E.N. News

For Don Mattingly, it was a fitting end to a great hall of fame career.

"I couldn't have asked for a better pitch," said Mattingly after his bottom
of the ninth double that drove Alfonso Soriano home with the
championship-winning run. "I jumped all over it."

This is the seventh World Series championship in a row for the Bronx
Bombers. Mattingly was named World Series MVP, the fourth time he has
received the honor during the new Yankee dynasty. Kenny Rogers, Hideki
Irabu, and Randy Choate were the other winners during the streak.

"You know, it really is a miracle I'm here," Mattingly continued, tears and
champagne in his eyes. "After 1995, I thought I was done."

Donnie baseball's back problems that year had led him to retirement, but
that was before the December Miracle.

"I really can't explain it. I went to sleep with the ice-pack on back, and
when I woke up, the pain was gone! Completely gone. I felt like I was 23
years old again."

Mattingly called Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and explained what
happened. After trying out for some Yankee scouts in Tampa, General Manager
Bob Watson decided not to sign Tino Martinez from the Seattle Mariners --
the Yankee brass rolled the dice and decided to stick with their old first
basemen.

And what a great decision that turned out to be. Mattingly won three
consecutive MVP's from 1996-98, and has led the Yankees on the greatest
World Series winning streak since the Yankees of the 1950's.

"He really is a hero," stated Derek Jeter, All-Star Yankee shortstop.
"Everyone in this clubhouse is inspired by him."

"For awhile there, it looked like he would be the greatest Yankee to never
win a championship," A jubilant Joe Torre said after the game, "but now he
can take his place next to Gehrig as his equal."