Why this card is awesome: Because this card is the opposite of Jamie Quirk's. Quirk looks like a manager on his card even though he's not, whereas Wathan looks like a player here even though he's not. He's wearing a batting helmet even though he wasn't an active player for the Royals after 1985. Perhaps he still took part in some batting drills.
Sorry this scan came out a little blurry.
Cool stat: Wathan had just 21 career HR, but he did hit 2 off one guy: Floyd Bannister, who was later managed by Wathan.
Wathan brought some stability to the Royals after the Dick Howser tragedy. In the spring of 1986, Howser was leading the Royals in defending their World Championship. Less than a year later, he succumbed to a brain tumor at age 51. After two interim managers, Wathan took the reigns in August 1987. This card represents a melancholy transition for a great sports franchise.
ReplyDeleteWow, combine your mention with Jamie Quirk's "pitching" during ESPN's rebroadcast of the HR hitting contest yesterday and I've got 200% of my annual supply of vitamin Quirk.
ReplyDeleteWonder if Jamie will sell his, uh, "game used" All-Star jersey?
David, well said....
ReplyDeleteTwo things I like about Wathan:
ReplyDeleteVersatility (C-1B-OF) and that he played for only one team.
Just found an interesting tid-bit:
ReplyDeleteJohn Wathan holds the single season SB record for catchers at 36 in 1982.