John Wathan

John David Wathan
(The Duke)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 205 lb.
• School University of San Diego
• High School St. Augustine High School (San Diego)
• Debut May 26, 1976
• Final Game October 6, 1985
• Born October 4, 1949 in Cedar Rapids, IA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Primarily a catcher, John Wathan played a decade in the majors, entirely with the Kansas City Royals, and was later a coach, manager, and TV broadcaster.

He won Silver with Team USA in the 1970 Amateur World Series. After playing baseball and basketball at the University of San Diego, Wathan was drafted by the Royals in the January 1971 amateur draft and made his pro debut that year. He hit .303 with the Omaha Royals in 1975 and made the American Association All-Star team. He reached the majors in 1976 and hit .305 in 453 at-bats for the Royals in 1980 as the team reached the World Series that year. He also developed some fame as one of the few catchers of the time who could steal bases, recording a high of 36 in 1982 while only being caught 9 times. He also appeared in the 1985 World Series (which the Royals won), closing out his major league playing career.

Following his playing days, Wathan was a Royals coach in 1986 and managed in Omaha for most of 1987 before replacing Billy Gardner as the Kansas City skipper late in August. After leading the club to a second place finish in the AL West in 1989, the team slipped to sixth place the next year, and he was fired early in the 1991 campaign. He was a member of the California Angels coaching staff in 1992 and 1993 and was interim manager for 89 games in 1992 while Buck Rodgers recovered from injuries suffered in a team bus crash. He was then a Boston Red Sox coach in 1994.

In 1996 and 1997, Wathan was a Royals television broadcaster. He worked as a roving baserunning and bunting instructor for KC from 2006 to 2007 and served as a special assistant to the director of player development in 2008, a title he still held in 2022.

He is the father of Dusty Wathan and Derek Wathan.

Following the 1980 World Series, Wathan appeared with four of his Royals teammates on Family Feud for one week in 1980. He, Willie Wilson, Paul Splittorff, Dan Quisenberry and Dennis Leonard played against five members of the Philadelphia Phillies: Del Unser, Larry Bowa, Mike Schmidt, Dick Ruthven and Garry Maddox.

Notable Achievement

• Won a World Series with the Kansas City Royals in 1985

Preceded by Billy Gardner

Kansas City Royals Manager 1987-1991

Succeeded by Bob Boone

Preceded by Buck Rodgers

California Angels Manager 1992

Succeeded by Buck Rodgers

Year-By-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs	Notes
1987	Omaha Royals	American Association	62-69	---	Kansas City Royals	--	Replaced by Frank Funk (2-7) on August 27
1987	Kansas City Royals	American League	21-15	2nd	Kansas City Royals		replaced Billy Gardner (62-64) on August 27
1988	Kansas City Royals	American League	84-77	3rd	Kansas City Royals
1989	Kansas City Royals	American League	92-70	2nd	Kansas City Royals
1990	Kansas City Royals	American League	75-86	6th	Kansas City Royals
1991	Kansas City Royals	American League	15-22	--	Kansas City Royals		replaced by Bob Schaefer and Hal McRae on May 23
1992	California Angels	American League	39-50	--	California Angels		interim for Buck Rodgers from May 22 to August 26

Related Sites

• John Wathan at the SABR Bio Project
• BR Manager page