Safeco Field
200px
Location	1516 First Avenue South Seattle, Washington 98134
Coordinates	47°35′29″N 122°19′57″W / 47.59139°N 122.3325°W / 47.59139; -122.3325Coordinates: 47°35′29″N 122°19′57″W / 47.59139°N 122.3325°W / 47.59139; -122.3325
Broke ground	March 8, 1997
Opened	July 15, 1999
Owner	Washington-King County Stadium Authority
Operator	Baseball Club of Seattle LP
Surface	Kentucky Bluegrass / Perennial Ryegrass blend
Construction cost	$517.6 million ($722 million in 2012 dollars[1])
Architect	NBBJ 360 Architecture
Project Manager	The Vosk Group LLP[2]
Structural engineer	Skilling Ward Magnusson Barkshire[3] (Roof) Sephen Tipping + Associates[4] (Bowl)
Services engineer	Flack + Kurtz Inc.[5]
General Contractor	Hunt-Kiewit[3]
Main contractors	The Erection Company Inc.[3]
Capacity	Baseball: 47,860[6] Football: 30,144
Record attendance	54,097 Wrestlemania XIX Baseball: 48,052 2001 ALDS Game 2
Field dimensions	Left Field - 331ft / 101m Left-Center - 390ft / 119m Center Field - 405ft / 123m Right-Center - 385ft / 118m Right Field - 326ft / 99m
Tenants
Seattle Mariners (MLB) (1999–present) Seattle Bowl (NCAA) (2001) WrestleMania XIX (WWE) (2003)

Safeco Field (originally rendered SAFECO Field and sometimes referred to as Safeco) is a retractable roof baseball stadium located in Seattle, Washington. The stadium, owned and operated by the Washington-King County Stadium Authority, is the home stadium of the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB) and has a seating capacity of 47,860 for baseball^[6]. It is located in Seattle's SoDo neighborhood near the western terminus of Interstate 90.

During the 1990s, the suitability of the Mariners' previous stadium—the Kingdome—as an MLB facility came under doubt, and the team's ownership group threatened to relocate the team. In September 1995, King County voters defeated a ballot measure to secure public funding for a new baseball stadium. Shortly thereafter, the Mariners' first appearance in the MLB postseason and their victory in the 1995 American League Division Series (ALDS) renewed a public desire to keep the team in town. As a result, the Washington State Legislature approved an alternate means of funding for the stadium with public money. The site for the stadium—just south of the Kingdome—was selected in September 1996, and construction began in March 1997. Construction lasted until July 1999, and the stadium hosted its first game on July 15, 1999.

Aside from the Mariners, Safeco Field is also used for amateur baseball events including the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association high school state championships and one Washington Huskies baseball game per season. Major non-baseball events that have been held at Safeco Field include the 2001 college football Seattle Bowl and WWE WrestleMania XIX, which set Safeco Field's attendance record of 54,097 in 2003.^[7] It is also used for major corporate, political, and other events, as well as smaller events such as weddings.

Naming rights to the stadium are owned by Seattle-based Safeco Insurance. Safeco reportedly paid US$40 million to have its name on the stadium for 20 years.

Location and transportation[link]

Safeco Field is located in the SoDo district of downtown Seattle, bounded by Dave Niehaus Way South (a block of First Avenue S.) to the west, and Edgar Martínez Drive S. (formerly S. Atlantic Street)^[8] to the south, S. Royal Brougham Way to the north, and BNSF railroad tracks to the east. The stadium is located near the western terminus of Interstate 90.

Parking is available at the stadium's parking garage located across Edgar Martínez Drive, the CenturyLink Field garage to the North, as well as other privately operated lots in the area. Public transportation is available along the arterial streets surrounding the stadium. Additionally, the stadium is convenient to Sounder commuter rail service at nearby King Street Station. The Metro shuttle service was suspended in 2009 due to a new Federal Transit Administration (FTA) rule.^[9] Safeco Field is also served by Sound Transit's Central Link light rail line and local Metro bus routes via the nearby Stadium Station.

History[link]

On March 30, 1994, King County executive Gary Locke appointed a task force to assess the need for a new baseball stadium to replace the rapidly-deteriorating Kingdome. Many feared that the Mariners would leave Seattle if a new stadium was not built. In January 1995, the 28-member task force recommended to the King County Council that the public should be involved in the financing of the stadium. The task force concluded that a sales tax increase of .01% would be sufficient to fund the stadium. King County held a special election in September 1995, asking the public for this sales tax increase. The measure was narrowly defeated.

