John Wathan
Encyclopedia
John David Wathan is a former Major League Baseball
catcher
and manager
for the Kansas City Royals
. He was considered one of the rare catchers with speed, having 105 stolen base
s during his career. In 1982, he stole 36 bases, breaking the single-season record for catchers set by Ray Schalk
in 1916 despite missing four weeks with a broken ankle earlier in the season.
Wathan, nicknamed "Duke" for his dead-on impersonations of John Wayne
, was drafted in the first round, fourth overall in the 1971 MLB Draft
from the University of San Diego
. Wathan played ten seasons with the Royals from to where he played in 860 games, averaging a career .261 batting average
with 21 home run
s and 261 RBIs. Wathan has his best season in in which he played in 126 games, and had a .305 batting average.
After he retired, Wathan became the manager for Kansas City's AAA Omaha Royals
farm club and he was promoted manager for the big-league Royals on August 28, . He managed five seasons in Kansas City, having two winning seasons in and and finishing second in the American League West
both times. He was fired early in the season after a 15-22 start.
In , Wathan began the season as the third-base coach of the California Angels
, but he was named acting manager midway through the campaign when Buck Rodgers
was badly hurt in a bus accident and took a medical leave of absence. Wathan led the Angels to a 39-50 record until Rodgers was well enough to return. He spent as a Boston Red Sox
coach, worked as a color analyst on Royals telecasts in and , and has worked as a scout and minor league
instructor for a number of organizations since. In -07
, Wathan was a roving baserunning and bunting instructor in Kansas City's farm system, and in 2008
he served the Royals as a special assistant to the director of player development.
Two of John's sons, Derek
and Dusty
, played professional baseball. Derek played minor league baseball
from 1998–2008, while Dusty played briefly for the Royals in 2002 and is currently the manager of the Clearwater Threshers
, an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
and manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
for the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
. He was considered one of the rare catchers with speed, having 105 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s during his career. In 1982, he stole 36 bases, breaking the single-season record for catchers set by Ray Schalk
Ray Schalk
Raymond William Schalk was a professional baseball player, coach, manager and scout. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox for the majority of his career. Known for his fine handling of pitchers and outstanding defensive ability, Schalk was considered the...
in 1916 despite missing four weeks with a broken ankle earlier in the season.
Wathan, nicknamed "Duke" for his dead-on impersonations of John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
, was drafted in the first round, fourth overall in the 1971 MLB Draft
1971 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1971 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The June 1971 draft was a productive one, even though none of its top ten choices yielded players who would have memorable major league careers...
from the University of San Diego
University of San Diego
The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic university in San Diego, California. USD offers more than sixty bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral programs...
. Wathan played ten seasons with the Royals from to where he played in 860 games, averaging a career .261 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
with 21 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 261 RBIs. Wathan has his best season in in which he played in 126 games, and had a .305 batting average.
After he retired, Wathan became the manager for Kansas City's AAA Omaha Royals
Omaha Royals
The Omaha Storm Chasers are a United States minor league baseball team currently based in the Omaha suburb of Papillion, Nebraska. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major league club and has been a member of the expanded Pacific Coast League since 1998. From 1969 to 1997,...
farm club and he was promoted manager for the big-league Royals on August 28, . He managed five seasons in Kansas City, having two winning seasons in and and finishing second in the American League West
American League West
The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the...
both times. He was fired early in the season after a 15-22 start.
In , Wathan began the season as the third-base coach of the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, but he was named acting manager midway through the campaign when Buck Rodgers
Buck Rodgers
Robert LeRoy "Buck" Rodgers is a former catcher, manager and coach in Major League Baseball. As a manager, he helmed three major league teams: the Milwaukee Brewers , Montreal Expos and California Angels , compiling a career won-lost mark of 784–773 .-Playing career:Rodgers attended Ohio Wesleyan...
was badly hurt in a bus accident and took a medical leave of absence. Wathan led the Angels to a 39-50 record until Rodgers was well enough to return. He spent as a Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
coach, worked as a color analyst on Royals telecasts in and , and has worked as a scout and minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
instructor for a number of organizations since. In -07
2007 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champion – [Boston Red Sox]*Postseason – October 2 to October 28Click on any series score to link to that series' page....
, Wathan was a roving baserunning and bunting instructor in Kansas City's farm system, and in 2008
2008 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:* Regular Season Champions* World Series Champions – Philadelphia Phillies** American League Champions – Tampa Bay Rays** National League Champions – Philadelphia Phillies* Postseason – October 1 to October 29...
he served the Royals as a special assistant to the director of player development.
Two of John's sons, Derek
Derek Wathan
Derek Wathan was a professional baseball player who is currently retired. He was a switch hitting middle infielder. He is the son of former MLB player,and MLB manager John Wathan. He is also the brother of former MLB player and Phillies minor league manager Dusty Wathan...
and Dusty
Dusty Wathan
Dustin James Wathan is an American former professional baseball player. A catcher, Wathan played in Major League Baseball for the Kansas City Royals in ....
, played professional baseball. Derek played minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
from 1998–2008, while Dusty played briefly for the Royals in 2002 and is currently the manager of the Clearwater Threshers
Clearwater Threshers
The Clearwater Threshers are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the Florida State League. Since 2004, the team competes in the West Division....
, an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.