After two years of a rebuild, two years of growing pains, two years of painstaking losses in the name of long-term success, the Miami Marlins finally saw some light during the 2020 season.
On Tuesday, their manager was recognized for it.
Don Mattingly edged out the Chicago Cubs' David Ross and San Diego Padres' Jayce Tingler to win the 2020 National League Manager of the Year award as voted on by members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. He joins Joe Girardi in 2006 and Jack McKeon in 2003 as the only Marlins managers to win the award.
Mattingly received first-place votes on 20 of 30 ballots. Eight others voted him as runner-up.
With the win, Mattingly also joins rare company. He is the fifth person in MLB history to win manager of the year after winning MVP as a player. The others: Kirk Gibson (manager of the year in 2011; MVP in 1988), Joe Torre (manager of the year in 1998 and 1996; MVP in 1971), Don Baylor (manager of the year in 1995; MVP in 1979) and Frank Robinson (manager of the year in 1989; MVP in 1966 and 1961).
But it was not an easy path.
To get there, Mattingly and the Marlins had to overcome a COVID-19 outbreak that impacted 20 members of the organization and had Mattingly at one point questioning if they should even continue playing.
In the end, through 18 MLB debuts, 174 roster moves and continued schedule shuffling due to their week-long quarantine early in the season all while embracing the underdog role placed upon his team, the even-keeled skipper guided the Marlins to a winning record for the first time since 2009 and a playoff berth for the first time since 2003.
"I've gotten to know Donnie throughout the years and we start talking about someone that always remain calm under pressure and is so even keel regardless of what happens," Marlins CEO Derek Jeter said. "I think it's beneficial for the players. It's also beneficial for young players coming up. ... That's a calming presence and a calming influence that you have on the group. That made him the perfect guy for this group and couldn't be happier."
