1987 Yankees

Home runs in eight straight games. Six grand slams in a single season. Don Mattingly spent the summer of 1987 doing things with a baseball bat that nobody in Yankees history -- and in some cases, nobody in baseball history -- had ever done. He tied Dale Long's major-league record with home runs in eight consecutive games from July 8 through July 18. He then set a record that still stands: six grand slams in one season, a mark no player has beaten in nearly four decades. And yet the 1987 Yankees went 89-73, finished fourth in the AL East, and watched October from the couch. Mattingly was becoming the best player in baseball on a team that couldn't figure out how to be the best team in its own division.

The Home Run Streak

It started on July 8 against the Minnesota Twins and didn't stop for eleven days. Mattingly homered in his next seven games after that -- eight straight in total, tying Dale Long's 1956 record that had stood for 31 years. The streak spanned the All-Star break (Mattingly homered in his last game before it and his first game after), and by the time it ended on July 19 against the Texas Rangers, he'd hit 10 home runs in those eight games.

The streak turned Mattingly into a national story. He wasn't just the best hitter in the American League anymore -- he was appointment viewing, a player people tuned in specifically to watch. Every at-bat during the streak carried a charge. Would he go yard again? More often than not, the answer was yes.

(In 2023, Don Mattingly remained the only player in MLB history to hit more than 8 home runs during a streak of 8 consecutive games with a homer. Long and Ken Griffey Jr., who later tied the record, each hit exactly 8.)

Six Grand Slams

If the home run streak was the headline, the grand slam record was the exclamation point. Mattingly hit six grand slams during the 1987 season -- a single-season record that wasn't matched until Travis Hafner tied it in 2006, and nobody's topped it since. In one of baseball's stranger statistical quirks, those six slams accounted for every grand slam of Mattingly's entire career. He never hit another one before or after 1987.

The slams came in bunches, with three of them landing in September alone. Mattingly finished the year hitting .327 with 30 home runs and 115 RBI -- his fourth consecutive season with at least 110 RBI. The power numbers had reached a new level, even as the batting average dipped from his .352 peak the year before.

A Lineup Built to Mash

Mattingly wasn't the only Yankee swinging a dangerous bat. Mike Pagliarulo clubbed 32 home runs from the third-base spot. Rickey Henderson added 17 homers and 41 stolen bases, though his numbers were down from the previous two seasons. Dave Winfield contributed 27 homers and 97 RBI. Dan Pasqua slugged 17 homers in limited duty, and Gary Ward added 16.

The team scored 788 runs and allowed 758 -- a modest positive margin, but not enough to overcome the pitching staff's inconsistency. The Yankees hit 10 grand slams as a team -- the most in MLB -- with Mattingly accounting for six of them. This was a lineup that could hit. It just couldn't always prevent the other team from hitting back.

Pitching Problems

The rotation lacked a true ace for the first time in the Mattingly era. Rick Rhoden led the team with 16 wins after arriving in a trade from Pittsburgh. Ron Guidry, now 36, went 5-8 in an injury-shortened season -- the beginning of the end for Louisiana Lightning. Charles Hudson provided 11 wins and a solid 3.61 ERA, but Tommy John (44 years old) and Joe Niekro (42) filled rotation spots that younger, healthier arms should've occupied. The rotation's advanced age became an insurmountable obstacle that no amount of offense could fix.

Dave Righetti remained dominant in the closer's role with 31 saves and a 3.51 ERA, but the bullpen behind him was shaky. Lou Piniella managed with whatever arms he had available, which too often wasn't enough.

Fourth Place and the Narrowing Window

The AL East was stacked in 1987. Detroit won the division with 98 wins, Toronto took second with 96, and Milwaukee grabbed third with 91. The Yankees' 89 wins -- a total that would've competed in most seasons -- earned them only fourth place. It was the third straight year the team had won between 89 and 97 games without making the playoffs. No wild card existed to save them.

Piniella's frustration was visible. Steinbrenner's was louder. The core of Mattingly, Winfield, and Henderson should've been enough to carry a team to October, but the pitching couldn't keep pace, and the farm system wasn't producing arms to fill the gaps.

Piniella Out, Martin Back

After the season, Steinbrenner moved Piniella from the manager's chair to the general manager's office -- a lateral move that everyone understood was a demotion dressed up in a better title. Billy Martin was brought back for his fifth stint as manager, because Steinbrenner couldn't quit Billy any more than Billy could quit the Bronx. The decision set the stage for the chaotic 1988 season and the final chapter of Martin's tragic story.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many consecutive games did Don Mattingly homer in during 1987?

Mattingly homered in eight consecutive games, from July 8 through July 18, 1987. He tied Dale Long's 1956 major-league record. The streak included 10 home runs and two grand slams. Ken Griffey Jr. later tied the record in 1993.

How many grand slams did Mattingly hit in 1987?

Mattingly hit six grand slams in 1987 -- a single-season record that still stands (Travis Hafner tied it in 2006). In one of baseball's strangest statistical quirks, those six grand slams were the only grand slams of Mattingly's entire 14-year career.

Why did the 1987 Yankees finish fourth despite 89 wins?

The 1987 AL East was one of the strongest divisions in baseball history. Detroit won with 98 wins, Toronto had 96, and Milwaukee had 91. The Yankees' 89 wins -- ordinarily a contending total -- earned only fourth place. The team's aging pitching staff (Tommy John at 44, Joe Niekro at 42, Ron Guidry at 36) couldn't keep pace with the division's best rotations.

What happened to Lou Piniella after the 1987 season?

Steinbrenner moved Piniella from the manager's office to the general manager's position -- a lateral move widely interpreted as a demotion. Billy Martin was brought back for his fifth stint as Yankees manager, setting the stage for the tumultuous 1988 season.