|
|
|
|
 |
| MLB |
|
Scores Schedules Standings Statistics Transactions Injuries: AL | NL Players Offseason moves Free Agents Message Board Minor Leagues MLB Stat Search MLB en espaņol Clubhouses |
| Sport Sections |
|
|
| Friday, December 29 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Users: No to Donnie heard rather loudly | |||||||||||||||||||
| Mattingly is absolutely not a Hall of Famer. He was "great" for only four seasons and good for another two. The rest of his career he was average. Just because he was the best player on some lousy teams and everyone in New York loves him is no reason to put him in the Hall. His numbers just don't add up and there aren't enough intangibles in existence to put him over the hump. Jason Russell Athens, Ga. I am a Yankee fan and the reason I became a Yankee fan is because of Don Mattingly. My favorite memory is going to Game 2 of the Division Series against Seattle in 1995, with the whole stadium roaring their "Don-nie Base-ball!" chants for the whole game, no matter who was up. New York loved Donnie because he carried himself with class and dignity and because you could tell that he loved to play the game. For those reasons, it would have been a travesty had Donnie not been given a plaque at Yankee stadium. He will always be a Yankee legend. Unfortunately, however, he wasn't good enough for long enough to be considered a Hall of Famer. Maybe with two or three more great years, or maybe if he had some World Series moments to call on like Kirby Puckett does he might have been. I can only hope that Donnie is as proud of his plaque at the back of Yankee Stadium as we fans are of him for the way he played and carried himself for all those years. Trevor Wiessmann New York
Chuck Kaplan Los Angeles We need to get beyond the idea that only people who manage to hang on long after they should have retired so that they can pad their statistics should qualify for the Hall of Fame. Don Mattingly belongs in the Hall of Fame for the same reason that Sandy Koufax belongs. He didn't play for as long as he possibly could have, but while he did play, he was the best, he dominated, and he represented what baseball is supposed to be about. Ron Parsons Sioux Falls, S.D. Don Mattingly has Fred Lynn numbers and nobody thinks Lynn deserves to be in the Hall. Jim Rice's numbers are borderline and far and above Mattingly's and Lynn's. Jeez aren't there enough Yankees in the Hall without electing another one who was so mediocre and played on such bad teams? James Levecque Saco, Maine Hall of Famer should be defined/measured in more than just the ability to play baseball. The character and personna that one brings to the game is just as important. Baseball is a better game in part because of players like Don Mattingly. He personifies what a great athlete means to the sport of baseball. His work ethic, leadership and baseball abilities dictate how tremendous a player he was. I'm sure if you asked the players he played against they'd say he belongs in Cooperstown. If statistics alone were the sole measurement of getting into Cooperstown, many a player would not be in there today. Baseball is the great game of America. Don Mattingly is a great American who played baseball superbly. Mattingly is a Hall of Famer for what he has meant to me, not only on the field but off the field as well. Paul Muzio New York Don Mattingly was a great player, but only for a short period of time. And when he was a great player, he was not good enought to make his team a winner (as opposed to Kirby Puckett). Mattingly's accomplishments at the plate don't even compare favorably with hitters like Jim Rice, who was as good or better a hitter for a longer period of time. The last time I checked, Rice wasn't an HOF'er either. Greg Wank Jericho, N.Y.
