One of the most popular players in franchise history and quite possibly the greatest Yankee never to have appeared in a World Series, Don Mattingly was baseball’s premier first baseman of the mid-1980s before a chronic back injury sapped much of his power at age 29.
Respected for his talent, professionalism and humility, “Donnie Baseball” was an outstanding performer on both sides of the ball during his 14 years in pinstripes, including an incredible six-year stretch that appeared to have Mattingly on track to reach the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Mattingly became the Yankees’ full-time first baseman in 1984, a season that hosted a memorable race for the American League batting title against teammate Dave Winfield. With the Yankees far behind the eventual World Series champion Tigers in the division race, their final games of the schedule focused upon the showdown between Mattingly and Winfield.
No Yankee had won a batting title since Mickey Mantle’s Triple Crown in 1956, and no Yankees had ever finished 1-2. Mattingly trailed Winfield by .002 entering the season’s final day; Mattingly went 4-for-5 while Winfield was 1-for-4 in that last game, as Mattingly hit .343 to Winfield’s .340. The duo shook hands and came off the field to a standing ovation.
“I never thought it would be decided in the last at-bat,” said Mattingly, who led the AL with 207 hits and paced the Majors with 47 doubles. “Before the inning, they told me if I didn’t get a hit and…
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