The New York-Penn League (also known as the NYPL) announced that Don Mattingly will be inducted as part of their 2015 Hall of Fame class, as voted on by league club officials.
With the New York-Penn League Hall of Fame, the main purpose is to recognize individuals who not only played in the league, but also for the individual’s contributions to the league as a whole, whether on the field of play on in an administrative role. Along with the person’s contributions to the league, the Hall of Fame also recognizes the inductees’ baseball career as a whole.
Having played for the Oneota Yankees during the 1979 season, Mattingly is a well-deserving inductee into this Hall of Fame class. During that season, “Donnie Baseball” hit .349 with 31 runs batted in during 53 games, and just a few years later became a mainstay in the New York Yankees everyday lineup.
During his 14-year playing career, Mattingly posted a career .307 batting average, tallying 2,153 hits in the process. The 1985 American League Most Valuable Player was named to six MLB All-Star teams and won nine Gold Gloves at first base. To honor his illustrious career, the Yankees retired his number 23 in 1996.
The 54-year-old has spent time as a bench coach in the major leagues, but now currently manages the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are currently in first place in the National League West Division.
Along with Mattingly, former big league manager Jim Leyland and long-time NYPL administrator Paul Velte have been voted in for induction this season. Induction ceremonies are set to take place on August 18 during a pre-game ceremony before the New York-Penn League All-Star Game, which will take place in Aberdeen, Maryland, the home of the Aberdeen Ironbirds.
Ben Hayes, the President of the New York-Penn League, released a statement regarding the inductees:
“As the oldest, continuously operated Class-A league in professional baseball, the list of players, coaches, field managers, general managers, and owners reads like a Who’s Who of Baseball. This year’s inductees are incredibly worthy of this honor.”
