McRae Rejects Royal Job; Wathan Named Manager
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals, in fourth place in the American League West, fired Billy Gardner as manager Thursday and replaced him with former catcher John Wathan for at least the remainder of the season.
With Wathan managing Thursday night, the Royals beat Texas, 3-2, in 10 innings and moved into third place, ahead of the Angels.
Kansas City General Manager John Schuerholz said the move “was necessary for a leadership change.”
Schuerholz said Royal hitting coach Hal McRae, who recently was taken off the active roster as a player, was the team’s first choice but “turned the job down for reasons Hal will have to give you.”
McRae would have become the fourth black manager in major league history, following Frank Robinson, Maury Wills and Larry Doby. Robinson was the last black manager, with San Francisco in 1984.
McRae said he did not expect any criticism for turning down an opportunity to become baseball’s next black manager.
“I don’t expect any and if I do get it, I don’t care,” McRae said.
“My family comes first. My job is to be a provider in the best way that I can.”
Schuerholz offered McRae the Royal job for at least the rest of the season Wednesday night after Gardner was fired.
Baseball has been under fire from blacks for not having many blacks in management positions. Al Campanis, former Dodger executive, touched off the controversy when he suggested on ABC-TV’s “Nightline” program that blacks might lack some of “the necessities” for management.
“I’m not a pioneer, I’m not a crusader,” McRae said. “I’m just trying to do my job.”
McRae retired as a player this year and has served as hitting coach. He has often said this year that he wants to spend more time with his family.
“Sometimes a guy wants to manage just for the sake of managing,” McRae said. “Sometimes, he wants to manage to get himself a better position with another team. That’s not my way. I just want a good situation. I don’t want to manage just for the sake of managing.”
McRae said he wasn’t sure if he could commit himself fully to the job.
“I know it’s a tough job and you have to make a strong commitment,” he said. “I didn’t want to have to be in the position of having to protect myself, of always trying to save my job.
“To me, the most important people are players. I wanted to be able to create an environment where the players could work and get their jobs done and not always be worrying about wins and losses.”
It was the third managerial change in the majors this season. John Felske was fired in Philadelphia and replaced by Lee Elia, and Pat Corrales was dismissed in Cleveland and succeeded by Doc Edwards.
Under Gardner, the Royals were 62-64. Gardner was hired in spring training when former manager Dick Howser was unable to continue because of a brain tumor.
Wathan, whose only managerial experience came this season at Omaha of the Triple-A American Assn., is the ninth manager in franchise history.
Wathan was given a contract as manager through the end of the season, at which time a decision will be made regarding 1988. His contract with the organization, originally signed when he was playing, runs through the close of next season.
Wathan, who has been in the Royals’ organization for 17 years, does not believe his lack of experience will hurt.
“It’s been brief, but I’ve learned a lot the last six months,” Wathan said. “We need to get back to the old style of running a little bit more and hitting-and-running a little bit more and not wait for something to happen.”
Royal catcher Jamie Quirk said: “They sent John to Omaha for one reason--to learn the trade. I think Billy knew that and felt John was going to be the next manager of the Royals. I had no idea this was coming.”
Gardner, 60, joined the Royal staff on Oct. 10, 1986.
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