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Bobby Mattick, former
Blue Jays manager, dead at 89 TORONTO (AP) -- Bobby Mattick, who managed the Toronto Blue Jays in 1980 and '81 and helped develop the talent that produced five division titles and two World Series championships, died Friday at 89. He had a stroke, the team said. Mattick first joined the Blue Jays in 1976 as a scouting supervisor and was one of the team's original employees. "Bobby Mattick was the senior statesman of the Blue Jays family since Day 1,'' Blue Jays president Paul Godfrey said. "Bobby will be sadly missed by the entire organization, not only for his baseball knowledge and advice, but also for his wit, sense of fun and personable manner.'' Mattick played a key administrative role in scouting and development, leading to the Blue Jays' five AL East titles and World Series crowns in 1992 and 1993. He became the Blue Jays' vice president of baseball operations and a confidante of former team president Paul Beeston. Mattick's baseball career spanned parts of eight decades, beginning in 1933 when he signed a professional contract. He played in the majors as an outfielder from 1938-42, with the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds. |
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