Bobby Mattick
Encyclopedia
Robert James Mattick was a shortstop
, manager
and scout
in Major League Baseball
, most notably in the Toronto Blue Jays
organization.
Born in Sioux City, Iowa
, Mattick was the son of outfielder
Wally Mattick
, who played for the Chicago White Sox
in 1912 and 1913 and the St. Louis Cardinals
in 1918. Bobby played only one season as a regular with the Chicago Cubs
in 1940, although he played for the Cubs from 1938 to 1940 and the Cincinnati Reds
in 1941 and 1942. Hampered in 1936 by a foul ball
which cracked his skull above his right eye and caused double vision
, he was a career .233 hitter with no home run
s and 64 RBI
s in 206 games.
Mattick began his managerial career in the Southern League
in 1944 and 1945. From 1946 to 1978, Mattick worked for nine different baseball organizations including the Montreal Expos
. He was credited by some baseball personnels as an incomparable longtime scout and player development specialist, signing such stars as Frank Robinson
, Vada Pinson
, Curt Flood
, Rusty Staub
, Don Baylor
, and Gary Carter
. One of the Blue Jays' original employees in its inaugural season, Bobby first joined the team in 1976 as the scouting supervisor, and helped draft the expansion Blue Jays. In 1978 Mattick was appointed the director of player development. 1980 saw him take over the role of manager from Roy Hartsfield
, the Blue Jays' original manager, becoming the oldest rookie manager to start a season at 64. The 1981 season was interrupted by a player strike, and the Jays improved their winning percentage in 1981 but still finished in last place in the American League
East Division in both halves of the season.
Following the 1981 season and a 104–164 career record during his two-year tenure as manager, he continued to work in the Jays' organization as executive co-ordinator of baseball operations before his promotion to vice president of baseball in 1984. Mattick played a key administrative role in scouting and development, leading to the Blue Jays' five AL East Division championships, and World Series
crowns in 1992
and 1993
.
Mattick was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
in 1999, and the club renamed its spring training
complex The Bobby Mattick Training Center in 2007. He was part of the Blue Jays' delegation at the 2004 Major League Baseball winter meetings in Anaheim, California
.
According to the information from the Blue Jays, Mattick died 11 days after his 89th birthday after suffering a stroke at his Scottsdale, Arizona
home. Mattick's wife Jackie died about two years previously. They had no children.
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
, manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
and scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, most notably in the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
organization.
Born in Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
, Mattick was the son of outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Wally Mattick
Wally Mattick
Walter Joseph Mattick was a Major League Baseball center fielder who played for the Chicago White Sox from – and briefly for the St. Louis Cardinals in . He batted and threw right-handed....
, who played for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in 1912 and 1913 and the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in 1918. Bobby played only one season as a regular with the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in 1940, although he played for the Cubs from 1938 to 1940 and the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in 1941 and 1942. Hampered in 1936 by a foul ball
Foul ball
In baseball, a foul ball is a batted ball that:* Settles on foul territory between home and first base or between home and third base, or* Bounds past first or third base on or over foul territory, or...
which cracked his skull above his right eye and caused double vision
Diplopia
Diplopia, commonly known as double vision, is the simultaneous perception of two images of a single object that may be displaced horizontally, vertically, or diagonally in relation to each other...
, he was a career .233 hitter with no home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 64 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
s in 206 games.
Mattick began his managerial career in the Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
in 1944 and 1945. From 1946 to 1978, Mattick worked for nine different baseball organizations including the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
. He was credited by some baseball personnels as an incomparable longtime scout and player development specialist, signing such stars as Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson , is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He played from 1956–1976, most notably for the Cincinnati Reds and the Baltimore Orioles. He is the only player to win league MVP honors in both the National and American Leagues...
, Vada Pinson
Vada Pinson
Vada Edward Pinson, Jr. was an American center fielder and coach in Major League Baseball. Pinson played in the major leagues for 18 years, from 1958 through 1975, and his greatest seasons were with the Cincinnati Redlegs/Reds, for whom he played from 1958–68.Pinson combined power, speed and...
