Yankees fans lament losing legendary captain Don Mattingly to Toronto Blue Jays: "This makes me feel sick"

The news of Don Mattingly joining the Toronto Blue Jays as their new bench coach has sent shockwaves throughout the baseball world. The New York Yankees faithful are known for their loyalty and passion towards their team. As such, the loss of one of their most beloved players to a division rival has left many feeling disappointed and disheartened.

Don Mattingly, affectionately known as "Donnie Baseball" to Yankees fans, spent his entire 14-year playing career with the team. He became one of the most iconic and recognizable players in franchise history.

Mattingly was a six-time All-Star and nine-time Gold Glove winner, and won the American League batting title in 1984. Mattingly's success on the field and his humble personality off of it made him a fan favorite and a beloved figure in the Yankees community.

Mattingly was synonymous with the Yankees for so long, it is indeed strange to see him with the Blue Jays.

After retiring in 1995, Mattingly continued to work with the Yankees organization as a coach and later as the team's hitting coach. He was widely seen as a potential successor to then-manager Joe Torre, but when Torre stepped down in 2007, Mattingly was passed over for the job in favor of Joe Girardi.

Mattingly left the Yankees to become the hitting coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers before being promoted to manager in 2011.

Don Mattingly already having an influence on the Blue Jays bench

The Toronto Blue Jays have had a decent start to their 2023 MLB campaign and currently sit in second place in the American League East table. New bench coach Don Mattingly has no doubt had a huge impact on the team and is one of the reasons for their consistent performances.

In the end, Mattingly will always be a beloved figure in the Yankees community, regardless of where his coaching career takes him. While his absence may be felt by many, it's important for fans to continue to support the team and have faith in the coaching staff currently in place.

About the author

Nishant Borooah is a journalist who has been reporting on baseball at Sportskeeda since 2023 and has a degree in Media Studies and Journalism.

Nishant is currently pursuing a diploma in Sports Marketing, and his interest in baseball was piqued early on by his father, who fell in love with baseball as a student in the US. His father used to regale him with stories about America's favorite pastime and they have left an impression on him.

Currently residing in Toronto, Nishant is a Blue Jays fan. revering Ichiro Suzuki growing up, Nishant remains in awe of the Japanese legend's longevity and sheer passion for the game. Suzuki's return to the Seattle Mariners in 2018 remains one of Nishant's favorite MLB moments.

One of Nishant's strengths is that he always covers the technical side of the story, and he is also particular about historical context to ensure articles are informative and easy to follow.

Besides being a writer, Nishant is also a soccer coach who has worked with several clubs in India like Shillong Lajong FC and RoundGlass Punjab FC.

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