On the baseball field that same month, the Mariners mounted a late-season comeback after being as many as 13 games out of first place and won their first American League West division title after winning a one-game tiebreaker against the California Angels. They went on to defeat the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series, a series that was clinched on a memorable 11th inning double by Edgar Martínez. Despite the Mariners' subsequent loss to the Cleveland Indians in the American League Championship Series, the late-season comeback and postseason run renewed the public's interest in keeping the team in Seattle. In particular, Martinez' double is known in Seattle today simply as "The Double" (à la Willie Mays' "The Catch") and is regarded by many as having "saved baseball in Seattle".

On September 9, 1996, the site was selected for the new stadium, just south of the Kingdome. In late fall, several members of the King County Council wrote a letter to the Seattle Mariners, stating that officials consider postponing construction and the opening of the (then projected) $384.5-million stadium project.^[10] In response, Mariners ownership held a news conference stating that they would either sell the team, or move the team from Seattle. After a public outcry, the King County Council voted to reaffirm their cooperation with the Mariners in building a new stadium. Mariners ownership contributed $145 million to cover cost overruns.

Safeco Field under construction in 1998. The Kingdome is visible in the background.

Construction officially began on March 8, 1997 with a groundbreaking ceremony featuring Mariners star Ken Griffey, Jr. The construction continued until July 1999. The first game in the new stadium was played on July 15, 1999 against the San Diego Padres. The Padres won 3-2.

Before the stadium was initially christened, the naming rights to the stadium were sold for advertising. Seattle-based Safeco insurance company paid $40 million for the naming rights for the ballpark's first 20 years. However, the acquisition of the Safeco company by Boston-based Liberty Mutual Group has opened the distant possibility that the name could be changed before the contract expires in 2019. However, experts speculate this will only happen if Liberty Mutual retires the Safeco name during that time.^[11]

When Ken Griffey, Jr., returned to Safeco in 2007 with the Cincinnati Reds, he came to a hero's welcome, receiving gifts from the Mariners organization, and fellow former players Jay Buhner and Edgar Martínez. They unveiled a new poster that declared Safeco Field "The House That Griffey Built." The series was also noteworthy for the beginning of the Rally Fries tradition at Mariners games.

Features[link]

View of Safeco Field from the top left-field.

Like most ballparks built from the 1990s onward, Safeco Field is a 'retro-modern' style ballpark that incorporates many of the features of ballparks built in the 1950s and earlier with modern amenities. In contrast with the Kingdome and the other multi-purpose stadiums built primarily during the 1960s and 1970s, Safeco Field features a brick façade, an asymmetrical field dimension, a natural grass field, spectator sightlines more suited for baseball, and is surrounded by city streets, a railroad line, and buildings. On a modern note, the ballpark features a retractable roof, luxury suites, extensive food and beverage selection beyond traditional ballpark fare, and modern clubhouse amenities for players, as well as technology that allows spectators to monitor special game-time features with Nintendo DS receivers, and is fully ADA-accessible.

Unlike the Kingdome, whose small dimensions gave it a reputation as a hitter's park, Safeco Field has a reputation for being very friendly to pitchers.

Layout[link]

The stadium has four main gates open to all ticket holders during Mariners games, located at the southwest, northwest, northeast, and southeast corners. These are identified as Home Plate, Left Field, Center Field, and Right Field, respectively. Entry to all ticket holders is also available through the Mariners Team Store off First Avenue. Special entrances for media and holders of certain ticket levels are located on the southwest and south sides of the stadium.

There are five main levels to the stadium: Field (or Street), Main Concourse (100 level - 21,806 seats^[12]), Club Level (200 level - 4,774 seats^[12]), Suite Level (1,554 seats^[12]), and Upper Concourse (300 level - 16,023 seats^[12]). Two bleacher sections are located above left field and below the center field scoreboard, with 3,721 seats^[12]. The Broadcast Center (press box) is located on the Club Level and sub-level between it and the Suites Level. As the field is approximately at street level, entry into any of the main gates requires visitors to ascend a flight of stairs, escalator, or elevator to access the main concourse, with the exception of Right Field, which opens onto the main concourse. Stairs, escalators, elevators, and ramps located around the ballpark provide access to all levels.^[13]

Seating Capacity[link]