Gary Craig Decatur, Ala. Absolutely, Mattingly should be in the Hall. Pete Rose is not in the Hall based on character flaws, not statistics. (By, the way, I think he should be there.) Mattingly had no character flaws. He accomplished amazing things with his glove and bat. How many times did he strikeout? What is his career avg.? What offensive and defensive records does he hold? Was ever an MVP? He was a real baseball player and should represent baseball. What better way to show there are more than stats. Let's set an example now. Justin Gagnon Manchester, Conn. For a few years in the '80s Mattingly was great. Yeah, and so was Cecil Fielder. The only reason Mattingly is being considered is because he played with the Yankees, and he played with them during a time when they stunk. He was practically their only bright spot for many years. If he played his career in Milwaukee or Toronto or Minnesota or anywhere besides New York, there would be no such talk of the Hall of Fame for Mattingly. He would have just been considered an average player who had a couple of very good years. Which, in fact, is just what he was. Kevin Hale Reno, Nev. I love Don Mattingly. In fact, along with George Brett, he was my favorite player in the '80s and early '90s. He did everything but steal bases. There is nothing I would like more than to have had Mattingly earn his way into the Hall of Fame. But, as hard as it is for me to say this, he fell short -- due primarily to back injuries. His production from 1984 to 1989 was Hall of Fame stuff. But from '90 to '95, he was actually a below-average hitter and his career numbers don't quite add up. But, if voters see it differently, I won't begrudge his enshrinement. He was, after all, a tremendous credit to the game. Michael Kane Hermiston, Ore. When a baseball player has the ability to make people awe in amazement, at least he should be considered. His peak may have lasted a short time, but at that time, the whole baseball world was watching. Mattingly was thrilling to watch and his demeanor could be compared to the greats of our national pastime. People should ask themselves this question: Why is there such a heated debate? There is no set criteria for the voting, and I believe the voters would be lying if they hadn't felt the urge to choose Don Mattingly. There are players with greater numbers and players with worse numbers in the hall, but Mattingly rates among the highest in class. Todd Feldman Los Angeles No. Five good years; the rest of his career was average. Mattingly is in the same boat as Dale Murphy; a sentimental favorite, but just doesn't have the stats to back it up. Doug Deakin Douglasville, Ga.
Tim Leaver Boston The best argument I've heard for Mattingly is that he was the best player on a bad team. That's it. Hardly Hall worthy. The best player on a great, successful team is another story, which is why someone like Kirby Puckett deserves nomination, but not Mattingly. Keep the Hall sacred by letting the great players in, and keeping the good ones, like Mattingly, Bert Blyleven, and Jim Rice out. Don Beauclaire Minneapolis Donnie Baseball definitely belongs in the Hall, however, not on the first ballot. The first ballot elections should be for the game's elite. Donnie does not qualify as one, but is well deserving of being in the Hall. He was the American League's most dominant player for a five-year period. Ask any pitcher in the late '80s who they did not want to face when the game was on the line, and Donnie's name would likely be the first mentioned. Jerry Delaney East Islip, N.Y. If Don Mattingly belongs in the Hall of Fame, so does Cecil Cooper. Wearing a Yankee uniform should not entitle you to a spot in the Hall of Fame. Ajay Wadhwa Glendale, Wis. He is a Hall of Famer, no question about it. If not for a back injury Donnie Baseball may still be playing and would have his World Series rings. If you look at his numbers before his back problems, they are unbelievable. He always was ranked in the top 10 in hits, doubles, runs, RBI, and of course batting average. His numbers with his injury were still impressive. I believe he chose to retire as a Yankee. He could have made several other rosters when he decided to retire. Daryn Allday Pensacola, Fla. While I was a big fan of Donnie Baseball during his 14-year career, I don't think he belongs in the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is supposed to be reserved for players who had dynamic careers and his numbers just don't stack up. There are already too many marginal players in Cooperstown who got in on a sentimentality vote. Don't add another. It cheapens both the Hall and the player. Cory Wagner Canton, Ohio Being a Red Sox fan for my entire life, you would never expect me to say anything good about a Yankee player. That is not the case for Don, however. A class act on and off the field, I believe that he deserves to be in the Hall because of the man he was and the great years he had during his prime. Unfortunately, a back injury cost him a couple of great years, as did Kirby's eyes. If I were to vote, I would vote Donnie Baseball into the hall, no doubt about it. Brian Bourque Worcester, Mass. Don Mattingly is not a Hall of Famer. Did he have a few good years? Yes. Was he able to maintain this level over his career? No. Just because his career may have been hindered by his bad back, does not mean the Hall should lower its standards. Injuries do not justify his entrance into the Hall of Fame. Michael Webb Hanover, Pa. | Klapisch: Mattingly and the Hall Don Mattingly's career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||