Should Don Mattingly be in the Hall of Fame?

Brian Kenny digs in on Don Mattingly's career and discusses the likelihood ge winds up in the Hall.
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[@omgDavidGlasper]

The best hitter in Baseball for 4 straight years. .307 lifetime hitter. MVP.

[@vicepresidentmikepence889]

The fact that we're sitting here debating if Don Mattingly is a hall of famer, automatically means he's not a Hall of Famer

[@theescapetrix]

Bullshite... The man should be in. Not even a Yankees fan. The man was a beast.

[@FAITHandLOGIC]

​@@vicepresidentmikepence889 So if there's a debate, he doesn't get in? Wow. Stupidest comment I've seen in all my years of Hall of Fame debate.

[@TheVCRTimeMachine]

So what? Bill Madlock won four batting titles and is a career .305 hitter lifetime. Madlock had a higher OBP for his career and only had 153 less hits in 400 fewer at-bats. Madlock's career WAR is 38 and Mattingly's is 42. No one in their right mind would ever call Madlock a Hall of Famer and if Mattingly had played in San Diego or Seattle or Oakland or Houston, instead of wearing pinstripes in the Bronx, this conversation would not be taking place.

[@georgial6398]

@@TheVCRTimeMachine Mattingly was an all star twice as many times as Madlock, won an MVP which Madlock never did, and won 9 gold gloves which Madlock never did. Also 3 silver sluggers (Madlock 0). Mattingly also leads him in HR 222-163, runs 1007-920, RBI 1099-860. Slugging % 30 points higher, OPS 23 points higher.

[@joseburgos9654]

Mattingly should have won MVP in '86, ridiculous numbers he put up. The man had a 5 year HOF stretch and was quite a versatile player. Played 3rd base flawlessly at one point. With only 14 years playing, it's more than enough for the HOF criteria. This man is a legend!

[@bauerj3398]

Not sure how I feel about 1986. Mattingly was great, Clemens was other-wordly. Comes down to whether one thinks pitchers should be able to win MVP, since they already have the Cy Young. I tend to think that way.

[@dougnewman3935]

@@bauerj3398i agree. Guidry should have won in ‘78 but was denied because he was a pitcher. then Clemons won in ‘86 over Mattingly. i tend to think the common thread is anti-Yankee bias

[@bauerj3398]

@@dougnewman3935Yeah, let us pretend that anti-Yankee bias is a thing.

[@mystermysterio5348]

Keith Hernandez, Dale Murphy, Don Mattingly definitely deserve some recognition in the Baseball HOF.

[@rockscousteau]

I doubt they will let Keith in. I think he started dressing like a woman

[@johnmoore6853]

Hernandez cocaine use will keep him out of the HOF

[@747heavyboeing3]

​@@johnmoore6853yet steroids didn't keep big Papi out..

[@steverennie5787]

Agree 100%... Mattingly, Murphy and McGriff for sure. Why Mattingly wasn't elected in originally is beyond me.

[@MarvinMonroe]

Yes it's a complete joke that those three aren't in

[@rockscousteau]

@@MarvinMonroe I think it is more of a joke that Murphy is not in the Hall. He was like Superman in the 1980's. And that is no exaggeration.

[@tonynardini1472]

Totally agree ….. idiots like Mike Francesa talked against it So glad that arrogant ass is finally off the air Mattingly is a Hall of Famer

[@someperson8151]

The cheaters inflated baseball stats and made those clean players look pedestrian. Reason why all PED users should be banned for tainting the game.

[@petersonofleo11]

Veteran's committee will get him in.

[@Jlundeen]

The best player in baseball for five years should absolutely be in the HOF. It's not like he forgot how to hit after that. Injuries dragged him down. He was synonymous with baseball greatness.

[@FAITHandLOGIC]

Not just that. He was a class act and a team leader. Take modern postseason format and he would have been un the postseason multiple times.