• 47,116 (1999-2003)^[14]
• 47,447 (2004-2008)^[14]
• 47,878 (2009–2011)^[15]
• 47,860 (2012-present)^[6]

Food service[link]

"Ichiroll," one of many non-traditional ballpark food items available at Safeco Field

Safeco Field has an extensive food and beverage selection above and beyond the traditional ballpark fare of hot dogs, pizza, soda, and beer. Concession stands selling traditional ballpark fare are plentiful on the main and upper concourses. Food courts behind home plate on the main concourse, as well as in the "The 'Pen" (known as the Bullpen Market prior to a major 2011 remodel) located on the street level inside the Center Field gate, sell items such as sushi (including the "Ichiroll"), burritos, teriyaki, stir-fries, pad thai, garlic fries, crepes, health food, seafood, and barbecue. An extensive selection of beer can also be found in those locations, as well as a location on the upper concourse.

Several restaurants and food services are available exclusively for fans purchasing certain ticket levels:

• The Diamond Club is located on the field level behind home plate. Diamond Club seats are located in the first eight rows behind home plate; holders of these seats are entitled to VIP parking in the Safeco Field garage, a private entry to the ballpark on the field level, and access to the Diamond Club Lounge with buffet and bar. The lounge is decorated with Babe Ruth memorabilia. Diamond Club seats are sold on a full-season, 20-game, and single game basis.
• 70 group and individual suites occupy an entire level of the ballpark. Open only to holders of suite level tickets, each suite features a private wait staff and concierge service. Holders of suite level tickets are also entitled to a private entry to the ballpark. Suite level tickets are available on a full-season, partial season, or individual game basis.
• The Wells Fargo Terrace Club occupies another entire level of the ballpark. Open only to holders of Terrace Club seats and certain other ticket levels, the club features two lounges and wait service to each seat. As with suite level tickets, holders of Terrace Club seats are also entitled to a private entry to the ballpark. Terrace Club seats are also available on full-season, partial season, or individual game basis.
• The Hit it Here Café is located in right field, on the same level as the Terrace Club. Open to all visitors before game time on a first-come, first-served basis (though season ticket holders may make reservations), the café is only open to holders of tickets in the café during games. Hit it Here Café tickets are only sold on an individual game basis.

Retractable roof[link]

View of Safeco Field with retractable roof open.

Safeco Field has a unique retractable roof that only acts as an "umbrella" for the stands and field rather than forming a complete climate-controlled enclosure, as is the case with all other retractable roofs in Major League Baseball. Seattle's relatively mild climate means the park rarely needs to be heated or cooled, but frequent precipitation necessitated a roof. The roof is sometimes closed however in dry weather when the temperature is particularly low. Because heat rises, closing the roof can help a bit in making the stadium warmer, though not by much. The only other covered baseball stadium in the world with permanent openings is the fixed-roof Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan, home of the Saitama Seibu Lions.

In the open position, the roof rests over the BNSF Railway tracks that bound the stadium to the east, with part of it hanging over the stands in right field. This has the effect of echoing the horns from passing trains into the stadium, a frequent occurrence due to a working passenger train station and rail yards nearby. Consequently, train horns have become a fixture of the Safeco Field experience, for spectators and players alike.

The roof consists of three major sections that extend into the closed position in a telescoping manner, with the two outer sections resting under the larger center section. Each section rests on a set of parallel tracks located on the north and south sides of the stadium, with the outer sections moving along the inner set of tracks, and the center section moving along the outer set. Each section is structurally independent; i.e., no section depends on another for structural stability. "Welcome to Safeco Field, Seattle" is painted on top of the center section, visible from aircraft whether the roof is open or closed. A lighted "Safeco Field" sign was added to the east side of the roof in 2007, which aids in identification of the stadium from the freeways to the east.

Each section is independently powered by electric motors that move the respective sections along the tracks. It is controlled from a central control room located under the center field scoreboard. Depending on wind and weather conditions, the roof takes approximately 10 minutes to move from the fully open to the fully closed position, and vice-versa. The roof movement is nearly silent, blending in with the ambient noise typically present during a game. During normal operation, the movement of each section is governed by computers, with all three sections moving at the same time. During an emergency or maintenance operation, each section can be independently moved. A working spare motor and wheel assembly for the roof can be found inside the center field gate. In its present state, it serves to educate visitors on how the roof operates, but if needed, it can be used to replace a similar part on the roof should one become damaged or defective.

