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Don Mattingly debuted for the Yankees as a September call up in 1982. In 7 games he hit two singles in 12 at bats. The following year Mattingly got into 91 contests, hitting .283 with four home runs and 32 RBI in 305 at bats. Few predicted the stardom that followed.

The 1984 campaign was a breakout season for the 23-year old. As New York’s regular first baseman, Mattingly led the league in hits (207), doubles (44), and batting average (.343). He earned the first of three Silver Sluggers and the first of 9 Gold Gloves.

Shown here is Mattingly’s 1984 Topps rookie card signed by the Yankee great.

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For a brief time, Don Mattingly was among the best players in baseball. From 1984-1989 he hit .327 and averaged 27 homers and 114 RBI. An All Star in each of those six seasons, Mattingly earned five Gold Gloves and three Silver Sluggers during the period.

In the first half of the run he was even better. Mattingly finished in the top 5 of MVP voting for three straight seasons starting in 1984. He was simply dominant. He hit .340 and averaged 219 hits, 30 homers, 123 RBI, 105 runs and 361 total bases. Mattingly led the AL in doubles each of year.

The first baseman spent all of his 14-year career with the Yankees. He retired with a .307 average, 2,153 hits, 1,007 runs, 1,099 RBI, and a 127 OPS+. He is honored in Yankee Stadium’s Monument Park.

In the collection is an early example of Don Mattingly’s signature. Here the six-time All Star and Most Valuable Player gives his consent to have his autographs printed and sold on stamped souvenir baseballs. In return Donnie Baseball is to receive a whopping one cent per ball sold. It’s difficult to imagine anyone making much money with those terms.

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The Hall of Fame rewards baseball excellence. It also puts great value on longevity.

Without a doubt Don Mattingly was one of the game’s best players during the 1980s. He hit .323 with a 1.015 OPS during the decade. The 1984 batting champ earned 5 Gold Gloves, 6 All Star selections, 3 Silver Sluggers and the 1985 MVP in the ten-year stretch.

Despite his excellence, Mattingly fell short in the writers’ Hall of Fame voting. His career counting stats – 2,153 hits, 222 homers, 1,099 RBI – were not enough. His Cooperstown fate now rests in the hands of the Veterans Committee.

Mattingly opened his own restaurant in August, 1987 naming it Mattingly’s 23. Shown here is a coaster from those days autographed by the Yankee first baseman. The restaurant remained open until financial woes forced its closure in June, 1996.

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After a distinguished playing career that included nine Gold Gloves, six All-Star games, a batting title, and an MVP Award, Don Mattingly turned to coaching. At first he was a special instructor at spring training, then hitting coach, and finally bench coach for his mentor Joe Torre in 2007.

When that season ended, Torre turned down a one-year offer to return. Though a finalist to be his replacement, Mattingly was passed over in favor of Joe Girardi in 2008.

Though it seemed like a dark time for the Torre and Mattingly, they landed on their feet. Torre took the reins of the Dodgers and brought along Mattingly as the heir apparent. In 2010 when Torre retired, Mattingly became a big league manager for the first time.

In the collection are two tickets from the Dodger franchise’s 10,000th win, both signed by their manager Don Mattingly.