Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1972, Matzenbacher was a solid right-handed hitting center fielder. He played for Marissa High School in Illinois prior to being drafted. There, he received multiple honors for his outstanding athletics, including a baseball scholarship to Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. While there, Matzenbacher’s team made the SIU-E Sports Hall of Fame.

He later coached baseball and was honored for his successes and services, like raising money to rebuild the Whitey Herzog baseball facility at New Athens High School.