Ground rules concerning the roof[link]

Batted ball striking the roof or roof trusses:

• A ball striking the roof or roof truss in fair territory is judged fair or foul in relation to where it lands.
• A ball striking the roof or roof truss in foul territory is a foul ball, regardless of where it lands. (During a game on April 18, 2011, Ryan Raburn of the visiting Detroit Tigers struck one of the trusses with a foul pop-up; Raburn is the only batter to date to hit any part of the roof in this manner.)
• A ball striking the roof or roof truss is still considered in flight, and the batter is out if legally caught by a fielder, regardless of where it struck.

Movement of the roof:

• If the game starts with the roof open, it may be closed during the game if weather conditions warrant, and at the discretion of the home team. Play may continue during closure, unless the umpires determine it is necessary to stop play.
• If the game starts with the roof closed, it may be opened during the game if weather conditions warrant. Opening the roof can only start between innings, after notification of the umpire crew chief. The visiting team may challenge the decision to open the roof, but final decision over whether to open the roof lies with the crew chief. The roof may only be opened once during a game.

Scoreboards[link]

Safeco Field features a manual scoreboard, a light emitting diode (LED) video display, a main incandescent monochromatic matrix board, a color LED out-of-town scoreboard, and LED ribbon boards along the First, Third, and Hit It Here Cafe Facade.^[16][17]

• The old-fashioned manually operated scoreboard is located in left field, and is part of the outfield fence.
• Also, between left & left-center fields, suspended over both bullpens, is a new (as of 2010) color LED out-of-town scoreboard. In addition to scores, runners on base and counts are displayed. This scoreboard also displays pitcher information when a relief pitcher enters the game, identifies any pitchers that may be warming up, displays information such as an abbreviated box score of a selected out-of-town game, or statistical information such as season home run leaders. It also displays NHL, NFL and NBA scores during the parts of the baseball season that overlap with the regular season and/or playoffs of those sports.
• The main scoreboard in center field contains the LED video screen and large monochromatic matrix board. The matrix board shows each team's lineup, the current batter's statistics, line score, and count.
• New (2011) Hit it Here Cafe LED fascia display
• New (2011) color LED scoreboards run along the Terrace Club fascia. These have full animation capability, but usually display
  • Score and inning
  • Batter information and count
  • Outcome of previous at-bats of the current inning
  • Pitcher name, pitch count, first-pitch data, and pitch speed.
  • Time of day
  • Advertising

Pitcher record and pitcher-hitter match-up data is usually displayed near the Hit It Here Cafe. Additionally, television screens showing the local telecast of the game hang from the bottom of the Terrace Club level, for spectators seated in the last several rows of the main concourse seating areas, as well as those standing on the main concourse. Though fans in these areas have a full view of the field, their view of the scoreboards is obstructed by the overhang of the Terrace Club level. These screens display the content shown on the video board between innings or when the telecast is on a commercial break.

Art in the park[link]

Safeco Field and its adjoining parking garage feature extensive public art displays, including:

• A chandelier made of 1,000 resin baseball bats above the home plate entry. A companion 27-foot diameter compass rose mosaic at the home plate rotunda captures a number of elements in the history of baseball.
• "Quilts" depicting each MLB team logo, made from recycled metal including license plates from the respective teams' states (or the province of Ontario in the case of the Toronto Blue Jays).
• Stainless steel cutouts of players in various poses while catching, batting, fielding, and pitching, integrated into the fences at the stadium's four main gates.
• Sculptures depicting hands gripping baseballs for various types of pitches along the west facade of the garage.
• A 9-foot-tall (2.7 m) bronze baseball glove, "The Mitt", that has become an icon for Safeco Field.
• "The Defining Moment", a mural depicting Edgar Martinez's famed "The Double".
• Children's Hospital Wishing Well which features a bronze statue of a child in batting position, and includes a geyser effect used at the beginning of games and when the opposing team hits a home run.
• Porcelain enamel on steel flag-mounted banner-panels depicting "Positions of the Field".

Baseball Museum of the Pacific Northwest[link]

The Baseball Museum of the Pacific Northwest pays homage to now-defunct professional baseball teams that played in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia before the establishment of the Mariners in 1977. Additionally, it features hands-on displays explaining the composition of baseballs and bats, and the different types of gloves, as well as a replica outfield fence with props to allow fans to photograph themselves pretending to be outfielders.