, Curt Flood
Curt Flood
Curtis Charles Flood was a Major League Baseball player who spent most of his career as a center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. A defensive standout, he led the National League in putouts four times and in fielding percentage twice, winning Gold Glove Awards in his last seven full seasons...
, Rusty Staub
Rusty Staub
Daniel Joseph "Rusty" Staub is an American former Major League Baseball right fielder, designated hitter, and first baseman. He enjoyed a 23-year baseball career with 5 different teams...
, Don Baylor
Don Baylor
Donald Edward Baylor is a Major League Baseball coach currently the hitting coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and a former player and manager. During his 19-year playing career, he was a power hitter who played as a first baseman, outfielder, and designated hitter...
, and Gary Carter
Gary Carter
Gary Edmund Carter , nicknamed "Kid" and "Kid Carter", is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 19-year baseball career, mostly with the Montreal Expos and the New York Mets, Carter established himself as one of the premier catchers in the National League, winning three Gold...
. One of the Blue Jays' original employees in its inaugural season, Bobby first joined the team in 1976 as the scouting supervisor, and helped draft the expansion Blue Jays. In 1978 Mattick was appointed the director of player development. 1980 saw him take over the role of manager from Roy Hartsfield
Roy Hartsfield
Roy Thomas Hartsfield was a second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball; his MLB playing and managing careers each lasted three years. Hartsfield played his entire major-league career with the Boston Braves from 1950 to 1952. He was then traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers for outfielder Andy...
, the Blue Jays' original manager, becoming the oldest rookie manager to start a season at 64. The 1981 season was interrupted by a player strike, and the Jays improved their winning percentage in 1981 but still finished in last place in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
East Division in both halves of the season.
Following the 1981 season and a 104–164 career record during his two-year tenure as manager, he continued to work in the Jays' organization as executive co-ordinator of baseball operations before his promotion to vice president of baseball in 1984. Mattick played a key administrative role in scouting and development, leading to the Blue Jays' five AL East Division championships, and World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
crowns in 1992
1992 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 17, 1992 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, GeorgiaBraves fans had plenty to worry about in regard to both starting pitchers. Tom Glavine's post-season career had been less than stellar, including giving up eight runs in the second inning of Game 6 of the NLCS...
and 1993
1993 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 16, 1993 at SkyDome in Toronto, OntarioThe Series' first game sent two staff aces—Curt Schilling for Philadelphia and Juan Guzman for Toronto—against one another. The result was less than a pitcher's duel, however, as both teams scored early and often.The deciding plays...
.
Mattick was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum is a museum located in St. Marys, Ontario, Canada. The museums commemorates great players, teams, and accomplishments of baseball in Canada.-History:...
in 1999, and the club renamed its spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
complex The Bobby Mattick Training Center in 2007. He was part of the Blue Jays' delegation at the 2004 Major League Baseball winter meetings in Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
.
According to the information from the Blue Jays, Mattick died 11 days after his 89th birthday after suffering a stroke at his Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
home. Mattick's wife Jackie died about two years previously. They had no children.
Managerial record
| Team | |Regular Season | Toronto Blue Jays Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League .... | 1980 1980 Toronto Blue Jays season The Toronto Blue Jays season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Blue Jays finishing 7th in the American League East with a record of 67 wins and 95 losses. The season represented a turning point as Bobby Mattick became the second field manager in franchise history... |
67 | 95 | .414 | 7th in AL East | – | – | – | – |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 1981 Toronto Blue Jays season The Toronto Blue Jays season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Blue Jays finishing 7th in the American League East with a record of 37 wins and 69 losses... |
37 | 69 | .349 | 7th in AL East(1st Half) 7th in AL East(2nd Half) |
– | – | – | – | |||
| Total | 104 | 164 | .388 | – | – | – | – | ||||