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Major League Baseball: Finally in a World Series, the Blue Jays Can’t Let Donnie Baseball Down
Updated Oct. 24, 2025, 2:09 a.m. ET
By Deesha Thosar, MLB Writer
TORONTO – When Don Mattingly steps onto the field for infield drills, the atmosphere in the Blue Jays’ camp turns intense. As Mattingly moves toward first base to catch, players know they must be sharp. They can’t afford to let Donnie Baseball down.
“Every time he catches balls at first base, I get nervous,” second baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa shared at Rogers Centre on Thursday. “I’m throwing across to him, and just from my time with the Yankees, and all the stories I’ve heard about him, and what he’s meant to the organization, I get anxious about throwing the ball to him. Being able to throw to him every day is a special thing that I don’t take for granted.”
Back on the bench as a coach, Don Mattingly finally has another shot at an elusive World Series ring. The living legend has reached the World Series for the first time in his career after the Blue Jays clinched the American League pennant. He achieved this milestone after dedicating 36 years as a player, coach, and manager while wearing the uniforms of the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, and Toronto Blue Jays.
“Man, I could sit here and talk about Donnie forever,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. 178 lucky bet “Donnie was my favorite player growing up. So, to have him here in his first World Series with me is unbelievably special. He’s done so many things behind the scenes to help the staff and the players get prepared for how we’re rolling out our lineup.”
Mattingly takes his responsibilities as the Blue Jays’ bench coach seriously, matching the intensity he displayed during his illustrious 14-year playing career with the Yankees. Known for his dedication to his craft, he maintains that same level of commitment as he oversees the Blue Jays’ defensive drills.
He never takes a day off. Even Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doesn’t catch throws in pregame practice as consistently as Mattingly does. Players have remarked on how impressive that is, especially at 64 years old, as they strive not to disappoint one of the best first basemen in the history of baseball. jilibet apps philippines
“When he’s out there catching balls for us every single day, that’s a nine-time Gold Glover catching for us,” Kiner-Falefa noted. “So when we make plays, we know how much defense means to him. We go out there with the intention of making him look good—and to avoid him getting mad at us. We do everything we can to make him proud.”
Sure, Mattingly can be fiery; his 19 career ejections as a manager prove that point. He understands pressure and expectations, having played under George Steinbrenner in the Bronx. betso88.oi Players can feel and sense that tension—the demand for excellence—even when they’re fielding ground balls in front of him.
Some things never change. “Anytime I make a bad throw, I’m like, ‘Ughhh. I made Donnie Baseball jump,’” Kiner-Falefa admitted. “It’s just a bad feeling whenever you have to make him move. But when you do make a bad throw, and he picks it, it’s just like butter. It’s like, wow. He’s still got it.”
‘It was just like a relief’
How could he not? Mattingly, the 1985 MVP for the 97-win Yankees, was a six-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger, and arguably the best franchise player who never reached the World Series. He believed the 1994 and ‘95 Yankees teams, led by Paul O’Neill, Wade Boggs, and Bernie Williams, had a genuine shot at a title. However, the ‘95 Yankees were eliminated from the playoffs after the Seattle Mariners triumphed in Game 5 in the 11th inning of the Division Series.
Mattingly retired after that October. The Yankees then embarked on a dynastic run, reaching the World Series six times over the next eight years and winning the championship four times. Despite this, Mattingly never stopped pursuing a championship, although it’s not his only source of motivation these days. He accepted the bench coach position with the Jays not to win a ring but to pass on his knowledge of the game to a new generation in Toronto. Working alongside Schneider, who is entering his second year as skipper, seemed like a perfect match.
“I think you try to put it out of your mind, kind of,” Mattingly said regarding the World Series finally within reach. “You prepare, whether you’re a player, coach, or manager. Then, you attempt to make everything come together. It’s hard, and in a way, it feels like a relief. But I’m just glad about getting there. Number one, having this opportunity jilikl. But it all goes back to our team. Watching them play and how they’ve responded has been fun.”
Mattingly’s impact on the game goes beyond how the Blue Jays hit and field. Since joining the organization in 2023, he has reminded the Blue Jays to keep their spirits high during challenging stretches. He has urged players to show up, regardless of how painful last night’s loss was or how dismal the team has been performing. He valued that they listened and came to work with the same resolve, which eventually paid off.
After finishing last in the AL East the previous year, the Blue Jays edged out the Yankees to win the division this year. They then eliminated the Bronx Bombers—the only team Mattingly ever played for—from the playoffs in the Division Series and went on to defeat the Mariners in a thrilling Game 7 of the Championship Series, which was fitting since his Yankees lost to Seattle in the 1995 postseason. Even though Yankees fans have every reason to resent the Blue Jays, they found themselves supporting them—if only to see Donnie Baseball win his first ring.
“It’s a really humbling feeling that people want that for you,” Mattingly shared.
‘I Believe in the Best Teams’
It’s not only Yankees fans—who included Mattingly in their traditional bleacher-creature roll call during the Division Series—who are thrilled to see the former first baseman on the World Series stage. Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who famously had a heated exchange with Mattingly in the 2015 Division Series, is excited for his former manager. However, that doesn’t mean he’s rooting for him to win.
Mattingly managed Kershaw from 2011 to 2015 with the Dodgers. Early on, Kershaw realized that Mattingly shared a mindset similar to Joe Torre, who managed Kershaw during his rookie year in 2008 through to 2010. Both leaders knew precisely what to say at the right moment, fostering an environment with little hand-holding or encouragement. From Mattingly, Kershaw learned to understand the expectations of professional baseball.
“Just do your job,” Kershaw shared, reflecting Mattingly’s philosophy. “Baseball is awesome. It’s a lot of fun. But if you do your job, and everyone does their job, then you’ll be ready to go. Donnie just had that expectation for us to do our job. No one needs to do more or less than what they’re asked to do. He didn’t have to spell it out. That’s just what’s expected. You grow and learn how to do things on your own. ph365 app”
After Mattingly contributed to the Blue Jays’ improvements, the organization is now four wins away from clinching its first championship in 32 years. The only team standing in their way is the star-studded Dodgers, managed by Dave Roberts. Coincidentally, Roberts played a critical role in thwarting Mattingly’s path to the World Series when he ignited a Red Sox comeback by stealing second base in the 2004 ALCS, while Mattingly served as the Yankees’ hitting coach that season—just one win away from the World Series before the Sox secured four straight victories.
Now, Mattingly gets a chance to seek redemption against Roberts and the Dodgers for his first championship. It feels like destiny. But not for Donnie Baseball, who believes in hard work above all.
“I don’t know if I necessarily believe in destiny,” Mattingly stated. “I believe in the best teams and who plays the best.”
Deesha Thosar covers Major League Baseball as a reporter and columnist for FOX Sports. She previously reported on the Mets for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now resides in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.
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