[@TheVCRTimeMachine]

Things that don't automatically qualify you as a Hall of Famer 1. Injuries shortening your career 2. Being a class act 3. Being a team leader 4. Would have been in the post-season *IF* there had been a different post-season format. His career WAR of 42 is 3 points higher than Bill Madlock and is lower than Amos Otis and Al Oliver. (and don't say WAR is a meaningless stat. The top 10 players in career WAR are Babe Ruth, Walter Johnson, Cy Young, Barry Bonds, Willie Mays, Ty Cobb, Henry Aaron, Roger Clemens, Tris Speaker, and Honus Wagner.) Mattingly was very good for four years. That isn't enough to make you a Hall of Famer, even if you played in the Bronx.

[@5IvanDrago5]

@@TheVCRTimeMachine You make a excellent argument and if I where to debate you with logic and reason, you will win. Here is my case for why Donnie baseball should go in the HOF at some point. Baseball historically is full of players that have had a few really good or great years and then they fade. As years go on and peak fandom shifts generations these players get lost to history have you heard of Zoilo Versallas he won the AL MVP in 1965. Ever heard of Wally Moses, he led the AL in doubles in 1945. I bring these names up because I doubt that you have ever heard of them. They were both in their time excellent players whom had a few great years. Those of us that are a certain age know Don Mattingly was THE GUY for a generation that saw the explosion of baseball cards and memorabilia. The mass expansion of baseball on TV and in many ways baseball largest growth globally. The 80's saw March Madness become a event. Magic and Bird transitioned The NBA from tape delay to what it is now. There was a mass growth in sports as we know it today and in baseball the guy in that era was Don Mattingly. Career stats and all the excellent points you make are reasons NOT for Mattingly to be in. I just think it would be a shame and tragic for 20 years from now Donnie Baseball be lost to time like Wally Moses. The HOF is THE history and legacy of the sport and Mattingly 100% has made his mark on that legacy.

[@someperson8151]

​@@TheVCRTimeMachinefor number one, you mean Sandy Koufax with a low WAR of 48.9? Injury shortened career. Look at how a guy plays the game. Passing the eye test is more important.

[@hughdismuke4703]

And let's not forget that Donnie was a big doubles guy, leading the majors three years in a row. And one of the best in the biz at rarely striking out. As a matter of fact the most he struck out in a season was 43 times! And he reached the 40 mark only 4 times in his career proving what a great contact hitter he was. He was a huge clutch hitter too. Mattingly was the whole package. Oh and magic hands with 9 gold gloves. And let's factor in to the fact that he played on teams that weren't exactly very competitive. He played his whole career on good to subpar teams, making the players just once in his last year. Imagine the kind of success he would've had if he was on an a super team? He virtually carried those teams on his back. And even though he was dealing with back issues, he still managed to knock 222 home runs out of the park and still managed to compile a 14 year career. And speaking of clutch hitting, in his first and only playoff series, in five games he batted .417 with four doubles, a home run , six rbi's and a total of 10 hits proving he would've been just as great in the playoffs. Don also once held the record with the most grand slams in a season (6) and the most home run games in a row (8). And he did all of this way before steroids entered the game. I always like to say that Donnie packed a whole career into four great years and is reason enough to qualify him for the Hall. Someone made the case of Tony Oliva making the hall with lesser numbers, plus he had a 15 year career. Tony had a great career but clearly he was no Mattingly.

[@harvestworkers626]

This video just PROVED WITHOUT A DOUBT that Don Mattingly should have already been in the Hall of Fame.

[@michaelkoller]

I'm all for Mattingly going in, but the fact that Keith Hernandez is not on this Contemporary Baseball Era ballot is an injustice!

[@dbreiden83080]

Keith had a really good career. Donnie had a much high peak as a player would be my argument for him over Keith. Even though he won an MVP nobody ever saw Keith as the best or even a top 3 player in the game. Donnie was the best player in the game for 3 seasons at least.

[@michaelkoller]

@@dbreiden83080 No argument on Donny being the best during his height. But Keith is widely considered the greatest fielding first baseman of all time. Is it just the Hall of Offensive Fame? If so, then Ozzie Smith should not be there too.

[@dbreiden83080]

@@michaelkoller Is Keith still regarded as one of the best defenders? They said on this video Donnie is NOT regarded as 1 of the best thanks to the new age stats which blows my mind. I watched Donnie play as a kid and man was he a great 1st basemen.. So was Keith.

