Viral picture/video of Bo Bichette hugging Don Mattingly after The Jays’ game seven loss has me wondering- Would Mattingly ever have crossed paths with Dante Bichette, possibly even meeting Bo as a kid, long before any of them were with The Jays?
There just seems to be such genuine warmth on both sides, I wonder if there’s some history between the two of them beyond their time in Toronto.
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Dante worked as something akin to a hitting instructor for a bit.
edit: link – [https://www.thestar.com/sports/blue-jays/dante-bichette-joins-blue-jays-again-to-try-to-help-unlock-those-bats/article_e4603499-6f88-5ec2-ad5f-f934ba01a93b.html](https://www.thestar.com/sports/blue-jays/dante-bichette-joins-blue-jays-again-to-try-to-help-unlock-those-bats/article_e4603499-6f88-5ec2-ad5f-f934ba01a93b.html)
Dante was a legend on Triple Play Gold Edition for Sega Genesis
Probably felt bad because that was Mattingly’s best chance for a ring.
I don’t believe so. But throughout Don Mattingly’s very good playing and good coaching/managerial careers, this was as close as he came to being part of a championship team. I think the Blue Jays team knew that and wanted it bad for him as well.
Dante Bichette played in the American League from 1988-1992 so he played in games against Mattingly. I’m sure they had some conversations after he got on base when Mattingly was playing first.
Dante bichette played in the AL from 88-92, so certainly possible that they crossed paths. Bo was born in 98, so he probably did not unless Donnie was a coach/manager towards the end of Dantes career.
However, I thought I read that Dante was an abusive father towards Bo, so not sure if that played a factor.
Was Dante Bichette on Mr Burns baseball team on the Simpsons? Beside playing in the same league for 5 years or so, I thought Donnie Ballgame and his long sideburns may have met Dante at Matt Groening’s mansion…
In his entire career from player to coach, he was so close to his first ever ring so understandable
In the five seasons Dante Bichette was in the AL against Mattingly’s Yankees:
– 1988: DNP
– 1989: 1-for 11
– 1990: 11-for-34, 1 hr
– 1991: 6-for-30
– 1992: 12-for-39, 1 hr
Yes. They saw a matinee of “Cats” once.
Considering Dante was a dead beat absusive dad, I’d doubt it.
Bo was born in 98. Mattingly’s last AS game was in 89, Bichette’s first was in 94. BY the time Mattingly started managing/coaching Dante was out of the league.
The closest they came was Bichette worked for the Jays from July 2020 through February 2022. Mattingly was hired by the Jays in November of 2022.
All that said, Dante did leave his position with the Jays to work out with Bo, so the chances of him being in and around the organization and around Mattingly are probably pretty high
They played at the same time.against waxh other in the first half of Dante career when he was with the angels and the brewers. Brewers were AL back then and there was no inter league play.
Bo saw things from his dad towards his mom as a child no one should ever see. If I was him, I’d hug Don Mattingly too.