Don Mattingly: Junk Wax Kings

The honor is all his

I've decided to start a new type of entry for the players that truly embody the spirit of the Junk Wax Era.  Don Mattingly, a.k.a "Donnie Baseball" or "The Hitman", is one such player.  He probably won't make it into the Hall of Fame, but earning the title of Junk Wax King is the next best thing.

Donnie Baseball finished with a respectable career batting average of .307, belting 222 home runs and 1,099 RBIs.  He was a career Yankee, wearing the pinstripes from 1982 to 1995.  He now manages the Los Angeles Dodgers.  His best years were in the mid to late 80s, where he tied a few records, including belting homeruns in 8 straight games back in 1987.  Griffey Jr. tied that record a few years later (1993).  He also hit 6 grand slams in 1987, 2 of them during his 8-game streak, which is still a record today (matched by Travis Hafner in 2006).  Oddly enough, those 6 grand slams were the only of Mattingly's career.  The Hitman also won the AL MVP in 1985, and came close in 1986.  He was also a gold glove third baseman.  He could do it all.

One of 87 Topps best

During the '87 season, Mattingly injured his back for the first time, and it was the start of his career descent.  Each season dropped off in productivity, until he eventually retired after the 1995 season.  The Yankees had a rare period of mediocrity during Mattingly's career there, only making the playoffs once (in his final year).  As a wild-card, They lost to the Mariners that year despite Mattingly batting .417 with 6 RBIs.

Mattingly was a favorite among baseball card collectors during the Junk Wax Era, when he was producing at an MVP-level, and the often lone bright spot on the beloved but down-trodden Yankees roster.  His 84 Donruss rookie was a highly-sought after card during the late 80s and 90s, and surprisingly, still is today.  That's why I chose Mattingly for the first Junk Wax Kings entry.  Despite many of our then-heroes falling out of grace (see Jose Canseco), Mattingly has remained desirable among collectors.  It's hard to determine exactly why.  His career was very bright at times, but died off at nearly the same rate that interest in card collecting died off.  Why did his cards remain valuable?  It might be because they all look amazing.

I am the Rookie Monster

A good comparison for Donnie Baseball, career-wise, would be Will Clark.  At one point during the Junk Wax Era, Will the Thrill was also highly sought after among collectors.  His 87 rookie cards were pricey, and it was a great thing to pull a Will Clark from a wax pack.  His career numbers are similar to Mattingly's - actually a little better.  He finished with a .303 batting average, 284 HRs, and 1,205 RBIs.  He also won a gold glove and an MVP award.  He was plagued with injuries later in his career, like Mattingly, but still maintained decent production despite less playing time on the field.  Clark won't make it into the Hall of Fame either.  To me, they had similar careers.  Will Clark did not maintain his status with collectors though - not like Mattingly did.  His values plummeted with a lot of the other Junk Wax Era players.  His rookie cards, which I held on to so dearly during my collecting days, aren't worth much either.  His 87 Donruss Rated Rookie books for $1.50... 87 Topps for just $1.00.  Clark's 87 Fleer holds the most value at a whopping $3.00.  Compare that to Mattingly's 84 Donruss rookie card at $30.00.

'84 Topps RC

So why does Mattingly still draw the attention of collectors, when someone with a very comparable career like Will Clark does not?  I have no idea.  I still love both Mattingly and Clark, and very much appreciate all of their cards in my collection.  I do show some favoritism towards Mattingly, but I don't know if that's because Beckett does also, or if Beckett does because collectors like myself do.  Either way, Mattingly has earned his title among the Junk Wax Kings, and you do have to admit his cards always look amazing.  Oddly enough, I do not own his 84 Donruss Rookie (or Fleer or Topps), but it is high on my wish list!

So here's to you, Donnie Baseball!  Thanks for being an integral part of my Junk Wax hobby!