Thursday, July 10, 2008

Mattingly In Dodgers Blue

I’m not a Yankees fan, so seeing Don Mattingly wearing Dodgers blue after the MLB All-Star Game won’t bother me. However, my two best friends live in a world of pinstripes, and I can’t speak for them. As a matter of fact, one named his son Mickey. However, with much disdain from Dad, Mickey is a Red Sox fan!

It was inevitable that Mattingly would be making his way back into uniform. He signed to be the LA Dodgers hitting coach in November 2007, but was temporarily replaced by Mike Easler in January, due to personal problems.

It’s one thing to see Torre in Dodgers blue - Joe has worn many uniforms. However, Mattingly is a life-long Yankee who has never worn anything but pinstripes. He was a 19th round draft-choice of New York in 1979, and he played 14-seasons in the Bronx. Don was AL MVP and MLB Player of the Year in 1985. He was a 6-time All-Star and won nine Gold Gloves. While not as admired as Mantle or DiMaggio, Mattingly was well-respected by his peers and Yankees fans. Even Red Sox fans had a hard time disliking this classy Yankee. So, while seeing Mattingly in Dodgers blue is really no big deal, I’m sure diehard Yankees fans will have a hard time dealing with it.

Hell, I grew up as a Boston sports fan - and had to deal with seeing Ted Williams in a Senators uniform and Bobby Orr wearing a Chicago Blackhawks sweater. Williams wasn’t too bad, as he joined the Senators as the manager. But, Orr, despite his problematic knees, went on the ice…albeit for only 26 games in two years with Chicago.

Who was the worst sight in a different uniform? How about Willie Mays wearing Mets colors?

posted by Don Gilbert at 6:17 pm  

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