Bob Watson
Robert Jose Watson (born April 10, 1946 in Los Angeles, California) is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball for the Houston Astros, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Atlanta Braves from 1966-1984. Nicknamed "Bull", Watson's best seasons and lengthiest tenure were with the Astros. Though originally a catcher, he also played in the outfield and was a dependable hitter. His home run numbers were somewhat hurt by the fact that he played the majority of his career in the Astrodome.
In 1979, as a member of the Red Sox, he hit for the cycle, becoming the first player to accomplish this feat in both the National League and American League.
At the end of the 1993 season he was named general manager of the Houston Astros, becoming the first ever African American to serve as a GM in the major leagues. He served as GM for the New York Yankees from 23 October 1995 to 2 February 1998. The 1996 team won the World Series, the first Yankee team to do so since 1978. After the 1997 season, Watson retired from the Yankees and now serves as Major League Baseball's vice president in charge of discipline and vice president of rules and on-field operations.
Watson holds the distinction of having scored the 1,000,000th run (narrowly eclipsing Dave Concepcion) in Major League history on May 4, 1975. The total only included runs scored in the National League and American League (not "3rd" major leagues).
See also
External link
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
Preceded by Don Sutton |
Major League Player of the Month May, 1972 |
Succeeded by César Cedeño |
Preceded by Joe Morgan |
National League Player of the Month May, 1975 |
Succeeded by Joe Morgan |
Preceded by |
Houston Astros General Manager 1994–1995 |
Succeeded by Gerry Hunsicker |
Preceded by Gene Michael |
New York Yankees General Manager 1995–1997 |
Succeeded by Brian Cashman |