Mariners Hall of Fame[link]

Co-located with the Baseball Museum of the Pacific Northwest, the Mariners Hall of Fame features bronze plaques of the four inducted members (Jay Buhner, Alvin Davis, Edgar Martínez, and broadcaster Dave Niehaus). Those plaques describe their contributions to the franchise, as well as murals and television screens showing highlights of their careers with the Mariners.

Dave Niehaus statue[link]

A bronze statue ^[18] of late Seattle Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus was unveiled Friday September 16, 2011 at Safeco Field. The statue captures the Hall of Fame broadcaster who broadcast 5,284 Mariners games over 34 seasons (1977–2010)^[19][20] at a desk, behind a microphone, wearing headphones with his Mariners scorebook in front of him. There is an empty seat next to the statue, so fans can sit next to Dave and pose for photos. Dave's longtime broadcast partner Rick Rizzs presided over a private ceremony to unveil the statue.

The Dave Niehaus Broadcast Center is located on the Club Level behind home plate. When Niehaus died, his headset and microphone were placed by his empty seat in the Broadcast Center as a tribute.^[21]

Other features[link]

The flagship Mariners Team Store is located on the west side of the stadium. The first level of the store, on the street level, sells a comprehensive assortment of Mariners merchandise, while the upper level, on the main concourse, displays game-used items for sale, as well as a custom jersey embroidery station. Other stores include the Kids' Clubhouse at the northeast corner on the main concourse, a walk-in store at the southwest corner on the upper concourse, and kiosks throughout the ballpark.

Children's Hospital Playfield is a playground for children located at the northeast corner of the stadium on the main concourse. Also located in this area is "Moose's Munchies", a concession stand selling ballpark fare in child-sized portions.

The Moose Den, located on the main concourse near the Children's Hospital Playfield, is a meet-and-greet area for the Mariner Moose, the team's mascot.

An analog clock is integrated into the Mariners' compass rose logo above the left field bleachers.

Safeco Field Tours[link]

Safeco Field also gives walking tours of the stadium for a small fee. Departing from the main Team Store, the tour includes information about the stadium not generally provided at games, as well as entry into areas not open to the general public during games, including the visitors' clubhouse, playing field and dugouts, Dave Niehaus Broadcast Center (press box), and a luxury suite.

Notable events at Safeco Field[link]

Major League[link]

• Safeco Field has hosted playoff games in two seasons: 2000, when the Mariners won the American League wild card; and again in 2001, when they won the American League West. In 2000, the Mariners defeated the Chicago White Sox in the American League Division Series 3–0, but were defeated by the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series, 4–2. The following year, the Mariners defeated the Cleveland Indians 3–2 in the ALDS, but were again defeated by the Yankees in the ALCS, 4-1. The World Series has never been played at Safeco.
• Safeco Field also hosted the 2001 MLB All-Star Game. The American League defeated the National League, 4-1. Cal Ripken, Jr. of the AL's Baltimore Orioles was the game's MVP. A bronze plaque in the visitor's bullpen now marks the location where Ripken hit the final All-Star Game home run of his Hall of Fame career.
• On October 1, 2004, Ichiro Suzuki collected his 258th hit of the season at Safeco, breaking the 84-year-old single season hit record of 257 previously held by George Sisler. Sisler, who died in 1973 (the same year Suzuki was born), was represented at the game by his daughter, and 4 other family members. Ichiro would go on to finish the season with 262 hits.
• On April 15, 2009, Ken Griffey, Jr. became the first (and only) player in franchise history to have hit 400 home runs. He homered in the 5th inning off the Angels' Jered Weaver, en route to an 11-3 triumph.
• The Mariners' 2011 Interleague series with the Florida Marlins was moved to Safeco Field due to a scheduling conflict with rock band U2 at Sun Life Stadium. With the Marlins officially designated as the home team, the designated hitter rule was not in effect, marking the first time that a game was played under such rules at an American League stadium in modern Interleague play. Félix Hernández became the first pitcher to record a hit at Safeco Field.
• On April 21, 2012, Philip Humber of the Chicago White Sox throws a Perfect game against the Mariners marking the 21st time a perfect game has been thrown. This also marks the first perfect game and No-hitter at Safeco Field.

College baseball[link]

• On May 4, 2007, an NCAA Pacific-10 Conference baseball attendance record was set at Safeco Field (later broken),^[22] when the Washington Huskies hosted defending conference champion Oregon State in front of 10,421 spectators.^[23] Washington won the game 6–2.

