Former Houston Astro, New York Yankee and current Cardinals World Series Champion, Lance Berkman said his father was a big Yankee fan but that he wouldn't characterize himself that way while growing up in central Texas.
"I was a Don Mattingly fan," Berkman said. "I didn't have a team I followed, but Don Mattingly was a player I followed."
Lance Berkman
Don Mattingly
Dear Friends:
I’ve teamed up with a great organization, The Boys’ Club of New York, which does a terrific job helping inner-city boys to have better and brighter futures. BCNY is going to honor our good friend Bernie Williams on Thursday, November 17, 2011, at its Awards Dinner. BCNY Trustee and Dinner Chairman Curt Curtis and I would love for you to join us that evening at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City to give Bernie the tribute he deserves.
Bernie is going to be presented with the Northop Award, BCNY’s highest tribute for outstanding achievement in sports. Bernie will join a roster of sports legends including Oscar Robertson, John Madden, Mike Krzyzewski, Paul Tagliabue, Len Berman, Scott Hamilton, and Lance Armstrong. The first Northop Award went to Jim McKay and last year it was presented to Jim’s son, Sean McManus, for his leadership of CBS Sports. Bernie truly deserves this honor for his amazing career in baseball and his continued success as a musician, author and educator. He is a terrific role model for the boys served by The Boys’ Club. Your presence will make the evening even more special.
That night I will have the privilege and pleasure to award the BCNY/Don Mattingly Spirit Award to a long-time BCNY Trustee, Robert M. “Stretch” Gardiner. This award was created last year to honor an individual for his dedication and service to the organization and its boys and to highlight the new relationship between BCNY and Mattingly Charities. Also presented that night will be the Harriman Award for leadership to Richard M. Cashin, Jr. of One Equity Partners, a BCNY Trustee and member of the 1976 and 1980 Olympic Rowing teams. It will be a great sports night.
The Awards Dinner begins with a cocktail reception at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner and the awards program. You’ll be out by 9:00 p.m. Dress is business attire.
We hope you can join us. Please let us know so we can have a place for you at dinner. It will mean so much to Bernie and to the boys of The Boys’ Club of New York.
Contact The Boys' Club of New York • 287 East 10th Street • New York, NY 10009 • Tel: (212) 677-1102 • info@bcny.org to find out how to purchase event dinner tickets.
Sincerely,
Don Mattingly and James F. “Curt” Curtis III Co-chairman, 2011 BCNY Awards Dinner
"The opportunity to manage the Los Angeles Dodgers is truly an honor," Mattingly said. "There are few organizations in the world with the history, tradition and track record of success as the Dodgers. I'm looking forward to continuing what I came here to accomplish with Joe and that's to win a World Championship."
“Over the past three years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with Don closely and have gotten to know him both personally and professionally, and I’m convinced that he’s the right person to lead the Dodgers,” general manager Ned Colletti said. “His work ethic is unparalleled, his baseball knowledge is vast and his leadership skills have been established during more than three decades in professional baseball.
“Donnie has also learned alongside the best in the business. Joe Torre has been a great friend, a strong leader and an incredible presence for this organization and I cannot thank him enough for his service to the Dodgers. I respect his decision to step aside and I look forward to the day where I can watch him take his rightful place in Cooperstown among baseball’s legends.”
Before one of the biggest moments of their young lives commenced on Friday, the players from the Fairfield (Ct.) American Little League team that is representing New England at the Little League World Series were pleasantly surprised by a special guest on the other end of a phone call.
New York Yankee legend and current Los Angeles Dodgers hitting coach Don Mattingly took time to address the team with his support and well-wishes before it took the Williamsport (Pa.) field for the first time.
"I encourage you guys to have fun today," Mattingly told them. "Congratulations on getting there. I have been watching, it has been fun being able to follow you guys."
It was a special moment for the youngsters. Even though they weren't alive when Mattingly played for the Yankees, they are quite familiar with the 1984 AL batting champion and '85 AL MVP.
Mattingly's personally designed V-Grip bats were provided to the team, courtesy of Mattingly's company -- Mattingly Baseball -- during their run to the Little League World Series.
"Our company is proud to see the kids getting use of them and enjoying the game, that's what we're about," Mattingly Baseball founder and president Skip Shaw told FanHouse.