[@michaelkoller]

@@dbreiden83080 I don't necessarily believe all these new age defensive stats. But I watched Keith and Don play. IMO, both are 1 and 2 all time in defensive first basemen.

[@denistuohy2535]

@@dbreiden83080 Kieth is definitely still regarded as the best defensive first baseman ever.

[@danielbonner8309]

Hof without Mattingly is not my Hof. Love this piece 🙏

[@TOCC50]

Cooperstown Corruption

[@edwardmcmanus7496]

Donnie Baseball was not only a 9 Gold Glove recipient, a Batting Title winner with a career BA of .307 a team leader and of stellar character, he represented the game well like his peers Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken, and Ryne Sandberg. He absolutely belongs in Cooperstown. And so does Fred McGriff.

[@mdeponte182]

as a kid growing up my father taking me to the ballpark to watch Donnie play, were among some of my fondess memories. Don Mattingly played the game the way it was supposed to be played, and at a high level. The mullet, the mustache, the eye black, a warrior

[@nynjasmurfable]

This man makes a very DAMN good argument. Mattingly more than deserves the honor to be in the HOF for Baseball, he's a Hall of Fame requirement, in my book.

[@SnoopyReads]

I love Donnie, and I'd like to see him in the Hall, but focusing on just his best four years kinda sheds light on the reason he never made it...the rest of his career was average or below offensively

[@Trick37MP]

I've been ssying for decades now, that Mattingly...aka Donnie Baseball...deserves to be in the HOF. Wonderful analysis, sir. Thank you.

[@KG-th3cr]

Absolutely Donny should be there. Not only did he put up great numbers batting he also had 9 gold gloves.

[@pjcgaming9548]

Its crazy that Mattingly played 14 years and never struck out 50 times in a season- Shohei Ohtani as of May 31st is one of the best players in baseball and has struck out 54 times so far this season.

[@GuidoLuzzi]

when joe D and yogi berra would strike out 30 times or less a season

[@SirTylerGolf]

Completely different game, that doesn't mean one is better or worse, today we understand the value of everything more and it turns out that a more aggressive approach brings more value

[@rockscousteau]

It was a totally different game then dude.

[@pjcgaming9548]

@@rockscousteau no shit.

[@luckap79]

He’s not in yet ? Crazy

[@phillyfan70]

Really enjoyed this additional perspective on Mattingly. Never understood how Mattingly never got much interest for HOF. Murphy and McGriff were always hurt by their markets they played in but that certainly was not true for Mattingly. Really want to see all of them get in. Unfortunately only McGriff made it though. Congrats to the Crime Dog!

[@dbreiden83080]

I think people just got too, hung up on the idea that he didn’t have enough longevity. Personally, I think if Donnie had managed to put together just two more seasons of elite level play before his back went bad, he would’ve been in the Hall of Fame years ago.

[@Thaeffintruth]

He absolutely belongs in the Hall ...it's crazy he's not. I think people hold him being a Yankee against him, because his numbers arent quite Ruth/Mantle/Gehrig type #'s, but he absolutely deserves to be in ...his teammates Winfield and Jeter would probably agree too

[@matsalvatore9074]

WELL DONE 👏 I've never seen anyone do him so much justice. You're a treasure Brian I love Brian Kenny. His passion n enthusiasm. His knowledge for the game. His never ending education he gives me. Brian Kenny knows sports. Especially baseball n boxing😊😊😊

[@pistol670]

I’m still scratching my head on Harold Baines, Donnie Baseball needs to be in the HOF.

[@richchadwick0626]

If you take Mattingly’s 6 prime years before he hurt his back, those numbers match up with 90 percent of the guys in the Hall. So if they constantly put compilers in the Hall for being good over 15 years, then they should also give guys who were dominant for shorter periods of time equal consideration.

[@jamesvenuti9836]

YESSSSS! Watching him in his prime when just learning about the game, he was the best I've ever seen

[@trevorbradford3916]

Yes! Love you Donnie Baseball!

