Biofile Don Mattingly Interview

By Scoop Malinowski

Status: New York Yankees first baseman from 1982-1995. Manager for Los Angeles Dodgers for five years and Miami Marlins for seven years.

DOB: April 20, 1961 In: Evansville, Indiana

Ht: 6-0 Wt: 200

Childhood Heroes: Julius Erving – a class act and a great player. Rod Carew.

Nicknames: Gumby – I don’t know why. Pat Dobson got me with that. Thingly – from Don Baylor. One summer I was hitting bloopers all over the place and they were dropping in. (The Hitman, Donnie Baseball.)

Childhood Dream: Oh I don’t know, I was just busy being a kid. Once I got older and playing baseball, then I wanted to play.

Pre-Game Feeling: I try to think about all kinds of good thoughts, positive thoughts. (Vizualize?) Oh yeah…I think of what the pitcher wants to do, how he wants to pitch me, plays that might come up, different situations. I visualize how I’ll play those situations.

Early Baseball Memory: A good moment was hitting three home runs in a game in Little League. All over the fence. Back then everyone wanted to hit home runs. Fun memory (age 10).

Greatest Sports Moment: Just being called up to the Yankees to tell you the truth (September 7, 1982). The realization of a dream. Me and my buddy Curt Kauffman drove in from Columbus (Ohio). We were both called up with Steve Balboni and Mike Patterson. That first time seeing the City and walking into the ballpark… that was exciting to me. My first game was the next night against Baltimore. I came in for Dave Winfield in left field. My first hit didn’t come until three weeks later – an eleventh inning single against Boston (Sammy Stewart).

Most Painful Moment: For me I think it’s been when I hurt my back (July of) 1990. They sent me back to Indiana. Exiled. Then I went to Los Angeles. Nothing but rehabbing. I had never been away from the club before. Bad time. Finally came back in September. Missed 54 games.

Favorite Ballparks: Camden Yards. It’s baseball. All baseball. Great dugout, great locker room, fans are great, great atmosphere. I like how they’re into the Orioles. They back their team in a big way. Whenever we’re there, the fans are always into the game. Pure baseball. I like to play in California against the Angels but it’s different.

Funniest Players Encountered: Oscar Gamble – just funny. Willie Randolph. Dave Righetti. Steve Sax.

Closest Baseball Friends: Mike Pagliarulo. Bobby Meacham – a good friend when he was here. Dave Righetti. Willie Randolph.

Toughest Competitors Encountered: Goose Gossage – he brought it all to the table. Kirk Gibson – he played hard every day. Robin Yount. George Brett. Paul Molitor. Jim Rice. A ton of them.

Favorite Sport Outside Baseball: Hoops.

Favorite Athletes To Watch: Larry Bird. He wanted the ball at the end of the game. He wasn’t afraid to fail. Julius Erving. Michael Jordan. Rod Carew. George Brett. Ken Griffey Jr. I like to watch him but it doesn’t seem to help me much [smiles]. Barry Bonds. Ray Leonard – so fast. Andre Agassi – strong, aggressive. I like how he’s turned it around. John McEnroe – so fiery, aggressive. Monica Seles – I wish she was still playing, she’s so young, so together. I hope she does come back (after stabbing in 1993).

Career Accomplishments: Six-time All-Star; 2,153 hits, 222 home runs, 1,007 runs scored, 1,099 RBIs, and a .307 lifetime batting average; AL MVP 1985; AL Batting Champion 1984; Uniform No. 23 was retired in 1997.