Shaw also noted that it was special for Mattingly Baseball to see the Fairfield team using the V-Grip bat, as everything came full circle for the company and the kids.
Mattingly originally developed the V-Grip concept while coaching his own children in Little League. He realized the youngsters had trouble holding the bat correctly, so he designed the V-Grip -- a bat that encourages proper technique and unleashes a hitter's true potential performance by keeping the bat from slipping into the player's palm.
The Fairfield American team has already achieved the ultimate dream of any Little Leaguer by making it to Williamsport. The words of wisdom from Mattingly served as another thrill. Mattingly made sure they knew the big leaguers were following them.
"You would be surprised how many guys love watching these games," Mattingly told the players. "I think it's something that when guys are playing, they love to see you guys play, because you have so much fun and it takes us back to when we were kids ... It's really neat."
"Enjoy the experience and let's get about 10 runs today," Mattingly ended the call to the team with. Fairfield American will be entering exciting and unknown territory. At least they will not be doing it alone. Every time they grip their bat, they will have Mattingly alongside them with special insight from their motivational talk.
This is an 11x14 signed by Don Mattingly. This rare photo captures that actual hit that won Don the 1984 AL Batting Title in his last AB of the season. Don went 4 for 5 on the last day of the 1984 season to pass teammate Dave Winfield for the title. You can see the crowd on their feet cheering Don on. Mattingly's signature was witnessed by Schulte Sports and comes with their tamper-proof hologram.
While the Dodgers were in town to play Phillies, "Donnie Baseball" drove up from Philadelphia yesterday to Martinsville, New Jersey to film a Boys Club of New York Public Service announcement. Don and Mattingly Charities have forged a relationship to concentrate on providing a variety of services to benefit many inner-city young boys who participate in the Boys Club of New York available academic, educational and cultural programs..
I am deeply saddened to hear the news of George Steinbrenner’s passing. His vision, passion and commitment to winning, recharged the New York Yankees and revolutionized the game.
I remember a man driven to succeed. He was the owner, “The Boss” and number one fan of the Yankees. Our relationship was built on mutual respect. I will never forget and always be grateful for how he treated me and my family both during my playing days and after I retired.
I will miss him very much and extend my deepest condolences to his wife, Joan, and all the members of the Steinbrenner family.
Don Mattingly
Contact: Ray Schulte
Ray@SchulteSports.com
And of course then there’s Jeter. Where’s Jeter? (Applause.) There he is right there. Sportsman of the Year, according to Sports Illustrated, and you can see why -- passed Lou Gehrig to become the all-time Yankee hit leader. But Derek would rather tell you a story about being in spring training with another Yankee legend, Don Mattingly. I love this story. Walking off an empty field together one day, Mattingly suggested they run to the clubhouse, telling Derek, “You never know who’s watching.” And Derek took that lesson to heart, and 15 years later, he still runs everywhere like he’s trying out for the track team -– always setting an example, always hustling -- which is why I think everybody says that he epitomizes the best of the Yankee tradition. (Applause.)
Don Mattingly (nicknamed "Donnie Baseball" and "The Hit Man") was a star left-handed first baseman for the New York Yankees of the American League from 1982-1995. Don's Major League career as a player totaled more than 11 years. After his playing career, Don served as hitting coach for the New York Yankees from 2004 to 2006, then as their bench coach in 2007, before joining the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008 as their Hitting Coach.
You can only lead by example. A real leader doesn't blow his or her own horn. They are judged by the actions they take and by results. Don Mattingly - 1985 American League MVP
Don grew up in Evansville, Indiana and was one of the nation's top prospects as a high school player at Reitz Memorial High School in 1979, even earning a brief write-up in Sports Illustrated magazine. However, Major League Baseball teams were sure he was going to college and didn't draft him. The Yankees took a chance, and were able to sign Mattingly after selecting him in the 19th round of the 1979 amateur draft. Read More.....
Paul Simon and Don Mattingly presenting Dick Ebersol with an Appreciation Recognition for all his support of the Children's Health Fund
"And that plaque in center field means more to me than you'll ever know. I'm so proud to have been able to play my entire career and be just a small part of this great organization." - Don Mattingly, Aug.31,1997 Don Mattingly Day at Yankee Stadium
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When it comes to sports marketing, Schulte Sports is the full-service agency that can service your needs whether your an athlete or corporation Don Mattingly - 1984 AL Batting Champ