[@7wnb]

Mattingly is a Hall of Famer no question about it. His 6 grand slams in 1 season was insane

[@GreekGeek66]

The defensive argument is spot on. Anyone who watch him play knows that he was one of if not thr best fielding first baseman we have seen in the last 40 years. He was a magician at first alongside some very bad Yankee defensive teams with a revolving door at shortstop and third base. Aside from Willie Randolph the Yankees had awful fielders like Mike Pagliarulo etc etc. If we credit Ozzie Smith and Bill Mazeroski and other light hitting infielders and push them to the Hall, Donnie deserves the same push for defense which is just as top notch

[@trentonhudgins3310]

i got a dale murphy tshirt when i was 8-10 and was told how solid of a player he was and got his HOF stolen bc of the PED era, glad i was able to grow up and appreciate such great baseball talent and not those who cheated their way to success.

[@jimc.goodfellas]

Yes, for his life's work in baseball...he was a great player and he's been a pretty good manager

[@sheven18]

Pretty good manager? Only pretty good? No he is one of the best manager's in baseball. He made a bunch of minor leaguers on the Marlins into playoff contenders.

[@jasont7814]

@@sheven18 he’s a better small market manager.

[@Ernie-babycrow]

Why is it taking so long for this great baseball player to make it to the hall of fame? Are you kidding me!

[@timothygray7650]

Yes 1 of the best 1st basemen players to his day. And from Evansville, Indiana.

[@lendrury2771]

Yes I absolutely think that don Mattingly should be in the hall of fame. Its not always a situation of longevity but production during the years played Don did not play that many seasons and he battled injuries periodically but he produced big time at the plate and in the field .

[@chefcook6076]

Enough said totally agree with the commentary and Analysis and I hold Mattingly as a Yankee alongside Thurman Munson

[@cypothingy]

I definitely had McGriff and Murphy on my ballot and considered Belle and Mattingly as edge cases, could be pushed one way or the other. I think this solidly pushes Mattingly into the “yes” column for me.

[@EndoftheTownProductions]

Mattingly still had good numbers from 1991-1995. His BA was not below .288 in any of those years, which would make him a great hitter these days.

[@jasont7814]

.288 without much power and no speed would be a pretty good hitter, but not HOF material.

[@EndoftheTownProductions]

@@jasont7814 But that batting average would be great these days.

[@jasont7814]

@@EndoftheTownProductions Sure, I’d take him on my team, but he wouldn’t even make an All Star team with those numbers.

[@stephenpedersen6920]

Absolutely love this! My favorite player growing up and majority of my friends as well. He was 80s baseball and deserves to be in the "Hall of Fame" for so many statistical reasons but also simply because of the positive influence he had on the game and the many young(and old) fans. He was the player we all tried to be and the card we all tried to collect. He made me and so many others love the game and want to emulate his actions! I love Donny Baseball and he should be in the HOF!

[@rdptll]

I grew up a Cubs fan in Indiana in the 1980s. But, Don Mattingly was my favorite player.

[@MarvinMonroe]

People always say "well Mattingly's final 5 years were not good" What? He batted 288, 288,291,304,288. Averaged about 30 doubles and 80 RBI AND won the gold glove 4 of those years

[@jasont7814]

His final 5 were good years, but nowhere near HOF or elite years.

[@MarvinMonroe]

@@jasont7814 true, but most Hall of Famers final 5 years are not elite level. Griffey's final 10 years were all pretty bad (I'm from Cincinnati

[@Nick-NY]

Yes! He was the best player in the game from 84-89. Don’t let his injury keep him from the Hall. George Brett even said he’s a hall of famer.

[@Indigenoustaino]

ThIs player is a baseball legend and is a big part of my childhood

[@dougnewman3935]

I've never been very impressed as for HOF the guys who were a little above average forever - Baines, McGriff, etc. Mattingly was the best player for 6 years. His defense was outstanding. His power and average and strikeouts were fantastic. Yeah he came down with a bad back but there's very few 1st baseman who stand against his prime. I was and am a huge Donny Baseball fan.

[@jjay__]

Mcgriff was great in early 90's, not little better than average

[@troddy3925]

This was Awesome. Well done Kenny & Company (anybody old enough to remember that movie?). Donnie Baseball Belongs!

[@Shearn31787]

Lifelong Orioles fan who’s a little too young to see him in his prime but Donnie Baseball definitely belongs in.

