Stats
Always found the stat similarities interesting
Mattingly 7003 ab 2153 hits 222 hr 1099 rbi .307 avg 9 gold gloves
Puckett 7244 ab 2304 hits 207 hr 1085 rbi .318 avg 6 gold gloves
Played same time frame. Both careers cut short by physical ailments. Both very popular players. Both top 3 in MVP 3 times. Both led league in batting once. Both led league in RBI once. Puckett led league in hits 4 times to Mattingly's twice. Puckett has post season advantage while Mattingly has managerial career.
Seems like a very even career. Puckett was first ballot with 82% Mattingly never got more than 28%. Maybe voters prefer a more consistent career (Puckett was never bad)over a top heavy Mattingly's 5 great seasons and 8 mediocre/avg/bad seasons.
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