Kansas City Royals

Date of birth: October 4, 1949 Cedar Rapids, IA

High School:  St. Augustine HS (San Diego, CA)

College: University of San Diego (San Diego, CA)

Nickname: Duke, I am guessing something with John Wayne, John Wathan. And wikipedia says it was due to his spot on impression of Wayne.

First Impression; Its a good card and if I knew he was a Duke, I would have like him more as that was my high school mascot name, the Dukes. He’s taking BP.

Career stats player: A career Royal, who doesn’t love that. He was the Royals 2nd catcher and utility man, playing first and outfield. His best offensive season was 1980 as he played in 126 games, and hit .305. He was on the 1985 Royals Championship team.

All Time Stat: He is 17th all time with the Royals in steals with 105. He stole 32 bases in 1982.

Career stats manager: 326-320. Wathan was hired after Billy Gardner was fired in 1987. The Royals played well under him finishing 21-15. They improved again in 1988 and were up to 92 wins in 1989 when they finished in 2nd place. Then they started the backward slide losing 86 games in 1990 and then in 1991 he only lasted 37 games into the season, and was fired after the Royal were 15-22. He would go on to interim for the Angels as well in 1992. He subbed in for Buck Rodgers, the Angels manager, who was hurt in a bus accident. The team was 39-50 in that time.

Fun Fact: Wathan is notable for setting the single-season stolen base record for catchers in 1982 when, he stole 36 bases to break the previous record set by Ray Schalk in 1916.*

Ever a Future Star?  No

Rookie or final card? No, he would get a manager card 1988-1991 with him being pictured with a batting helmet on in 1988.

Hall of Fame? Number retired? No.

Links to stories including John Wathan.

*wikipedia