[@thomasriccardi9040]

During Donnie's playing days, me, my brother and two other friends had season tickets. I saw Don Mattingly do things other players could not do. He was an offensive juggernaut and the best defensive player I ever saw. The man was one of the greatest Yankees and players of all time. Injuries did him in but for the 10+ years he played he was a blessing for Yankee fans everywhere. YES he belongs in the HOF

[@lukedunham3053]

If the purpose of the HOF is to tell the history of baseball, then for people my age who saw him play, to leave Mattingly out is to leave out a generation. Donnie Baseball was BELOVED!

[@JetDriver77]

This should be a no-brainer. This guy was every little-league ball player's idol in the 80's. I was one of them.

[@IBangedUrMom69420]

If Don didn’t retire at 34 he would’ve been in. Regardless, the Hall needs a “general” area so we can combine numbers from players who became managers. If you add his managerial career onto his playing career, Don should be in.

[@josephariola8583]

A very valid point for all three players in that right Column

[@alfredthegreatkingofwessex6838]

Yeah after he gets rid of those sideburns

[@speach73]

Mattingly, shave those sideburns!

[@johnschaefer2238]

I am a baseball fanatic and a Mets fan. I do not dislike the Yankees as do many Met fans except when they play the Mets but I respect the Yankees and Don Mattingly. Both he and Keith Hernandez were two of the best first baseman in the 80’s and 90’s and NY was so lucky to have both at the same time. I do think that both Mattingly and Hernandez belong in the HOF!

[@vanishing_girl]

Mattingly is one of the weirdest cases, his prime was only 6 years but 4 of those years he was the best hitter in baseball and was the biggest star in the MLB in that time. If he made it in I wouldn't complain but I also understand why some didn't vote for him.

[@anthonyparkernearlifeexp]

Koufax's dominance wasn't as lasting as Mattingly, and he's in. Donnie BAseball should be in.

[@micnak3574]

Kenny made a very strong case! I agree with him 100%.

[@ICU2B4UDO]

Here! Here!! Donnie Baseball ⚾ should ALREADY be in The HOF!!

[@georgial6398]

Mattingly is a clear hall of famer. The back half of his career is known to have been what it was due to a back injury.

[@SamS-ch6vj]

His impact on baseball and he is the MAIN REASON that the baseball card industry took off in the 80s

[@griffonclaw]

Yes. Thank you for that.

[@hinney827]

BY FAR my favorite player growing up. Dude was an all-time great and was as hard nosed as anyone out there. I wore 23 a lot playing as a kid (every time I could get it), and people always thought it was because of Jordan. I'd roll my eyes at them and tell them I was playing baseball, not basketball. The number is in tribute to Donnie Baseball. ...though I, as all 90s kids, loved Jordan as well.

[@shrapnel77]

Phenomenal hitter during his prime and deserving because there are other players in the hall that were no where close to the hitter he was. problem is that when you start letting guys like him in, then there should be other people as well to get in. I have to wonder if the conversation is this serious if he is not a Yankee.

[@efg1311]

I’m 46 yrs old. Any lifelong baseball fan my age, even BoSox fans, will almost unanimously put Donny Baseball in the HOF. The fact that I watched this whole video and posted a comment shows how much I love Mattingly even more than I despise Brain Kenny; and that’s really saying something!

[@GeorgeYoung-uh5by]

Mattingly the bst player in all baseball for 4 years! 84 to87 the best

[@bbz5w3v]

Don Mattingly deserves to be in the Hall of Fame YESTERDAY!

[@JosephKarsch-ym6cl]

I think he's waited long enough. Kirby Puckett was Don Mattingly with 2 rings, and Puckett was a first ballot shoo-in.

[@davidevensende]

needs to be in.

[@chrisfranz]

Loved watching him as a kid and just assumed he was in the HOF. Shocked.

[@BaddogSports]

It’s been long enough! PUT MATTINGLY IN THE HOF ALREADY!

[@stingallie]

Mattingly has one of the best career fielding percentages of any player - ever - at any position. His . 9959 percentage means that every 1,000 times the ball came his way, he made only four errors. He won nine Gold Glove awards, the second most among first basemen. We all know what he did offensively. He belongs in there period! Enough said.