Other[link]

• Safeco was the venue for the 2001 incarnation of the short-lived Seattle Bowl college football game.
• On March 30, 2003, World Wrestling Entertainment held its flagship pay-per-view event, WrestleMania XIX, at Safeco. With the ring set near the location of second base, thousands of seats were sold on the field itself and the event set a stadium attendance record of 54,097.^[7]
• On September 16, 2008, The Beach Boys performed in the stadium's first concert.
• The stadium is the home to the Microsoft annual employee meeting, attracting over 20,000 employees.^[24]

Gallery[link]

See also[link]

	Baseball portal
	Seattle portal

• Rick "The Peanut Man" Kaminski

Footnotes[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Safeco Field

• Stadium site on mariners.com
• Video of Safeco Field - shows the roof open and close in time lapse
• ESPN Review

Bud Black
San Diego Padres – No. 20
Pitcher / Manager
Born: (1957-06-30) June 30, 1957 (age 54) San Mateo, California
Batted: Left	Threw: Left
MLB debut
September 5, 1981 for the Seattle Mariners
Last MLB appearance
July 9, 1995 for the Cleveland Indians
Career statistics (through May 30, 2012)
Win–Loss record	121–116
Earned run average	3.84
Strikeouts	1,039
Games managed	863
Win–loss record	405-458
Winning %	.469
Teams
As player Seattle Mariners (1981) Kansas City Royals (1982–1988) Cleveland Indians (1988–1990) Toronto Blue Jays (1990) San Francisco Giants (1991–1994) Cleveland Indians (1995) As manager San Diego Padres (2007–present)
Career highlights and awards
World Series champion (1985, 2002) 2010 NL Manager of the Year

Harry Ralston "Bud" Black (born June 30, 1957 in San Mateo, California) is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher and current manager of the San Diego Padres.

Early life[link]

Black is a graduate of Mark Morris High School in Longview, Washington.

Playing career[link]

College[link]

Black played two years at Lower Columbia College in Longview. For his junior and senior years, he played at San Diego State.^[1]

Professional[link]

Black pitched fifteen seasons in the majors, most notably for the Kansas City Royals, winning 121 games in his career and was part of the starting rotation for the Royals team that won the 1985 World Series. He also played professionally for the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays and San Francisco Giants.^[2]

Black was the starting pitcher for the Royals during the famous George Brett pine tar incident, and was the pitcher that gave up Reggie Jackson's 500th career home run.

Coaching career[link]

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim[link]

Black was the pitching coach of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim from 2000-2006 under Manager Mike Scioscia. As the Angels pitching coach, Black won a World Series ring in 2002 against the San Francisco Giants.

San Diego Padres[link]

In October 2006, Brian Sabean, general manager of the Giants, interviewed Black for the Giants' vacant managerial position.^[3]

After the position went to Padres manager Bruce Bochy, Black became a candidate for the Padres job, and was officially hired on November 8, 2006. Despite a last place finish for the Padres in 2008, Black returned to finish his contract in 2009. During the 2009 season, Black was given a contract extension for the 2010 season with a club option for 2011. During the 2010 season, the Padres gave Black another three-year extension through 2013, with club options in 2014 and 2015.^[4] Black was the winner of the 2010 National League Manager of the Year Award, edging Dusty Baker of the Cincinnati Reds in voting by a single point.^[5] Black is only the third former full-time pitcher to win a Manager of the Year Award, joining Tommy Lasorda and Larry Dierker.

Personal life[link]

Black was born to Canadian parents in Northern California during the 1950s. He has a wife, Nanette and two daughters. His older daughter presently attends college while his younger is a freshman in high school and accomplished gymnast^{[citation needed]}.

See also[link]

Baseball portal

• List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
• List of San Diego Padres managers
• List of Major League Baseball managers in 2007
• List of Major League Baseball managers in 2008
• List of Major League Baseball managers in 2009
• List of Major League Baseball managers in 2010

References[link]

External links[link]

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
• Bud Black managerial career statistics at Baseball-Reference.com
• Bud Black: Behind the Dugout
• Love of hockey follows from father to son for Bud Black

