy has been a class act his whole career. Massive respect for him.

I grew up in the 80's however it was on the West Coast, (Northern California) so my allegiance was always to the San Francisco Giants. Still is to this day. But, I loved watching Mattingly at the plate. The way he'd take his practice swing while in the box as the pitcher took his signs from the catcher...flicking the bat into the zone where he wanted his pitch...and how when the pitcher would wind up Mattingly would dip in his stride and with the power in his wrists, the ball would explode off his bat. Yeah, I loved Will Clark's sweet swing but Mattingly....there was something ferocious and violent in his bat speed through the zone that caused baseballs to fulminate off the barrel of his Louisville Slugger. I've never seen anything remotely close to it since.

I grew up 20 minutes from Shea Stadium in the '80s when the Mets ruled New York. Basically, almost everyone in my town was a Met fan. But I was one of the few who rooted for the Yankees because of Don Mattingly. I just loved the way he played the game. Especially loved his different batting stances and all the line drives he would hit. My childhood hero.

Mattingly was my favorite AL player as I was a Cubs fan. It always seemed like he was having huge games and that season with 6 grand slams was just crazy.

Donnie Baseball is the greatest first baseman I have ever seen during my time of watching baseball for over 45 years. Both offensively and defensively. If his career had not been cut short because of his bad back he would definitely be in the HOF. I believe that that he should be in the HOF .

Those who hated the Yankees, never hated Donny Baseball. Everybody loved this guy. The heart & soul in pinstripes before Jeter

If Sandberg & Puckett are in, Mattingly definitely should be in.

Yes without a doubt Mr Don Mattingly should be in the baseball HALL OF FAME if not for that injury to his back which he caught through he still is the greatest defensive first baseman.

How in the world is this great man not in the Hall of Fame? Smh. ✌

One of his seasons he had 145 RBI. That was the most since DiMaggio.

Let him in guys. You can’t measure greatness by rings. Look at his stats and what he did on the field which is why I think he belongs in. Class player. Great work ethic. A true winner in defense.

What an amazing and perfectly put together timeline of what Don Mattingly is to the world of Baseball. All baseball fans that lived to see what he did as a player…. Knows he was extraordinary to the game. Get Don Mattingly into the Hall Of Fame today!!!

Growing up in the eighties I had a lot of favorite players. Lots and lots. Willie Randolph, Reggie, Bucky Dent, Dave Winfield, Gooden, Rickey, Rod Carew... But Mattingly was a cut above. I loved all those players but Mattingly was a god. That swing. That mix of perfect fluidity, grace, and violent power through the zone. Those wrists of his, my God. You couldn't pitch to the guy, he covered the whole zone with authority and he never struck out. I know these days we're not supposed to believe in clutch hitting but I'm sorry, it's impossible to have grown up watching this guy and and to dismiss clutch hitting as mere fantasy. And his fielding. That glove. That arm. Again, just as he could cover the whole strike zone, so too if the ball was anywhere near him he was going to make the play. He was just amazingly sure-handed. And finally, he was just so classy. Soft-spoken strength. I swear to god I'm fifty years old and I still get all tingly just talking about him. He was the real thing, boys and girls. Like the Beatles.

I'm a lifelong Yankees fan (since 1969, anyway), grew up and still live 6 blocks from the Stadium. I was SO electrified by Donnie's play I had him among the Yankee immortals in his heyday--a list of immortals more impressive than any other franchise's in the history of the game. But Donnie does not belong in the Hall. He didn't do it long enough. It wasn't his fault, it was his back's, but that doesn't change the fact his productivity lasted only as long as it did--5 years--and no longer. Not enough. For me, it starts at 10. Once you've been excellent or above for a decade or more we can talk about including you with the Mickey Mantles, the Willie Mayses, the Stan Musials, and the Babes Ruth (yes, I said "Babes"). Love Donnie, though, as a player AND as a man.

How is Mattingly not in the HOF? That is insane!!!

I remember Don very fondly....he truly was one of the very best, fantastic player!! He definitely BELONGS IN THE HOF!!!

Growing up in The Bronx in the 80's I might have a biased opinion but Donny Baseball is one of my favorite players of all time. Put him in the hall.

Well done!! I'm a Mets fan but I followed Mattingly and he was one of my favorite players. I think he should definitely be in the Hall. He was so consistent throughout his career. He batted .307 over 14 seasons- come on now. Add Golden Gloves on top of that and you have the prototypical baseball player.

I am a life long Rangers fan and I remember him hitting multiple grand slams vs us. There was no player I hated seeing more coming up to bat than him.

I grew up watching him! My all time Favorite player!! Even if he wasn’t my favorite I would still say if there’s anyone that deserves to be in the Hall Of Fame he does! He’s a hell of coach Also!!! All he went through with his back and trouble hitting he still Never took any performance enhancement drugs! If it was let to the fans he’d been in the Hall Of Fame the day he retired!!!

Been a Yankee fan since 1976, and to this very day, Don Mattingly was the best Yankee player i have ever seen. Nobody came remotely close. Not Winfield, Not Jeter, Not Juidge. Nine gold gloves, the most in the history of the franchise, as well as having a remarkable 4 year run that equals to some of the greatest players of all time, 1984-1987.

He was as dominant in the good years as any player was or could be. Even when he clearly was injured he still managed to be productive and hit for average. Maybe he could have played for a few more years and compiled more hits to get closer to the magic HOF numbers but regardless, he should be in. Those years were not a fluke, anyone who watched him knows that.

Some of my most cherished childhood memories were watching Mattingly play. Donny was to me as Mickey Mantle was to my father

When the Yankees were terrible in the 1980's and early 1990's, there was only Mattingly. In addition to that, it's a well known fact that Mattingly's mustache couldn't be killed by conventional weapons.

For 6 years he was the best player in baseball and the only thing talked about.

Being a Yankee fan I'm going to be labeled as being biased for my comments. I was born when Mickey Mantle began dominating baseball. If I were to put together the best Yankee team in my lifetime Don Mattingly would be my first basemen. For five seasons he was the best player in MLB. Not to diminish many of those who were previously enshrined the HOF, but "Donnie Baseball" has proven to most he deserves a spot among other baseball greats as well. If Sandy Koufax can make it why not Mattingly?

Anyone who was a baseball fan in the eighties knows that Don Mattingly belongs in the hall of fame. He was the best player in the majors for close to a decade. He was so good when healthy that it was stupid. And he did everything the right way. Biggest snub ever.

Yes, he definitely deserves to be in the HOF. 😎

I lived in upstate NY back then, had the privilege of watching him on TV and once in person. Best pure hitter and fielder of his generation.

*Donald Arthur Mattingly belongs in the Major League Baseball Hall Of Fame. Period.*

I watched him dominate during his peak. I saw him hit top-end pitchers when his peers struggled. I put a lot of weight on peak over longevity. If he would have played a few more years and batted .270 with 80 RBIs he would be in. Personally, I don't care about a player who is pretty good for 20 years. Anyone of many players has done that. Watching greatness is what fans come to see. Windfield was my favorite player back then, but Donny was a close second. That 1985 offense was something special. His swing was excellence in motion. He had this way of moving his hips in sync with the location of the pitch. His weight was always back, and in the perfect position to drive the ball. He wasn't physically impressive like some of his contemporaries, but man could he square up a baseball. His defense was marvelous, and his baseball IQ was genius-level.

I'm a Sox fan and Donny deserves the hall. You don't play baseball...you live it and Donny did! These HOF sometimes are BS they don't cover what they were to the game...Just stats. Sure Stats are important but what players mean to the game are so much more. - From a Red Sox fan

9x gold gloves, 6x all star, 8 consecutive games w a home run, 6 grand slams in a season both MLB records. 84 Batting Champion,85 MVP all of this was during the steroid era. Don was clean. For 5 seasons Mattingly was the best hitter not on steroids. Retired with.311 2200 hits.his career cut short by injury but equally compared to Kirby Puckett who was voted in the HOF.

There's no question Donnie Baseball belongs in the Hall of Fame. He was the best in all of baseball for several years.

Thanks for making this. Mattingly was my favorite player when I was a kid. My earliest baseball memories where of his glory years. My dad, a New Yorker, was a Yankees fan, so I was, too, despite growing up in Indiana, where Mattingly is from. It all makes sense.

He belongs in the hall no question. Great offensive player and defensively. He doesn't have a ring or the immediate lifetime stats to have gotten in immediately but that was due to his back injury. He was still a .290 or .300 hitter even after he lost his power from the injury. There are guys who "compiled" more impressive lifetime numbers but that was because they played a long time and managed to stay injury free. Other first basement that are in were never at his level in their prime. He was one of the best all around players in baseball for a solid 6 year run and a superstar....hit for power, average and was a gold glover. Won an MVP. Plus now with having a run as a manager too he certainly should get in at least by the Veterans committee.

I went to his restaurant in Evansville during the baseball strike and he came out as our our waiter. “Gotta do something to make a living” he told us. 😂

Well said. Don Mattingly was my favorite player of any sports of all time. What might have been if not for his back issues. Even with that he deserves cooperstown. I am so glad you brought up Sandy Koufax. I always had a beef with that. Yes he had outstanding umbers and World Series but to be in the hall of fame not winning or being close to 200 games. They should take that in consideration when with Mattingly

Easily a Hall of Famer without the back issues. I grew up watching Donnie Baseball. Loved him.

I cant believe he's not there,,,a great talent. I'm a Dodger fan, but can't deny his greatness

Donnie Baseball and Keith Hernandez both deserve it

He was a great player. If not for his deterioration due to those bad disk in his back, he would have been a first ballot hall of famer and probably the first Yankee to reach 3,000 hits.

Up until the back injury Don Mattingly was the best first baseman I ever saw. If it wasn't for that injury there is no telling what his final stats would have been. Kieth Hernandez is right there too.... he was smooth as silk!

The last Yankee game I went to at the old stadium was Don Mattingly Day. I haven't been back to the bronx since. I'm okay with that last game memory. Had to use my old brain and realize the last 3 Yankee games I went to was Mickey Mantle Day, the first Yankees/Mets Interleague series June 97 and then Don Mattingly Day.

The ultimate hall of fame conundrum: A guy who absolutely should be in the Hall of Fame based on talent and performance, but whose career was shortened and hampered by injury so the numbers put him on the borderline. No right answer. I suspect Donnie will have to be content knowing that all of us know that he was one of the very best players of an entire generation in the game. That swing was a thing of beauty and that catch near the end that he makes sprinting back over his head like it's absolutely routine??? Oh my god... So happy he killed it in his one playoff appearance. It's like a nice reminder saying, "By the way, I could have done this every year if you are wondering.."

He was such a great player, one of my hero's growing up. It's a shame he isn't in the Hall

This makes me tear up. I just want to cry watching old Mattingly clips. They WERE my childhood

I remember there was talk about a trade for Mattingly for Will Clark. I'm glad it never happened, I didn't want to give up Clark and I doubt that NY fans wanted to give up Mattingly But it was at least one of the fairest trades I ever heard about. Two great players.

Agree ! Mattingly should definitely be in the Hall. Nobody with his stats is not in the Hall. 307 BA 222 HRS over 1000 rbis and runs. 9 gold gloves. Compare recent Hall enrollee Tony Oliva. Mattingly higher in every category plus he was best 1B in league for his career. Also a great teammate and ambassador for baseball. He must get in.

My favorite player since I was a kid. I hope he gets in someday. A great player and an even better human being.

I grew up on those hazy summer days in the 80's watching the Yankees on channel 11 in NY lose...lot of people loved him, had "hit man" posters on their wall but I never saw him do anything that made him stand out. I guess he was consistent? Now we all wanted to be Craig Nettles for example...

I was at that infamous pine tar game! My grandfather took me to that one and many more! What a crazy moment in sports history

I miss the Mattingly Yankees era. Despite the Yankees not winning any Championships that was still a fun time for me getting to watch the Yankees when I could.

Yankee fan since early 1960's. Since then my top 5 favorite Yankees. Mickey Mantle, Thurman Munson, Don Mattingly, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter. Aaron Judge obviously present favorite. He's our Captain. Mattingly might have been my most favorite.

Great video - and I agree totally. Before his back gave out on him he was arguably the best player in Baseball, both offensively and defensively. He belongs in the Hall of Fame.

Awesome video! Mattingly does deserve to be in the hall.if he didn’t have the back injury he would have been a shoe in

He belongs in the Hall of Fame no doubt about it he played the game with respect and passion and dignity he was a class act let's be real there are some players that don't even belong in the Hall of Fame however this man does he worked hard at it and he was very successful in everything he done as a Yankee ball player thumbs up for Donnie baseball straight out of Brooklyn 🇵🇷💪🏾

The poster over my bed as a kid was none other than Donny Baseball.

Thanks for everything donny baseball ⚾️ The one bright spot in a dark era

To me there are three things we should consider for Donnie Baseball being in the HOF. 1. These is no better defensive first baseman in the history of the game, yes he was better at his position than Hernandez and my god Hernandez was magic at first. 2. Injuries have shortened the career of other HOF'ers and they were considered, for example Puckett and Kiner (maybe not injuries). 3. That stretch from 84-89, there was nothing better in the 80's, the was peak performance.

incredible video, kudos. brought back so many memories and made me very upset as well, that 23 just missed the world series in 1996 and not be voted into the HOF its kind of a tragic story

Hit for average, hit for power, gold glove feilder, super disciplined and humble! Just imagine if he didn't get injured!

Don Mattingly and Aaron Judge are my two favorite baseball players ever. Don Mattingly had something about him that I think most players didn’t have I guess it was like that right timing right moment and something awesome would happened

Donnie is my all-time favorite player. The man could do anything.

Even after the career altering back injury, he was still hitting high .280s and .300s DM was a triple crown contender in good health and a gold glover.

A great, great, ballplayer and if not for serious back problems he'd be a shoo-in for the HOF for he put up Gehrig like numbers. From what I see he needs to be in the HOF anyway, I call him the Bill Walton of baseball. I'm admittedly biased though because Donny Baseball was and still is my favorite Yankees player.

I hear ya about Mattingly. . .But there are a number of players with stats like his who aren't in the Hall. I'm an older fan and my favorite as a kid was Ken Boyer of the Cardinals. Look at his stats, they are almost identical to Mattingly's and Kenny isn't in either. Boyer also suffered a back injury after his NL MVP season in 1964 and his offensive numbers went way down after that. Ken was a 5-time Gold Glove winner at 3rd base, 1964 NL MVP, 7 time All-Star 3rd baseman, Captain of the Cardinals, and helped the Cards win the '64 World Series with a Grand Slam in Game 4 and another HR in Game 7. Boyer was one of the very best 3rd basemen of his era but has also been overlooked. I think you have to have really huge stats these days to get in. Sadly, both Mattingly and Boyer's injuries really lowered their final numbers.

People LOVE this guy so much.. Hes basically more famous than many hofers

As a Mets fan born in 2004, I truly believe that Don Mattingly deserves to be in the hall, not just for what he’s done on the field but for the huge impact he’s made on many lives. He definitely would’ve been in if his injuries didn’t end his career early. Cooperstown is incomplete without Donny Baseball

yes, Mattingly Buckner, Garvey, Dave Parker, Mark Grace, Keith Hernandez, and Pete Rose should be in the Hall. All GREAT players.

I don't know why people have a problem saying he just got hurt and he didn't get to put up those great numbers for another 5 years. It's just part of baseball. Maybe another guy didn't train with crazy intensity and allowed his back not to be crushed, or just bad luck, or genetics. It doesn't matter it didn't get done. Yes, I was a kid and impresionable back in his prime so I look at him as great. But as an adult I can objectively read the numbers and realize it just didn't last long enough, and it doesn't matter why.