[@erickennedy3322]

How about Strawberry from 82 to 91 300 home runs , 8 time all star , and five top ten mvp finshes.

[@jimilemanski2059]

Yes. He has similar numbers and awards to both Kirby Puckett and ryne sandberg who are both in the hall. Not to mention Mattingly was considered the best all around player for 6 years and revitalized the card market. Every fan knows he’s a HOFer, the hall needs to catch up

[@fubarsaltdog6460]

No doubt. One of the best ever!!!!

[@TomboKaiOfficial]

Steroids moved the bar, it use to be 5 Hall of Fame years. Mattingly HOF 2023

[@dcaseng]

As someone who actually watched him play every game, statistics don't fully cover how great he was, especially defensively. He was considered by many to be the best player in baseball during a 5 year stretch, and only declined in production once his back problems popped up. This was before steroids became a huge part of the game. There are many players who weren't anywhere as great who made the hall of fame, so it really doesn't make sense to keep him out.

[@ericanderson7059]

With or without the Hall everyone knows Donnie Baseball and I would argue a place in Monument Field even without a ring has more cache than the somewhat " diluted " HOF . My gut leans slightly towards no but he is about as cuspie as it gets , that said Nettles should be in dude was a beast at the hot corner .

[@paulwizal23d89]

100 percent he should be in the HOF. he never cheated, no bad, and all good stuff

[@robinrahmani4705]

…and despite all you say, the voters kept him out…???🤷🏼🤦‍♂️Shameful. Can’t find a player in the history of the game who was more dominant for a 6-7 year stretch than Donny Baseball. That should be enough. He also carried himself with dignity and class. He was an exemplary role model for kids.

[@kimkelly5512]

Donnie Baseball belongs in the HOF!!!!!

[@darrellmfume4020]

Mattingly, Buckner, Garvey, Dave Parker, Mark Grace, and Keith Hernandez. All should be in the Hall. You can through in Pete Rose too. All great players.

[@brentcline2109]

That's a good list! I couldn't have said it any better.

[@spg1026]

Love your list. Just add Sweet Lou Whitaker and it’s perfect.

[@JoeS795]

YESSSSSS. Conversation Over

[@fiarandompenaltygeneratorm5044]

Yes. If Kirby Puckett's in, Mattingly should be in. They've virtually identical stats and similar career length. Both were great.

[@jorger643]

Yes he should. Also the greatest defensive first basemen I've ever seen ever. And when healthy was the best hitter I ever saw aside from Gwynn bonds . Underrated base runner. Your favorite players favorite player. When healthy he was a gem

[@omt4293]

He has very similar numbers to Kirby Puckett. If Harold Baines and Craig Biggio are in the hall, Mattingly should be there. Baines and Biggio were compilers.

[@armandrodriguez8501]

If you followed baseball in the 1980's then it's hard to imagine Mattingly not in the HOF. Koufax is there because of several incredible seasons, so does Mattingly.

[@bauerj3398]

What helped Koufax is that he was out of the game before the decline tanked his numbers. It is a tough one, because if he retired at his injury point, then his counting stats would have been even worse.

[@NathanDean79]

If Mattingly hadn’t hurt his back he would have still been playing 1st base for the Yankees when they won the World Series in 1996. He retired in 1995. He was one of the greatest all around pure baseball players this game has ever seen. 9 straight gold gloves which is a record for 1st basemen. You could not hit a ball hard enough to get by that man. If you hit it anywhere in his direction don’t even waste your time running to first just run back to your dugout because you are out. He was the Ozzie Smith of 1st basemen. Ozzie Smith was the greatest defensive player at the Shortstop position in MLB history. Mattingly hit for average and power which is rare. It’s rare that a player hits .343 and is 3rd in HRs in MLB and 1st in RBI’s. Mattingly did that. He has 3 batting titles. The dude was just a remarkable baseball player all around. And he is a remarkable person on and off the field. There is a reason that the Yankees organization has only EVER had like 7 captains. Derek Jeter and Aron Judge and Don Mattingly are on the same list as guys like Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. He was a special player and if he hadn’t injured his back he would have been in the Hall of fame 10 years ago period

[@snerdterguson]

Anyone who says Don Mattingly shouldn't be in the hall, either never saw him play, or weren't capable of understanding what they saw. His peak 6 years, he was Tony Gwynn, but the best power hitter in the league, and on top of that, one of the greatest defensive players ever at his position. The rules state you need to play ten seasons. Why do we punish people who don't have numbers it takes 15+ seasons to attain? On the numbers saying Mattingly was below average defensively... Wow, numbers have never lied harder. He had the rep as an ELITE defender, because he WAS, an ELITE defender. Rivaled only by Keith Hernandez among players from my time watching the sport.