Don Mattingly
Los Angeles Dodgers – No. 8
First baseman / Manager
Born: (1961-04-20) April 20, 1961 (age 51) Evansville, Indiana
Batted: Left	Threw: Left
MLB debut
September 8, 1982 for the New York Yankees
Last MLB appearance
October 1, 1995 for the New York Yankees
Career statistics (through May 31, 2012)
Batting average	.307
Home runs	222
Runs batted in	1,099
Games managed	212
Win–loss record	114–98
Winning %	.538
Teams
As player New York Yankees (1982–1995) As coach New York Yankees (2004–2007) Los Angeles Dodgers (2008–2010) As manager Los Angeles Dodgers (2011–present)
Career highlights and awards
6× All-Star (1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989) 9× Gold Glove Award winner (1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994) 3× Silver Slugger Award winner (1985, 1986, 1987) 1985 AL MVP New York Yankees team captain (1991–1995) New York Yankees #23 retired

Donald Arthur "Don" Mattingly (born April 20, 1961) is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and current manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Nicknamed "The Hit Man" and "Donnie Baseball", he played his entire 14-year major league baseball career for the New York Yankees (1982–1995).

Mattingly was named to the American League (AL) All-Star team six times. He won nine Gold Glove Awards, three Silver Slugger Awards, and was the 1985 AL Most Valuable Player. Mattingly served as captain of the Yankees from 1991 through 1995, and the Yankees retired his uniform number after his retirement. After his playing career, Mattingly served as a hitting coach for the Yankees and Dodgers prior to taking on his current position as manager of the Dodgers.

Career[link]

High school[link]

A graduate of Memorial High School in Evansville, Indiana in 1979, he led the Tigers to a state record 59 straight victories through the 1978-79 season. In 1978 the Tigers were crowned State Champions and were State Runners-up in 1979. Don was the L.V. Phillips Mental Attitude recipient in 1979. He was All-City, All-SIAC (Southern Indiana Athletic Conference), and All State in both 1978 and 1979. During the four years he played in high school the Tigers compiled a 94-9-1 won – loss record and Don hit .463. He still holds Memorial records for hits (152); doubles (29): triples (25 - also the state record); RBIs (140); and runs scored (99).

Following this outstanding career, Don accepted a scholarship to play baseball for the Indiana State Sycamores and Coach Bob Warn. However, after being drafted by the Yankees, Don decided to begin his professional career.

Professional career[link]

In the minors, Mattingly batted .349 in 1979, .358 in 1980, and .316 in 1981. He was hitting .315 for Triple-A Columbus when he made it to the majors late in the 1982 season, fulfilling a personal goal of never spending more than one season at any level in the minor leagues.

Mattingly spent his official rookie season of 1983 as a part-time first baseman and outfielder, waiting for a full-time spot in the lineup to open up. He played well, hitting .283 in 279 at-bats, but with little power.

Slugger Steve Balboni was the favored organizational prospect at first base, but it became apparent in 1982-83 that Balboni was too prone to striking out and that his ranging right-handed swing was not suited for the Yankee Stadium. Mattingly quickly surpassed Balboni on the team's depth chart, and Balboni was traded to the Kansas City Royals in 1984.

Mattingly became the Yankees' full-time first baseman and an MVP candidate. He hit .343 and beat out teammate Dave Winfield in a close race for the American League batting title with a 4-for-5 game on the last day of the season. Mattingly also led the league with 207 hits. He developed a power stroke, slugging a league-leading 44 doubles to go with 23 home runs. He was 2nd in the league in slugging percentage (.537) and at bats per strikeout (18.3), 4th in total bases (324), 5th in RBIs (110), 6th in sacrifice flies (9), and 10th in on base percentage (.381). He also batted .400 with runners in scoring position.

Mattingly with the Yankees.

Mattingly followed up his breakout season with a spectacular 1985, winning the MVP award in the American League. He batted .324 (3rd in the league) with 35 home runs (4th), 48 doubles (1st), and 145 RBI (1st), then the most RBIs in a season by a left-handed major league batter since Ted Williams drove in 159 in 1949. His 21-RBI lead in the category was the most in the American League since Al Rosen's RBI title of 1953. He led the league in sacrifice flies (15), total bases (370), and extra base hits (86), and was 2nd in the AL in hits (211) and slugging percentage (.567), 3rd in intentional walks (13) and at bats per strikeout (13.9), 6th in runs (107), and 9th in at bats per home run (18.6). He batted .354 with two out and runners in scoring position. Also in 1985 Mattingly was the first farm-grown Yankee to lead the club in homers since Bobby Murcer did it from 1970 to 1973.

