Don Mattingly Fans' Website

HERE IS THIS MONTH'S COOL QUOTE: (Aug.) Don Mattingly at the 57th Annual Old Timer's Day, on being a member of the Yankees: "As a young player, you don’t realize it, but once you leave and you are not playing anymore, you realize how special it was to be playing here. Just the faces that you see, to me it was Yogi and Mickey and Whitey, the guys you see in spring training. All the guys I played with, Willie Randolph, Ron Guidry. The quality of the people you deal with is amazing. It’s been like that over time. It’s just a great franchise." -Don Mattingly, July 19, 2003

COOL QUOTES ARCHIVES

Don Mattingly hit .307 with 222 homers and 1,099 RBIs over 12-plus seasons with the Yankees. He wasn't bothered at the lack of support in his first year of eligibility for the Hall of Fame. (He received 28.2 percent of the votes, with 75 percent needed.) I don't think there is much more I could do. I can't see anything changing it now. It's... just like a cherry on top of the ice cream sundae. It still tastes good without it. It would be nice to have it.It's one of those things that really doesn't change things for me." -Don Mattingly, Feb. 21, 2001
Don Mattingly talks about being content with his decision to hang up the spikes. "I would have liked to experience [the World Series] if it had come at a different time. The first year [1996] it was tough to watch because there were a lot of the same guys I played with. But when you get back to the basics, I wouldn't trade the memories I've had with the kids for World Series rings or any amount of money. That's a great feeling inside." -Don Mattingly, March 1, 2000

Here's the thank you letter *Jeter Chick* received a few weeks after sending her poem to Don Mattingly. In it he shared his personal feelings about the poem & his fans, while letting her know how good he thought it was & how much it had meant to him.
Thank you for your poem. It was exceptionally good and I appreciate you taking the time to write it. It touched me deeply on how much I meant to you and the fans. When I first started this job it was because I loved the game and it was all I had ever wanted to do. I never imagined that one day I would become such a big part of everyone's lives and affect baseball in the way I did. How I got here I didn't know, but now I realized that it was the fans. You guys made my career to what it is today. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Don Mattingly
September, 1997

Question from S.I. For Kids Chat on 12/3/96: "I've seen some baseball cards that say you were born in 1961, while some say 1962. Which year were you born in?"

"1961 is the correct year, and that was kind of a joke I played on Bob Klapisch. He was a sportswriter with the N.Y. Post. There are so many rumors that go around through the league, and the writers who hang out in the locker rooms tend to believe anything you say. I had a copied birth certificate we'd taken for the Dominican Republic and just kind of used a little white-out, wrinkled it up, and showed it to him one day with the '62. He printed it (laughs), and I'm pretty sure that's where it started from.

-Don Mattingly, December 3, 1996

Don Mattingly always had an incredible attitude that makes him a winner. His practice of looking at situations in the best possible way was a big factor in his success. When he announced his retirement, he shared his outlook on how his back injury affected him as a player, & how he dealt with it:
"I wasn't the same player, powerwise. But you know what? That was OK, because you just make adjustments. I wasn't the same player; I was still the best player I could be."

-Don Mattingly, January 22, 1997

Competing for the batting title against Wade Boggs in 1986 was Don Mattingly's idea of a good time (we agree):
"...the last series in Boston in '86 was kind of memorable for me. I knew I had to go like 7-for-7 to win the batting title and I went deep the first time up. Just to have the chance and play in that atmosphere was a lot of fun."

-Don Mattingly, August 14, 1997

Don Mattingly talks about his home run streak, the night before he hit his 10th home run in 8 consecutive games, tying the major-league record held by Dale Long.
"I've never looked at it for myself. I don't help the club if I'm trying to pull the ball. To me, it's an individual team game. I like to look at it in that framework."
-Don Mattingly, July 17,1987

From Donnie's speech on Don Mattingly Day:
"And that plaque in center field means more to me than you'll ever know. I'm so proud to have been able to play my entire career and be just a small part of this great organization."
-Don Mattingly, Aug.31,1997
*Click here for audio version!*

Donnie's reflection about when he was first called up to Yankee Stadium (from Sports Innerview with Ann Liguori):
Don: "I think the time that I really think about the most is just being called up and walking into Yankee Stadium for the first time ... walking into the dugout and just seeing the left field corner and the stands in that corner like the horseshoe there. And at that point, just realizing the dream to get to the Big Leagues. So that is a moment that is always one of the freshest and just a great memory for me."
-Don Mattingly, Aug.19,1996

