Don Mattingly has decided that the 2025 baseball season will be his final one. The former 1985 American League MVP and manager plans to retire after serving as a bench coach in Toronto for one last season, regardless of whether he secures the World Series ring he has been pursuing since his rookie year with the New York Yankees in 1983.
Mattingly changed his mind after discussions with his son, not Preston Mattingly, who is now his boss as the general manager of the Phillies after Donnie Baseball signed a multi-year contract to work under Canadian manager Rob Thomson as a bench coach. Their conversations about roles and responsibilities for the reigning National League East champion Phillies played a significant role in the decision.
Credit for influencing his decision goes to Mattingly’s 11-year-old son, Louis Mattingly, who encouraged his father not to give up and to keep pushing forward. This played a crucial role in Mattingly’s change of heart, as he was concerned about his son missing school and other commitments.
Following the Blue Jays’ loss in the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Mattingly felt he still had more to offer to the game. Now working for his son, alongside his friend Rob Thomson from their Yankees days, Mattingly aims to help players like Bryce Harper regain their peak performance levels.
Having managed for 23 consecutive seasons in the major leagues, including the last three with the Toronto Blue Jays, Mattingly felt that his mission in Toronto had been accomplished. He stepped down as the Blue Jays’ bench coach under manager John Schneider after the World Series.
In his new role with the Phillies, Mattingly replaced Mike Calitri as the team’s major league field coordinator. Phillies manager Rob Thomson expressed confidence in adding Mattingly’s experience and pedigree to the coaching staff.
Although Mattingly managed the Dodgers from 2011 to 2015 and the Marlins from 2016 to 2022, he stated that he no longer aspires to manage again, citing a lack of energy for the demanding role. As a former first baseman for the Yankees for 14 seasons, Mattingly’s career was marked by six All-Star appearances and team captaincy in his final five seasons.
Despite his notable career achievements, Mattingly has faced challenges, including back injuries that affected his performance. While he fell short of Hall of Fame induction, he remains pragmatic about his chances and opts not to get overly optimistic.
The Phillies, under Thomson’s leadership, have been successful in reaching the playoffs consistently but have yet to secure a World Series title. The Mattinglys are hopeful of breaking the franchise’s championship drought together, aiming to achieve that elusive title as a team.