He was on the cover of the first issue of Sports Illustrated, with catcher Wes Westrum and batter Eddie Mathews, in August 1954.

On September 20, 1969, working behind the plate for Bob Moose's 4–0 win,[2] he officiated in his eighth official no-hitter, tying an NL record held by Bob Emslie and Frank Secory; after Secory extended the record to nine in 1970, Donatelli again tied it on September 2, 1972, when he worked first base in Milt Pappas' 8–0 gem.

[5] (disputed) In Game 4 of the 1957 World Series, he awarded Milwaukee Braves pinch-hitter Nippy Jones first base in the 10th inning after determining that there was shoe polish on the ball, showing that Jones had been hit; a pinch runner scored the game-tying run, and the Braves went on to win both the game and the series.

He lost his position as crew chief immediately afterward, though NL president Warren Giles denied that Donatelli's involvement with the union was the cause.

[1] Immediately following the final out of Game 7 of the 1967 World Series, Donatelli ran off the field from his position at third base with the caps of Dal Maxvill and Julián Javier of the victorious Cardinals in his hands.

Willie Mays, playing in his final season in baseball, pleaded his case in front of Donatelli, and soon the argument was joined by Mets manager Yogi Berra and Harrelson.