From Don Mattingly's letter to his fans announcing the return of his website:
"Throughout my career, I've always tried my hardest to succeed at the goals in front of me. That attitude has followed me off the field and into my daily life. From being the best father I can be to my family, to working on our horse farm with Kim. That's why...I decided to start making some big changes to the website. My friends and fans are very important to me and I want to make sure that my website is the best it can be...My focus for the website was not making money, it was staying in touch with my friends and fans."
-Don Mattingly, Nov.9,1997

AOL Chat Question: "If you could re-live any moment in your career, what would that moment be?"
"I guess the biggest thrill for me was coming out of the dugout in the first game of the playoffs, in New York, against Seattle. Being pumped about being in the game, in the stadium was a great feeling, and a memory that will never go away. The memory is so fresh and it was such a cool moment."

Don Mattingly, May 9,1998

While reporters were interviewing Don Mattingly after a game, they saw Dave Winfield arrive and rushed over to talk to him. Donnie comments:

"That's my game, not to be noticed. I'm not worried about the lights. I just want to keep doing my job and be consistent."

-Don Mattingly, July,1984

(Asked in an interview by Tim Wood in Aug., 1997): "Right now what's life all about for you?"
"My biggest focus right now is the kids and our family....Right now, I don't want to be anywhere else but right here with Kim and the kids....my main importance is being around the kids -- being at their games, being a part of their lives. I don't want them to have any feelings like I wasn't there for them....If these guys grow up feeling good about themselves and healthy, that's a real big deal for me."
-Don Mattingly, 8/25/97

Donnie Baseball - A Yankee Forever
U.S. Postal Service Commemoration of Don Mattingly Day
"My father was a mailman and he worked hard and did the best he could. To me, that's a hero, that's a role model."
-Don Mattingly

As a guest on The Simpsons, Don Mattingly is told repeatedly by Mr. Burns to get rid of his sideburns if he wants to play on the team. He tries to explain that he isn't wearing sideburns, but Mr. Burns refuses to listen. He returns later, his sideburns shaved up almost to the top of his head. Mr. Burns isn't impressed. "I thought I told you to trim those sideburns!" He throws him off the team. Mattingly says to himself:
"I still like him better than Steinbrenner."
-Don Mattingly, The Simpsons, 2/20/92
Shave those sideburns!

On the day he retired (a year ago), the legend shows his characteristic modesty, humility, work ethic, & love for the game of baseball:
"I never felt I was as talented as some other players, but I was willing to try some things other players weren't willing to do. I played from the heart."
-Don Mattingly, 1/22/97

Why he offered his hand to Darryl Strawberry in 1995, when no one else would, as Darryl was still alienated from the baseball community:
"I wanted Darryl to know that I did not care what had happened in the past, that as long as he was ready to play ball, he was welcome in my clubhouse. I knew exactly what I was doing, and what I was saying. I knew that if I was on Darryl's side, it would be easier for him to make it in the Bronx. That is what I wanted."
-Don Mattingly, Sept.,1997

After homering in 8 straight games (tying a 31 yr.-old major league record), & setting a new record with his 10 homers during those 8 games, Donnie was asked if he'd give the bat he used to Cooperstown:
"Not until I break it, the Hall of Fame ain't winning no games for us."
-Don Mattingly, July,1987

From Donnie's speech on Don Mattingly Day:
"...I don't know what I did to deserve this."
-Don Mattingly, 8/31/97

"...Your treatment of me over the years has been phenomenal - and I will never forget the support and love I've taken home from so many of you. Thank you. ...You've treated Kim, the boys, and myself like family since we arrived here in 1982. And I didn't think I'd ever be able to say this coming from a small town in Indiana (not that small), but when we come to New York, we feel like it's home."
-Don Mattingly, 8/31/97

Advice to Tino Martinez about how to succeed in New York:
"Bore them to death, stay out of trouble, and play hard."
-Don Mattingly, Spring,1996

When asked why he has always been one of the most popular sports figures in New York:
"Not sure... I guess the only thing I can think of is, the whole time I was playing in New York, I tried to give everyone all of me every time - not make excuses when I struggled, keep my head about me, stay humble when things went well, and take the heat when things went bad. That was about it... I just tried to go out every day and play good baseball."
-Don Mattingly, 4/23/97