John Wathan retiring after 47 years with Royals

John Wathan is retiring after 51 years in professional baseball, including 47 years with the Kansas City Royals. The Royals announced Wednesday that the 72-year-old Wathan will retire at the end of the season. Wathan played catcher for the Royals from 1976-85 and managed the team from 1987-91. He also managed the California Angels for part of the 1992 season before returning to Kansas City as a broadcaster, assistant coach, scout, roving instructor and special assistant to player development. Wathan batted .262 with 21 homers, 261 RBIs and 105 stolen bases in 860 games. He set a major league record for catchers with 36 stolen bases in 1982 and won a World Series with the Royals in 1985. He compiled a 326-320 record as a manager, including 39-50 with the Angels in 1992 when he took over after skipper Buck Rodgers was injured in a bus accident. --Field Level Media