Don Mattingly’s Baseball Adventure: From Thinking He Was Done to Leading the Phillies at the All-Star Game

July 13, 2026, 06:08 PM ET — Philadelphia, PA

What’s the All-Star Game and Why Is Don Awkward?

The All-Star Game is a special baseball event where the best players from two big groups — the American League (AL) and National League (NL) — play against each other. Think of it like a schoolyard pick of the coolest kids to play a friendly match.

Don Mattingly is currently the interim manager (that’s a temporary team boss) for the Philadelphia Phillies. He was asked to be a coach for Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts at this game. But Don felt a little weird about it.

Here’s why:

• Don used to be the bench coach (a helper who sits nearby and gives advice to the manager) for the Toronto Blue Jays, working under manager John Schneider.
• After the Blue Jays lost the World Series (the final championship round) to the Dodgers in seven games, Don left that job. He gave up a guaranteed spot as a coach in the AL dugout (the bench area where one team sits during a game).
• Don was a six-time AL All-Star player (chosen as one of the best in the league), and he thought he was totally finished with baseball.

But he’s not finished! Now he’s the interim manager for the Phillies and has them fighting for the playoffs (a postseason tournament). He’ll actually coach against Schneider and the Blue Jays staff at Tuesday’s All-Star Game held in Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park.

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." (The Home Run Derby is a fun contest where players try to hit balls over the fence for prizes.)

How Did Don End Up in Philadelphia? (Step by Step)

Let’s walk through the recent steps that brought Don to the Phillies:

1. November: Don said he left Toronto after reaching his first World Series because he wanted to spend more time with his family.
2. January: His young son Louis urged him to keep working, saying: "Dad, you can’t stop. You’ve got to keep going."
3. Don took a job as the bench coach for Phillies manager Rob Thomson, partly because of Louis’s push.
4. Another son, Preston, is the general manager (the person who builds the team) for the Phillies, so Don joined a family business.
5. Late April: Thomson was fired after the team lost 11 of 12 games and were tied for last place in all of baseball.
6. Don stepped in as the interim manager.

Now it’s one big family reunion in Philly!

A Family Affair and Friendly Words

Don is taking directions from his two sons in Philadelphia:

• Louis encouraged him to stay in the game.
• Preston is the GM calling the shots on the team roster.

Even old friends miss him. Ernie Clement, a Blue Jays All-Star second baseman (a defensive player between first and second base), said:

"It’s awesome that he teamed up with Preston. They’re just doing a great job."

Clement also noted Mattingly was missed in Toronto.

How Are the Phillies Doing Under Don?

Since Don took over, the team has a record of 45 wins and 24 losses (that’s really good!). They are led by these All-Star players:

• Bryce Harper
• Kyle Schwarber
• Brandon Marsh
• Jhoan Duran
• Jesus Luzardo
• Cristopher Sanchez (who is the NL starting pitcher for the All-Star game)

The Phillies are just two games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East (their division, like a neighborhood of teams). That means they are close to the top of the playoff race!

Key Callout: Don has said he would like to have the "interim" tag removed and possibly come back for a second season as manager. But on Monday he said he wants to wait until the offseason (the break after the season) to talk about it.

Don’s Long Baseball Life

Don has been around baseball for a very long time. Here are the bullet points of his career:

• He is in his 23rd straight season as a major league manager or coach.
• He previously managed the Dodgers and the Miami Marlins.
• As a player, he played 14 seasons (from 1982 to 1995) as a first baseman (a defender near first base) for the New York Yankees only.
• He was the 1985 AL MVP (Most Valuable Player — the best in the league!).
• He was the Yankees’ captain for his final five seasons.
• He didn’t reach the playoffs until 1995, where he hit .417 (got a hit in almost half his tries) with a home run and 6 RBI (runs batted in) in a five-game Division Series (an early playoff round) loss 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 ring (a championship award).
• He shared: "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 his baseball days were over after leaving Toronto, but his sons pulled him back. Now he’s the interim manager of the Phillies, turning the team around with a 45-24 record and sitting near the top of the NL East. He’ll coach at the All-Star Game in Philadelphia against his old Blue Jays colleagues, feeling a bit weird but grateful. With a long history as a player and coach, Don is enjoying a family reunion in the baseball world and staying open about his future until the offseason.

FAQ (Easy Answers for Curious Fans)

1. What does an "interim manager" do?
An interim manager is the temporary boss of a baseball team. They make decisions like who plays and who sits, but only until the team hires a permanent manager.

2. What is the All-Star Game?
It’s a special once-a-year game where the best players from the American League and National League play together in a fun exhibition. There’s also a Home Run Derby where players hit home runs for show.

3. Why did Don Mattingly leave Toronto?
He left his bench coach job after reaching the World Series with the Blue Jays because he wanted to spend more time with his family. Later, his son Louis convinced him to join the Phillies.

4. Who are Don’s sons and what are their roles?
Louis is his young son who encouraged him to keep coaching. Preston is his other son who works as the General Manager (top roster builder) for the Phillies.

5. Did Don Mattingly ever win a World Series as a player?
No. As a player, he only reached the playoffs once, in 1995, and lost. As a coach, he reached the World Series with Toronto in 2025 but lost to the Dodgers. He says he’s still grateful regardless.