DON MATTINGLY was a great hitter for the Yankees. Sadly, he retired before he could get a World Series ring as a player. He should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame, but isn’t yet, and maybe won’t be, but…
I was shooting a Nike commercial with Ken Griffey Jr. in Yankee Stadium during the infamous baseball strike. The idea was for Griffey to chase a fly ball hit by Mattingly cross country. We hired several so-called minor league players as extras in the shot, including a pitcher. All the pitcher had to do was get the ball across the plate so that Mattingly could make contact. The pitcher’s first pitch hit Mattingly.
I freaked at the pitcher but Mattingly said it didn’t hurt.