Sandy Koufax became one of baseball's top pitchers in 1961, had a solid but injury-shortened 1962, and then dominated from 1963-1966. He joined Brooklyn in 1955 as a 19 year old bonus baby, which meant that he had received a bonus to sign and had to be on Brooklyn's roster. From 1955 through 1960, Koufax was less than sensational most of the time, although he had his moments. Over a 12 career, Koufax won 165 games, 97 of them during his last four seasons, which were as outstanding as any since the dead ball era. Five years after he retired, Koufax became the youngest player ever elected to the Hall of Fame and only the sixth player to be selected in his first year of eligibility, which brings us to DonMattingly.
Mattingly Won the Batting Title His First Full Season
Don Mattingly joined the Yankees in 1982 at the age of 21. He appeared in only 7 games that season and in 91 games the next, but in 1984, his first season as a regular, Mattingly won the American League batting title with a .343 average. He hit 23 home runs, batted in 110 runs, and slugged .537, which was second to Harold Baines' league leading .541. Don didn't walk much, which resulted in a .381 OBA, but he struck out only 33 times in 603 at bats.
Mattingly Won the 1985 American League MVP Award
In 1985, Mattingly hit .324 with 35 home runs and 145 RBIs and was the American League's Most Valuable Player as well as the Major League Player of the Year. He led the league in total bases, extra base hits, doubles, and RBIs. Nineteen eighty six was even better, as Mattingly hit a career high .352 with 31 home runs, 113 RBIs, 53 doubles, and a .league-leading 573 slugging average. He struck out 35 times. Mattingly had two more solid years in 1987 and 1988, batting over .300 and still hitting with power. From 1984-1989, he hit over .300, had more than 186 hits, and drove in at least 100 runs every season but 1988. During those years,Mattingly had the most RBIs of any major league hitter and only Wade Boggs had more hits. Don Mattingly retired after the 1995 season with a .307 batting average.
Koufax's and Mattingly's Contemporaries
Mattingly's last six seasons were decent, but not close to Hall of Fame standards (whatever those are). They were better than Sandy Koufax's FIRST six seasons. When Koufax had his best six seasons, Warren Spahn, Bob Gibson, Juan Marichal, Don Drysdale, Jim Bunning, Bob Purkey, Bob Friend, Lew Burdette, Jim Maloney, and Larry Jackson were the top pitchers in the National League. When Mattingly had his best six seasons, George Brett, Wade Boggs, Kirby Puckett, Jim Rice, Eddie Murray, Dave Winfield, Cal Ripken, Rickey Henderson, Paul Molitor, Alan Trammell, Julio Franco, Harold Baines, Cecil Cooper, Carlton Fisk, Mark McGwire, Fred McGriff, and Jose Canseco were among the top hitters in the American League.
Koufax's Peak Was at the End of Career; Mattingly's Was at the Beginning
Both Koufax and Mattingly were better than the competition when they had their peak seasons, but there is a major difference. Koufax's peak seasons were at the END of his career. He left with the memory of a 26 win season followed by a 27 win season followed by retirement. Mattingly's peak years were at the BEGINNING of his career. He left with image of a once outstanding player who struggled his last six seasons.
What if Mattingly's Peak Were At the End of His Career?
It is highly unlikely that Mattingly will ever make the Hall of Fame, yet if his peak years were his final six seasons, as were Koufax's, it is quite likely that Mattingly would become a Hall of Famer. Did Koufax dominate more in his best years than Mattingly did in his best years? Probably not.
References:
Sandy Koufax at Baseball Library
Don Mattingly at Baseball Library
