This was Old Timers Day at Yankee Stadium last September, and everywhere
Don Mattingly walked, he brushed by a part of Bronx-history. There was Whitey
Ford in one corner, Yogi Berra in another, the conversations coursing from
past triumphs to present.
Mattingly still looked young and trim enough to play first base that
afternoon, but as he laughingly put it, "I've finally accepted the fact that
I'm retired, baseball is over." Perfect timing, too, since this is his first
year on the Hall of Fame ballot, sparking an immediate question -- if not a
miniature controversy.
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“ |
Donnie was the greatest teammate I ever played with, on any club, any year.
I never saw him give away an at-bat. Just being around him made me a better
player. ” |
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— Paul O'Neill |
Does Donnie Baseball belong in Cooperstown?
Berra, for one, says yes.
"Look at how much he meant to that team," Berra said, referring to the
pre-Joe Torre Bomber clubs of the '80s and '90s. "If you're asking
me, I think he should get in."
Like every other member of the Yankee family, Berra is prejudiced on
Mattingly-related matters. To him, Mattingly was the franchise's brightest
light in a gray time. He was what Keith Hernandez was to
the '80s Mets, only with more power and run-production. Mattingly's own
golden era was short, but oh so impressive.
Not surprisingly, though, Mattingly refuses to become a traffic cop in
this debate, preferring to remain invisible before the election results are
announced in January.
"I'm not going to say whether I belong or not. That's not for me to get
into," Mattingly said that day in the Bronx. "I'm going to let my numbers
speak for themselves and let the voters decide."
Mattingly only played for 14 years, but his candidacy is bolstered by the
fact that for half his career, he was among the game's best first baseman --
and certainly the most gifted defensively, along with Hernandez.
|  | | Don Mattingly hit .307 and won nine Gold Gloves during his 14-year big-league career. |
And, perhaps above all else, Mattingly was the spiritual leader of his
Yankee teams, revered in a way Lou Gehrig must've been a generation ago. Paul
O'Neill openly says, "Donnie was the greatest teammate I ever played with, on
any club, any year. I never saw him give away an at-bat. Just being around
him made me a better player."
That sentiment can only be shared -- or, perhaps, understood -- by those in
the Yankee community, which is why George Steinbrenner's behind-the-scenes
campaign for Mattingly will likely fail.
In fact, it may actually undercut Mattingly's chances to have the Boss
working on his behalf; look at how long it took Phil Rizzuto to finally land
a Cooperstown berth. But, at the very least, Mattingly might collect enough
votes to survive the five-percent cut and remain on the ballot for another
year.
That way, he may be able to benefit from a second-look from voters, the
same way Gary Carter is hoping his credentials will improve with time.
Carter's name appeared on only half of last year's ballots, although Carlton
Fisk's admission to the Hall will probably bolster the former Met's chances
in 2001.
Or will they? Despite playing five seasons longer, Fisk hit only 52 more
home runs than Carter, and amassed only 105 more RBI. Fisk's career average
was just seven points higher than Carter's, and he won only one Gold Glove
Award. Carter won three.
Yet, Carter's vote-total declined in his second year on the ballot, a
retreat that puzzled even Fisk.
"People don't really know what it's like to catch every day, how difficult it
is," Fisk said after his election. "Not even (position) players can
understand it. The position doesn't come under the same rules, and that can
get lost in the translation."
If Carter fails to qualify in 2001, it's possible he'll fall victim to
baseball's stats-explosion. In an age where a 30 home run season barely
arches an eyebrow, Carter's offensive achievements -- nine 20 home run and
four 100-RBI seasons -- could soon pale next to, say, Mike Piazza's and Pudge
Rodriguez'.
Whereas Piazza is a hitting star who just happens to catch, Carter
actually choreographed the careers of Dwight Gooden, Ron Darling and Bob
Ojeda in the '80s. Question is, does that matter anymore?
As Carter said last summer, "tell me the game hasn't changed. No one
wants to see low-scoring games anymore. All kids want now is home runs, home
runs. I'm not saying it's wrong -- (Mark) McGwire helped bring baseball back
after the strike, but it's definitely a different game now."
Speaking of Piazza, specifically, Carter said, "Mike can hit the ball
harder and farther than I ever did. He does get hurt a lot, but he's tough
enough to come right back and go 4-for-4. That's something you have to
respect."
Still, Carter's point is well taken. Defense seems old-fashioned, out of
date, irrelevant to the Hall's lords. That's why Carter and Mattingly are
sweating out the next few weeks, asking an impossible question:
How, exactly, does one unlock Cooperstown's doors?
Bob Klapisch of the Bergen (N.J.) Record covers baseball for ESPN.com. | |
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