#Shortstops: Give Watson a Ring

A two-time All-Star with the Houston Astros, Bob Watson was one of the most consistent hitters of the 1970s – finishing his 19-year big league career with 184 home runs and a .295 batting average.

But Watson’s imprint on the baseball landscape was only beginning when he walked off the field as a player for the last time in 1984.

Watson spent all of the 1980 and 1981 campaigns with the Yankees before being traded to the Braves early in the 1982 season. With the Braves, Watson transitioned into a player/coach, helping manager Joe Torre lead Atlanta to the National League West title that year.

It would be a connection that would make history a decade later.

Following his retirement as a player, Watson became a coach with the Athletics before being named the Astros’ assistant general manager after the 1988 season. Five years later, Watson would assume the full general manager role in Houston – breaking barriers for Black executives in MLB.

On Oct. 23, 1995, the Yankees named Watson as their general manager.

“New York has a special place in my memories and in my heart,” Watson, who helped the Yankees win the American League pennant in 1981, told the News-Herald of Passaic, N.J., after he was named the team’s general manager. “The (1981 American League championship) ring says ‘pride’ and ‘tradition.’ There are a lot of things running through my mind and heart right now, but the biggest thing is to be named general manager of the biggest sports franchise in the United States. It makes me very proud.”

Shortly thereafter, Watson tabbed Torre to be the team’s new manager. It was an unconventional pick – and one that drew criticism from fans and media. But Watson proved to be correct as Torre led New York to the 1996 World Series title, the team’s first championship in 18 years. Torre would go on to help the Yankees win four World Series from 1996-2000 en route to induction the Hall of Fame in 2014.

Watson resigned as New York’s general manager in early 1998 for health reasons but joined Team USA in 1999, helping select team members for the United States Olympic Baseball Team in both 2000 and 2004. The team Watson helped assemble won the gold medal at the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, Australia.

From 2002-10, Watson was MLB’s vice president for on-field operations. Following an active retirement, Watson passed away on May 14, 2020, at the age of 74.

Watson’s wife, Carol, donated Watson’s 1996 World Series ring and his 2000 Summer Olympics ring to the Museum after Watson’s passing. Those pieces joined Watson artifacts already in the Museum, including the Astros jersey and shoes he wore on May 4, 1975, when he scored what was thought to be MLB’s one millionth run during a game against the Giants at Candlestick Park.

Watson’s two rings are on display in The Souls of the Game exhibit at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

“Bob was just a special, special guy,” Torre told the New York Daily News following Watson’s passing.

“If it wasn’t for Bob Watson,” said Torre, referring to his 1996 World Series ring, “I wouldn’t have this.”

Craig Muder is the director of communications for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum