Don Mattingly: Hall of Famer?

Don Mattingly was not good enough to be elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1995, but he is good enough in 2002, despite the fact that he has not played a game in seven years. How is that possible? Well, when Mattingly retired in 1995, he had to be compared to Lou Gehrig (.340), Jimmy Foxx (.325), Hank Greenberg (.313), George Sisler (.340), Bill Terry (.341), Johnny Mize (.312), Cap Anson (.333), and Jim Bottomley (.310). All are considered among the greatest of first basemen and all had more impressive careers than Mattingly.

When compared to the above eight men in (the Hall of Fame), Mattingly falls short of deserving inclusion in the Hall of Fame. But when compared to Orlando Cepeda and Tony Perez, two excellent players who recently were elected to the Hall, Mattingly’s abilities and accomplishments compare favorably

Cepeda’s lifetime batting average was .297 while Perez’ was .279. Mattingly’s was .307. Cepeda played for 17 seasons, averaging 29 home runs and an impressive 104 RBIs a season. Perez played for 23 seasons, averaging 22 home runs and 96 RBIs a season. Mattingly played for 14 seasons, averaging 20 home runs and 100 RBIs a season. How many sportswriters and fans realize that Mattingly averaged 100 RBIs a season?

The Information Please Almanac concisely summarizes Don Mattingly’s career as follows:

American League MVP (1985); won AL batting title in 1984 (.343) and led AL with 207 hits and 44 doubles; led majors with 145 RBI in 1985; led AL with 238 hits (Yankee record), 53 doubles and a .573 slugging percentage in 1986; won 9 Gold Glove Awards (1985-89, 91-94); back injury shortened career.

Mattingly’s record is similar to those of Cepeda and Perez. It is likely that, since his career was cut short at the age of 34, many people don’t realize that he played for 14 seasons. Mattingly was the top first baseman in baseball for many of those years, won the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 1985, and had an even better year in 1986 when he batted .352, hit 31 home runs, 53 doubles, and batted in 113 runs, while striking out only 35 times. It was season that would have made Joe DiMaggio proud.

Dwight Gooden and Mattingly were at the peaks of their careers at about the same time. They rarely faced each other, but a quote from Doc, who had as much natural ability as any pitcher who ever lived, sums up Mattingly as a hitter. Gooden simply stated, “I'm glad I don't have to face that guy every day. He has that look that few hitters have. I don't know if it's his stance, his eyes or what, but you can tell he means business.”

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