Don Mattingly Falls Short Again in Hall of Fame Bid as Jeff Kent Gets the Call
ORLANDO, Fla. - Cooperstown will have to wait a little longer for Don Mattingly.
The former Yankees captain and one of the most beloved figures in franchise history came up short once again in his bid for baseball immortality. The 64-year-old Mattingly received just six votes from the 16-member Contemporary Baseball Era Committee - well below the 12 needed for induction.
It’s a familiar kind of heartbreak for Mattingly, who missed by just four votes on this same ballot back in 2022. Despite a career filled with accolades, leadership, and undeniable talent, the Hall continues to elude him.
Meanwhile, Jeff Kent, the hard-nosed second baseman best known for his power bat and fiery presence, finally broke through. Kent earned 14 votes from the committee, securing his place in the Hall after years of near-misses on the writers’ ballot. The 2000 National League MVP becomes the latest to join baseball’s most exclusive club.
Mattingly, one of eight former players under consideration this cycle, spent the maximum 15 years on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot, never climbing higher than 28.2 percent of the vote - a number he hit in his first year of eligibility. That ceiling, despite a résumé that includes an MVP, nine Gold Gloves, and a batting title, has continued to raise eyebrows among fans and former players alike.
Mattingly’s case has always been one of quality over quantity. A chronic back injury cut short his career after the 1995 season - his only taste of postseason baseball - and he retired at just 34 years old.
But during his 14 seasons in the Bronx, he was one of the most complete players in the game. A career .307 hitter, Mattingly combined elite bat-to-ball skills with defensive excellence at first base, collecting three Silver Sluggers to go along with those nine Gold Gloves.
His peak was short but spectacular. From 1984 to 1987, Mattingly was consistently in the MVP conversation, winning the award in 1985 and finishing in the top seven four times overall. He also led the American League in batting in 1984, further cementing his status as one of the era’s premier hitters.
Though his playing days are long behind him, Mattingly has remained a fixture in the game. This past October, he finally reached the World Series - not as a player, but as the bench coach for the American League champion Toronto Blue Jays.
It was a full-circle moment for a man whose postseason playing career was limited to just five games. He stepped down from that role last month but made it clear he’s not done with baseball just yet.
For now, though, the Hall of Fame door remains closed. Mattingly’s legacy - as a Yankee captain, a fan favorite, and one of the most respected players of his generation - is secure. But the wait for that bronze plaque in Cooperstown continues.