Mattingly Over Koufax in the HOF?

Originally posted on my MySpace blog, January 16, 2006:

MLB.com did a "Best of" segment on the Monday morning mailbags for all 30 teams this morning, and they picked up on this one posted by a Yankee fan in the Yankee mailbag:

Yankees:
Why do the people who determine who gets into the Hall of Fame claim that Don Mattingly's career was not long enough but vote in someone like Sandy Koufax? For the first five years of his career, Koufax was mediocre, and his career was shorter than Mattingly's (11 years to Don's 14). What gives? And how can someone like Bill Mazeroski be in the Hall, a one-dimensional (defense) player who had one moment in the sun, the 1960 World Series?

-- Ray K., Las Vegas

First, I must agree with you on Mazeroski. Yes, he was a tremendous defensive player, but I don't think that, along with his historic home run in the '60 Fall Classic, should be enough to get him into the Hall.

As for the Koufax argument, I'm not buying it. Koufax's six-year run from 1961-66 was as good as any stretch by any pitcher in baseball history, something that can't be said for Mattingly's amazing run from 1984-89.

During Koufax's six years, he led the league in wins three times, captured three Cy Youngs, a National League MVP Award, three pitching Triple Crowns, two World Series MVP Awards, five consecutive ERA titles, four strikeout titles and six straight All-Star selections.

Though Mattingly did make it to six consecutive All-Star Games and took home an American League MVP Award, he didn't match Koufax's accomplishments. He won one batting title, led the league in hits twice and RBIs once, but he never got the Yankees to the playoffs, let alone lead them to two titles. Once again, Mattingly falls short of another Hall comparison. -- Mark Feinsand

I've got to admit I got a good laugh over this. It really shows the arrogance and lack of baseball knowledge displayed by a LOT of Yankee fans who really don't know the history of the game. Most Yankee fans that I've encountered think baseball revolves around their team, that no other team exists and without the Yankees, baseball would die as we know it. A lot of their arguments surround the 26 World Championships the franchise has won over the past 103 years, even though a lot of them weren't even around for the first 20 or 22. This is mostly from the younger fans, and it would not surprise me if Ray in Vegas was less than 21 years of age.

But I do have news for those particular Yankee fans: there are 29 other teams in the league. Get over it. Move on. It's ok to be angry and frustrated because your team hasn't won a World Series going on six years now. Mine hasn't won going on 18 years. But you know what? I don't take for granted that I've been lucky enough to see my team play in four World Series in my lifetime (I was only three years old for the fifth one) and win two of them. That's why a lot of younger Yankee fans are so spoiled. But don't take that out on the other 29 teams. It's your team's own fault they are where they are, and haven't won that elusive World Series title in six years. Spend the money wisely and build up a farm system again and they just might go on another run in 10 or 15 years like they did from 1996-2000. (Perhaps if Steinbrenner opened his eyes instead of his checkbook, he might remember that's why they were so successful during that run.)

And open up a damn baseball history book for once, too. You'll be surprised to see that a large portion of baseball history has nothing to do with the Yankees.