Don Mattingly can make a claim as the best player for the Yankees in the 1980’s. He can also make a claim as the best hitter in the American League over the same timeframe. The First Baseman would break out in 1984 where he would go to his first of his six straight All-Star Games where he was the Yankees “Hit Man”.
In those years, Mattingly exceeded over 185 Hits in a season, two of which were enough to lead the American League in Hits. Needless to say, this led to a very high Batting Average and during that three-year stretch, he won one Batting Title and never batted below .300. He was named the American League MVP in 1985 and was the runner-up in ’86, though that year saw him net even better offensive statistics.
“Donnie Baseball” however would suffer from severe back problems that would render the second half of his career being a shell of what he was in the first half. That likely cost him a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
He also holds the dubious distinction of being the “unluckiest” Yankee star, as he never participated in a World Series ceremony as a player for New York. Despite having no rings, the Yankees retired his number 23 in 1997.
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