GOOD NEWS: Don Mattingly Back on Hall of Fame Ballot — The Captain’s Last, Glorious Shot at Baseball Immortality
Don Mattingly is getting another swing at baseball immortality.
The former Yankees captain, one of the most beloved players in franchise history, has been named to the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s 2025 Contemporary Baseball Era ballot. He’s one of eight former players who will be considered for induction into the Hall’s Class of 2026 — and for Yankee fans, that news hits deep.
For many who grew up watching Mattingly, this isn’t just another ballot. It’s justice delayed — and maybe, finally, delivered.
“Donnie Baseball,” as he was affectionately known, embodied everything fans expect from a Yankee: work ethic, grace, leadership, and unshakable loyalty. A six-time All-Star, nine-time Gold Glove winner, and 1985 American League MVP, Mattingly spent his entire 14-year career in pinstripes, becoming both the heart and conscience of the team during one of its most turbulent eras.
He never won a World Series as a player — a cruel twist for a man who defined what it meant to wear the uniform. But his influence stretched far beyond the stat sheet.
“Don was our standard,” said former teammate Bernie Williams. “Even when we weren’t winning, he made you believe we could. That’s leadership you can’t measure.”
The Hall of Fame’s Contemporary Baseball Era Committee, which focuses on players whose greatest contributions came after 1980, will meet later this year to vote. A candidate needs 12 of 16 votes for induction — and for Mattingly, this could be the last real chance.
In his previous appearance on the ballot, Mattingly came close but fell short. Since then, momentum has quietly grown. Analysts and fans alike have begun to reexamine his career, recognizing that his prime — though shortened by back injuries — was as dominant as any player of his time. From 1984 to 1989, Mattingly hit .327 with an average of 27 home runs and 114 RBIs per season, while anchoring first base defense that remains the gold standard.
“He was the best player in baseball for about five years,” said The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. “If his back hadn’t betrayed him, he’d already have a plaque in Cooperstown.”
Mattingly’s impact didn’t end when he hung up his cleats. His second act — as a coach and manager with the Dodgers, Marlins, and Blue Jays — earned him renewed respect for his calm presence and ability to mentor young talent. To this day, players still describe him as “a baseball lifer” who commands respect without ever raising his voice.
Now, his legacy returns to center stage.
The question remains: will the Hall finally open its doors?
For many in New York, the answer seems obvious. “You can’t tell the story of baseball in the 1980s without Don Mattingly,” one longtime fan said. “He was class, heart, and hustle — everything the game should be.”
Whether or not Cooperstown agrees, this ballot ensures that Donnie Baseball’s story — one of talent, pain, and timeless devotion — gets one more chapter.
And maybe this time, the ending will be the one he’s always deserved.
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