Takeaways from the new 'Donnie Baseball' documentary about Don Mattingly
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — From his off-season home in Evansville, Don Mattingly sent a love letter of sorts to his parents over the MLB Network airwaves.
He got emotional to the point of tears discussing them and how they never said a critical word about him athletically. Mattingly’s mother, Mary, died in 2003 and his father, William "Dee", passed away in '07.
They attended nearly every one of his games at Memorial High School, instilling a work ethic that never diminished.
“They were there, and I had zero fear of screwing up because I never got criticized,” Mattingly said. “That lack of fear of screwing up allows you to just grow, and get better. Take chances, not be afraid to make a mistake. If it doesn’t work, learn from it and move on.”
Engelhardt: Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly hasn't lost sight of his Evansville roots
Mattingly’s sense of family was a major factor in him returning to Evansville and watching his boys, Taylor, Preston and Jordon, grow up. His premature retirement from the New York Yankees at age 34 is one reason he isn’t in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
His strong family ties were among the many things we gleaned from “Donnie Baseball,” a 90-minute documentary on MLB Network. It will air again at 2:30 and 10 p.m. on Wednesday and again at 1:30 a.m. Thursday.
A bad back cut Don Mattingly's MLB playing career short
Although his aching back was always a primary factor in his early retirement, family may have played an even more essential role. Mattingly hit .349 in his final three weeks of 1995. He hit .417 in the playoffs and had more than 500 plate appearances in his final regular season.
Of course, Mattingly's back hurt him so badly he spent the majority of the plane flight from Seattle back to New York standing up after the Yankees had lost three games to two, in the 1995 American League Division Series. But he had recovered his stroke and was playing at a high level in his final season.
Although it has been 27 years since the “Hit Man” wore pinstripes as a player, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera are arguably the only other Yankees held in such high esteem by fans over the past three decades.
He is one of 22 former players to be honored at Monument Park outside Yankee Stadium.
Don Mattingly admitted to being disappointed in his career
Entering his seventh year as Miami Marlins manager, Mattingly was back in his hometown to talk to MLB Network for this documentary, which further cements his near-legendary status in the Yankees pantheon.
Widely considered Major League Baseball’s best offensive player from 1984-89, Mattingly is the only Yankee to have his number retired who did not win a World Series. He reflects on what might have been, had his cranky back held up.
“Am I disappointed in my own career? Yeah, parts of it, I am," Mattingly says in the documentary. "Parts of it, I’m very proud of. Parts of it, I’m not because I don’t feel like I was good enough as I should have been. I should have learned quicker to not beat my body up, and if I did less, I could perform better.”
In recent years, Mattingly has proven he is more than capable in the dugout. He was named 2020 National League manager of the year for guiding the Marlins, ravaged by COVID-19 at the beginning of the season, to their first playoff berth since ’03. Mattingly became the first Los Angeles Dodgers manager to win three consecutive division titles, but was fired after the '15 season because they weren't successful enough in the postseason.
“Donnie Baseball” chronicles his rise to an AL batting title in 1984 and Most Valuable Player status in ’85. He was MVP runner-up to Roger Clemens in '86. Perhaps if he had won back-to-back MVPs, he would be in the Hall, despite his abbreviated career.
Don Mattingly's mentors, peers alike believe he should be a Hall of Famer
His relationship with late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner deteriorated to the point that Steinbrenner threatened to trade him in the spring of 1989, before naming him team captain in ‘91.
It's worth mentioning again that Mattingly’s go-ahead home run in Game 2 of the '95 ALDS came against fellow Evansville native Andy Benes, pitching for the Seattle Mariners.
Reflecting upon his career, Mattingly only sought the respect of his peers: “I wanted George Brett to think I was a good player.”
Brett responds by saying, “If I’m going to be in a foxhole, who do I want with me? Playing against Don Mattingly, he was the guy. In my mind, he's a Hall of Famer."
Quentin Merkel is among the host of people who were interviewed for the documentary. With Merkel in the dugout and third-base coaching box and Mattingly leading the way on the field, Memorial went 59-1 over two seasons, winning the 1978 state championship and placing second in ’79.
Merkel didn't need to teach Mattingly his trademark work ethic. He already had it in droves.
"He gives you the impression that he's here to work," former Yankees and Dodgers manager Joe Torre said during the film. "He rolls his sleeves up. He doesn't want to shortchange anything. It's blue-collar. He never lost the Midwest."
Here are five more things we learned from 'Donnie Baseball' doc:
1. Mattingly said he "likely would not have played” in the 1995 season had the '94 season not been cut short because of the strike.
2. He credited Lou Piniella for mentoring him during his rookie season.
3. He signed the biggest contract in baseball in 1990.
4. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said he was the "greatest player" he had during his tenure, leading up to his 1997 retirement speech.
5. Mattingly mentioned that Tony La Russa reached out to him before the 1997 season about joining the St Louis Cardinals. He said the offer was very tempting but couldn't muster up the motivation to do it. Mattingly always found it appealing to play "close to home."
Contact Gordon Engelhardt by email at gordon.engelhardt@courierpress.com and follow him on Twitter @EngGordon.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: What we learned from 'Donnie Baseball' documentary about Don Mattingly
