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Sports

Boston Writer Shares Novel on Yankee Great

Library staff hosts baseball discussion at Community Center.

Mike Shalin, the Boston-based author of "Donnie Baseball: The Definitive Biography of Don Mattingly," hears the same question everywhere. Why would a journalist from Red Sox Nation write a book about a Yankee?

Shalin responds to the query with a chuckle.

“Well, first, I’m originally from New York."

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However, the author’s residency at the time of writing the biography underscores a point that he brings out in his book. During his career, Mattingly was admired by not only Yankee fans and teammates but, everyone in baseball including sportswriters, opposing players and even, Red Sox fans.

Shalin shared such insights on Tuesday evening when he appeared at the to discuss his book. He addressed several issues that he explores in the book such as whether Mattingly deserves entrance into the Baseball Hall of Fame and the criticism that he never made it to a World Series. 

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In building Mattingly’s Hall of Fame case, Shalin cited his impressive career resume consisting of an Most Valuable Player trophy, a batting average title, nine Golden Glove Awards, and multiple All-Star appearances. Shalin made the point that Mattingly’s statistics and accolades are on par with those of Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett, except for the fact that Puckett has World Series championship rings.

Shalin attributes Mattingly’s failure to reach the World Series to ill-timed injuries, lack of supporting talent, team mismanagement and just plain bad luck. He believes that Mattingly’s lack of a championship is the determining criticism that has kept him out of Cooperstown thus far.

Of course, Shalin concedes that Mattingly’s limited longevity also hurts his case. A degenerative disc in his back cut his career to only 14 years, which is short by baseball standards. 

However, Shalin remains hopeful that Hall of Fame voters one day will induct Mattingly. The author argues that even his unimpeachable stats and notable awards do not capture the significance of Mattingly’s career because he grew to be beloved by New York fans and became emblematic of their baseball team.

“He was Jeter before Jeter. He’s Jeter without rings.”

Some critics have panned Shalin’s glowing account for fawning over its subject. But, Shalin offers a wry defense of his positive treatment of Mattingly in the book.

“I used to work for the New York Post. Believe me, if there was something negative, I ‘d have found it."

"Donnie Baseball: The Definitive Biography of Don Mattingly" can be purchased in stores or online. It retails for $25.00.

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