Don Mattingly’s Baseball Family Reunion: From "Finished" to Phillies Boss!

(Report from Philadelphia on July 13, 2026)

The Awkward All-Star Situation

Imagine you used to work for one team, then you quit to spend time with family, and now you have to help lead a totally different team against your old buddies! That’s what happened to Don Mattingly.

Don felt a little weird when he was asked to be a coach for the Dodgers’ manager, Dave Roberts, at the big mid-season showdown called the All-Star Game (a fun game where the best players from different teams play together).

Here is how this funny situation happened, step-by-step:

1. Don used to be the assistant coach (called a "bench coach") for the Toronto Blue Jays, helping manager John Schneider.
2. He left that job after the Blue Jays lost the big final championship (the World Series) in seven games to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
3. Because he left, he gave up his guaranteed spot to hang out in the American League (AL) team’s bench area (the dugout) at the All-Star Game.
4. At the time, Don—who was a super-star player 6 times in the AL (a "6-time AL All-Star")—thought he was totally done with baseball.
5. But now, he is the temporary boss (the "interim manager") of the Philadelphia Phillies and has them back in the fight to make the playoffs!
6. He will coach against his old friend John Schneider and the Blue Jays at Tuesday’s All-Star Game, which is played in Philadelphia’s home stadium, Citizens Bank Park.

Callout – Important Point: Don said on Monday, "It is weird being on the other side. I was kind of torn a little bit. But then I go home and my 11-year-old asked me, ‘Do we get to go on the field for Home Run Derby?’ It’s like, OK, well, I’m done with that. He made that decision." (His son helped him realize staying in baseball was worth it!)

A Big Family Reunion in Philadelphia

Philadelphia has become a family party for Don Mattingly! In a funny way, you could say Don is taking directions from his two sons in Philadelphia.

• Don originally took the Phillies assistant coach job under former manager Rob Thomson because his young son, Louis, pushed him to. Louis said: "Dad, you can’t stop. You’ve got to keep going."
• Another son, Preston, is the big boss of the team (the General Manager, who builds the roster).
• Don had said back in November that he left Toronto after finally making it to his first World Series because he wanted to be with his family more.
• Ernie Clement, a star second baseman on the Blue Jays, said Don was missed in Toronto: "It’s awesome that he teamed up with Preston. They’re just doing a great job."

Callout – Important Point: It’s like a baseball family reunion! Don is working side-by-side with his sons and still gets to see his old friends from Toronto.

Turning the Phillies Around

When Don first took over as the temporary manager, the Phillies were doing really badly. But now they are winning a lot!

• The old manager, Rob Thomson, was fired in late April after the team lost 11 out of 12 games and were tied for last place in all of baseball (the majors).
• Since Don took over, the team has won 45 games and lost only 24.
• They are led by star players (called All-Stars) like:
  • Bryce Harper
  • Kyle Schwarber
  • Brandon Marsh
  • Jhoan Duran
  • Jesus Luzardo
  • Cristopher Sanchez (who is starting pitcher for the National League)
• The Phillies are only two games behind Atlanta in their division (a group of teams called the NL East). This means they are right back in the thick of the playoff race!

Don says he would be interested in having the "interim" (temporary) tag removed and possibly returning for a second season as manager. But he said on Monday he wants to wait (or "table the discussion") until the off-season (when games stop) to talk about it.

Don’s Long Baseball Life

Don Mattingly has been around baseball for a VERY long time and has worn many hats.

• He has now worked as a big-league manager or coach for 23 straight seasons (he also was the boss for the Dodgers and the Miami Marlins).
• Before coaching, he played first base for 14 seasons (from 1982 to 1995) for the New York Yankees.
• He was the Most Valuable Player (MVP, meaning the best) in the American League in 1985 and was the team captain for his last 5 years.
• He didn’t get to the playoffs until 1995, where he hit really well (.417) with a home run and helped 6 teammates score (called RBIs), but his team lost a 5-game playoff round (the Division Series) to Seattle.
• Now 65 years old, Don says he feels "as grateful as can be" for his career, even if it ends without a World Series championship ring.

Callout – Important Point: Don said, "I’ve been in this game for a long time. I’ve done a lot of tremendous things for my family. I don’t feel unlucky at all."

Summary

Don Mattingly thought he was retired from baseball, but his sons convinced him to join the Philadelphia Phillies. Now he is their temporary manager, turning a losing team into playoff contenders! He’s working alongside his son Preston (the GM) and was encouraged by his son Louis to keep playing ball. Even though he’ll face his old Toronto friends at the All-Star Game, he’s happy, grateful, and still loves the game after 23 years of coaching and 14 years of playing.

FAQ

1. What is an "interim manager" in baseball?
An interim manager is like a temporary substitute teacher for a baseball team. They run the team day-to-day until the bosses decide who should be the permanent manager.

2. Why did Don Mattingly leave his job with the Toronto Blue Jays?
He left after reaching the World Series (the final championship) because he wanted to spend more time with his family.

3. How is Don Mattingly’s family involved with the Phillies?
His son Preston is the team’s General Manager (the big boss who builds the team), and his son Louis encouraged him to take the coaching job in the first place.

4. What does "two games back" mean in the standings?
It means the Phillies have won two fewer games than the team ahead of them (Atlanta). It shows they are very close in the race to make the playoffs!

5. Did Don Mattingly ever win a World Series as a player?
No, he never won a World Series ring, but he says he doesn’t feel unlucky because he had a long, happy, and successful career.