The Toronto Blue Jays are going to the World Series for the first time since 1993 after beating the Seattle Mariners, 4-3, in a thrilling Game 7 of the American League Championship Series on Monday night.

While their trip to the World Series is huge for all of their players and fans, it's also special for former New York Yankees great, Don Mattingly.

Mattingly, who spent his entire playing career with the Yankees and won the AL MVP award in 1985, is the bench coach for the Blue Jays. This will be his first-ever trip to the World Series as he never made it that far in either his playing days or during his coaching career, which has seen him manage the Dodgers and the Marlins.

Mattingly managed the Dodgers from 2011-15. He won three NL West titles during the time but only made it to the NLCS once in 2013 where his team lost to the Cardinals in six games. The next two seasons the Dodgers only made it to the NLDS.

He then managed the Marlins from 2016-22 but only made the playoffs once, losing in the NLDS in 2020.

Here are some more wild stats that show how Mattingly narrowly missed out on a number of chances to make it to the World Series:

Don Mattingly first trip to the World Series is finally here.
@thats_bb_suzyn

Mattingly has been the Blue Jays' bench coach since 2022. Now he's in his first World Series at the age of 64.

Fans are thrilled for him:

What a ride for Donny Baseball.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Why Blue Jays’ Trip to World Series is So Special for Yankees Legend Don Mattingly.