Mattingly was also recognized in 1985 for his defense, winning his first of nine Gold Glove Awards. He was considered such an asset defensively that Yankees management assigned him to play games at second base and third base early in his career, even though he was a left-handed thrower. Mattingly appeared as a left-handed throwing second baseman for one-third of one inning, during the resumption of the George Brett "Pine Tar Incident" game in 1983. He also played three games as a left-handed throwing third baseman during a five-game series against the Seattle Mariners in 1986.

Mattingly did just as well in 1986, leading the league with 238 hits, 53 doubles (to date, both are single-season franchise records, having broken Earle Combs' 231 and Lou Gehrig's 52 respectively; both had been set in 1927 ^[1]), 388 total bases, and a .573 slugging percentage. He also batted .352 (2nd in the league), hit 31 home runs (6th) and drove in 113 runs (3rd). However, he was easily beaten in the American League MVP voting by pitcher Roger Clemens, who also won the Cy Young Award unanimously that year.

In 1987, Mattingly tied Dale Long's major league record by hitting home runs in eight consecutive games (record later tied again by Ken Griffey, Jr., of Seattle in 1993), as well as stroking an extra base hit in ten consecutive games. Mattingly had a record 10 home runs during this streak (Long & Griffey had eight of them). Also that season, Mattingly set a major league record by hitting six grand slam home runs in a season, a record matched by Travis Hafner during the 2006 season. Mattingly's Grand Slams in 1987 were also the only six Grand Slams of his career.

In June 1987, it was reported that Mattingly injured his back during some clubhouse horseplay with pitcher Bob Shirley though both denied this.^[2] Nevertheless, he finished with a .327 batting average, 30 home runs, and 115 RBIs, his fourth straight year with at least 110 RBIs. Between 1985 and 1987, Mattingly hit 96 home runs with just 114 strikeouts.

Though Mattingly would recover, recurrent back woes would curtail his statistics, and eventually, his career.

1988 was a decidedly off year for Mattingly, who had just 18 home runs and 88 RBI, but nonetheless was still in the top 10 in the league in batting average at a .311 clip. He rebounded in 1989 to 113 RBI, but his average dipped to .303. Mattingly's five runs scored on April 30, 1988, marked the 12th time it has been done by a Yankee.

Mattingly's back problems flared up anew in 1990; after struggling with the bat, he had to go on the disabled list in July, only returning late in the season for an ineffective finish. His stat line—a .256 average, 5 home runs and 42 RBI in almost 400 at-bats—came as a shock. Mattingly underwent extensive therapy in the offseason, but his hitting ability was never quite the same. Though he averaged .290 over his final five seasons, he became more of a slap hitter, hitting just 53 home runs over that timeframe. Mattingly's defense remained stellar, but he was not always physically able to play.

Mattingly made his major league debut in 1982, the year after the Yankees lost the World Series. The team did not reach the postseason in any of Mattingly's first 13 years, although they arguably would have made the playoffs in 1994, when the player's strike ended the season prematurely with the Yankees having the best record in the American League.

In 1995, Mattingly finally reached the playoffs when the Yankees won the AL wild card on the next-to-last day of the season. In the only postseason series of his career, facing the Seattle Mariners, Mattingly batted .417 with 6 RBI and a memorable go-ahead home run in Game Two, his final game at Yankee Stadium. In the final game of the series (and of his career), Mattingly again broke a tie with a two-run double. The New York bullpen faltered and Seattle won in the 11th inning of the decisive Game Five.

Retirement[link]

Don Mattingly's number 23 was retired by the New York Yankees in 1997.

Mattingly's retired number in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium

Mattingly finished his career with 2,153 hits, 222 home runs, 1,099 RBI, and a .307 lifetime average. He is commonly cited as the best Yankee player to have never played in a World Series. His career had bad timing, as the Yankees lost the World Series the year before he broke into the big leagues and they ended up winning the World Series in the first year of Mattingly's retirement, not to mention the Yankees had the best record in the American League in 1994 before the strike. This World Series drought (1982–1995) was the longest in Yankees history since the start of the Babe Ruth era and it was worsened by the player's strike in 1994, which ended a promising chance for a World Series title.

The Yankees retired Mattingly's number 23 and dedicated his plaque for Monument Park at Yankee Stadium on August 31, 1997. The plaque calls him "A humble man of grace and dignity, a captain who led by example, proud of the pinstripe tradition and dedicated to the pursuit of excellence, a Yankee forever."