I hang his memorabilia in my garage like a shrine. GREAT all around hitter and solid first baseman.

Mattingly was an MVP, Won a Batting Title and 9 Good Gloves. Not enough yet more than most in hall.

he damn sure should be in the Hall. even all of his peers voted him the best player in the game during his era

His resume is just as impressive as Kirby Puckett’s

I’ve heard my share of analysis on the subject, and as a lifelong Mattingly fan, I can tell you this is by far the best one. Great analysis, great articulation of facts. No doubt, Donnie baseball belongs in the hall.

I swear he called his shot in one game. I think against Detroit. He stuck his bat out and held it toward left center. He held that for about 10 seconds, then the pitch was hit over the left-center wall.

Absolutely agree! Include Hernandez since we're talking first baseman.

Ahhh Donnie Baseball, Dave Winfield, Ricky Henderson. I found these guys on channel 11 WPIX in the 80’s. I was at Don Mattingly day by coincidence. They gave him a horse.

I was game 2 of 95 since then I’ve been to about 10 post season games and I’ve never heard the stadium blow up like it did when Donny hit that home run vs Seattle

Alan Trammell was the litmus test now Mattingly and Rollins. I believe they both should be in, both were great and were fun for the league. It’s the Hall of FAME not the hall of playing for 23 years.

my #1 memory of donnie is i went to a dh early 90s, i could be wrong but i think it was the stump merrill era and nobody cared about the yankees had about 20,000 fans then, you could walk up to the box office bf a game and sit inside the bases for less than $20 donnie was injured and supposed to go on the dl the next day so he wasnt playing but the second game was close and donnie pinch hit late and lined a ball just inside the right field line i think it tied the game and the 15,000 or so in the stadium went crazy

I've been a Yankees fan for a long long time that goes back to The Mick and I've stayed a Yankees fan through the years when the Yanks weren't all that good. If Don Mattingly doesn't get into the Hall of Fame well then brother there is something fundamentally wrong with that whole process of getting into The Hall. Just do what's right and show some class the same way Matt did during his playing career. Donnie personified being a Yankee and most any fan of baseball would agree he deserves to be there. Go Yanks!!

Mattingly was a Great player , I just assumed that he was in the HOF ! Vote him in ASAP

Without the back injury this video never would have been made. Still though he deserves to be in the Hall. Defense is rarely considered. Good offence can produce runs, but equally so good D prevents runs. Both equally important.

Donny Baseball was a gamer.He never gave less then 100%.

Excellent video. My 1st baseball hero was Dale Murphy and his career parallels Mattingly's.... Donnie was my 2nd baseball hero. I collected all of his cards from the early to mid 80's and had his poster in my room. Thx for video!

It is called the Hall of Fame. Mattingly was one of the most popular players in that era. Not only cause he was one of the best players but because he was an awesome down to earth dude. No link to steroids, no controversys, I mean come on.

When I think of Don Mattingly, I think of other legends from other sports that struggled to enter their Hall-of-Fames. For the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame, I scratch my head to this day on why Joe Jacoby and Cliff Branch are not inducted. In basketball, I think of Bernard King and Bobby Jones. Those two players were finally inducted despite being left off the ballot for more than two decades. I fully understand the rules committees are extremely different for each sport. There is no doubt the National Baseball Hall-of-Fame is the most stringent. And the Basketball Hall-of-Fame appears to be the easiest. Do I believe Don Mattingly is Hall-of-Fame worthy? If you view his stats, I understand why he still hasn't been voted in. If you base Don Mattingly's worthiness on impact to the game? No doubt about it.

lifetime cardinals fan but loved watching that man play.

His mustache alone is worthy for the HOF and there should be a bronzed mustache at Cooperstown asap

Don Mattingly's boyhood whiffle ball field homerun spot was to opposite field developing Don's ability to drive ball the other way... the more you know... fax!!!

*little known fact* his mustache alone batted 315 with 25 hr, 20 sb and even managed to leg out 8 triples and 23 doubles