[@jefffinney4233]

Hell yes he should. Nobody even speaks of the 2nd MVP he should have when he was 2nd to Clemens. He should've won that one. Dude is without a doubt HOF

[@kevinclarke1222]

Very strong argument in Mattingly's favor.

[@chipgar63]

Don Mattingly (Donnie Baseball) was the best player on the Yankees for a long time. Pretty much his entire career.

[@swine74]

if Donnie had enough great years, then we should consider putting Ron Guidry in.

[@titanmma101]

The hall of Fame needs to take one year to get in some of the players overlooked and missed.

[@someperson8151]

I saw Mattingly give up his body many times to get balls on defense. He was so good that he played short stop as a left hander when injuries depleted the Yankee short stop position. He hustled on every play. Can never accuse Mattingly of taking plays off.

[@Ben-bs4od]

Will he get voted in then? Isn't there a players vote, the way Phil Rizzuto got in years after his career? Boy did Rizzuto deserve being in the hall of fame!!! Nettles, Randolph and Bernie Williams, and Jim Wynn are also considered some of the most underrated players of all time. Look at their stats and all four deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. It's really criminal. Also Bill Rogers, Steve White, Campeneirs, Conception, Evans, so many others!!!!

[@wm6549]

Totally agree with this.

[@mannyfreshmusic]

YES!!!!! He should’ve already been in. START MAKING THE DON HIS HOF Jacket.

[@hfield07]

guys top 5 to 7 years are all that matters in my mind. a lot of Hofers were average for an extra 10+ years but its not why they are in. they get in because of their dominant periods we for some reason think the 10 years of extra average play means anything because of career totals. theres only a few generational talents a decade that stay top notch for 15 years.

[@fortynights1513]

As he has said, voters historically went off of longevity because they couldn’t do a worthwhile comparative analysis with the resources they had for a long time.

[@hfield07]

@@fortynights1513 yep, im just agreeing. i think the majority of fans still look at total cumulative stats as a barometer.

[@ronriggs9954]

Tim right he deserves to be in the HOF! Not only is he HOF person but he was an HOF player for at least 9 really great seasons and the intangibles and other things that he brought to the table in those other 5 years are incomparable! It's an all-out travesty that he's not in the Hall of Fame because longevity doesn't make a player hall worthy.. his attributes and his play on the field makes him hall worthy!!!

[@pinkeye00]

Yes. Period.

[@tatin1231]

Honor the men who deserve it, by just reviewing FACTS !!! Don't give any BS about what you think or feel, but FOCUS ON FACTS !!! BOTH FIELDING & HITTING, GREATNESS is UNDENIABLE, no matter what any journalist may argue. Also, what they are doing to McGriff and Murphy is borderline criminal !! This is beyond discussion...do the right thing, members of the Commitee. HONOR THOSE WHO REACHED THE SPORTS GREATNESS, don't tarnish the sport any more ‼️

[@JTCT371]

Absolutely

[@ludvigborga3676]

I feel the lack of a World Series appearance is keeping him out. Sandy Koufax had one of the greatest primes ever (6 years) before he fell to an elbow injury. However Koufax appeared in multiple series. If Mattingly's part of the 96 Yankees, he's definitely in the HOF.

[@letsgomets07]

Mets fan here. This is a dumb question . It’s the good stuff that matters . Fred n Don deserve it

[@johnr.6453]

He's a HOF without a doubt.

[@sourapple6604]

Give that man his crown

[@sandmanlogan5ran149]

Will Clark's career numbers are eerily similar to Mattingly's , If Donny gets in, then Will should too.

[@MarvinMonroe]

I wouldn't be mad about Clark. But Murphy needs to be in before Clark