KANSAS CITY – John Wathan has worn so many caps within the Royals organization that sometimes it’s hard to keep track.
Former catcher, first baseman, outfielder, coach, manager, broadcaster, scout, roving instructor and special assistant of player development.
How about adding Royals Hall of Famer to that list?
Wathan was elected to the club’s Hall of Fame on Thursday, and he will be inducted in a ceremony this summer at a date that has yet to be determined. It’s long overdue for a baseball lifer who spent 47 years with the Royals and 52 in baseball.
“After 52 years in baseball and 47 with the Royals, I can honestly say I have always bled Royal blue,” Wathan said in the Royals’ news release. “This is the ultimate honor for living as a Royal all those years. I couldn’t begin to thank everyone involved on this journey with me. It has been a real privilege to be with one organization that long. It is a rare feat and one that I have been so proud of for all these years.”
Wathan was selected fourth overall by the Royals in the 1971 January Draft. Nicknamed “The Duke” for his incredibly accurate John Wayne impression, all 10 of Wathan’s big league seasons were played with Kansas City, logging 572 games as a catcher, 196 as a first baseman and 64 as an outfielder. From 1976-85 – his first big league season was the Royals’ first American League West championship and his last was Kansas City's first World Series championship – Wathan slashed .262/.318/.343 with 656 hits, 90 doubles, 25 triples and 21 home runs, along with 105 stolen bases.
But Wathan’s career extended long past he retired as a player. He returned as a member of the Royals' Major League coaching staff in 1986 and was Triple-A Omaha's manager in ‘87. After the Royals fired Billy Gardner in August 1987, Wathan took over managerial duties for the big league club.
As manager from 1987-91, Wathan led the Royals to a 287-270 record (.515 winning percentage), including a 92-70 mark in '89.
Following the end of his managerial tenure, Wathan coached with the Angels and Red Sox before returning to the Royals in 1996 as a broadcaster. After two years in the booth, he spent time as a scout and in player development for the next two decades.
“Few people in this organization have impacted the Royals the way Duke has – serving in so many roles and contributing at such a high level over so many years,” Royals president of baseball operations and general manager J.J. Picollo said in a statement. “This honor is incredibly well deserved for Duke and his family, and we’re proud to recognize a professional life devoted to the Royals and to Kansas City.”
Most recently, Wathan was a special assistant in player development until his retirement in 2022. Two of Wathan’s sons, Derek and Dusty, played professional baseball, with Dusty briefly making it to the big leagues with the Royals for three games in 2002. He’s now the third-base coach with the Phillies.
Wathan earned election to the Royals Hall of Fame through the veterans committee voting process. The committee consists of 16 voting members selected by the board, including Royals Hall of Fame members, club executives and media members. Candidates must be named on at least 75% of all ballots cast to be elected.
When he’s inducted this summer, Wathan will become the 32nd member of the Royals Hall of Fame.
1986: Pitcher Steve Busby and outfielder Amos Otis
1987: Manager Dick Howser, second baseman Cookie Rojas and pitcher Paul Splittorff
1989: Pitcher Dennis Leonard and designated hitter Hal McRae
1992: Club president Joe Burke, pitcher Larry Gura and shortstop Fred Patek
1993: Owner Ewing Kauffman
1994: Third baseman George Brett
1995: Second baseman Frank White
1996: Royals First Lady Muriel Kauffman and first baseman John Mayberry
1998: Relief pitcher Dan Quisenberry
2000: Manager Whitey Herzog and outfielder Willie Wilson
2003: Pitcher Jeff Montgomery
2004: Radio announcer Denny Matthews
2005: Pitcher Bret Saberhagen
2006: Pitcher Mark Gubicza
2008: Scout Art Stewart
2011: Pitcher Kevin Appier
2012: Groundskeeper George Toma
2015: First baseman/DH Mike Sweeney
2023: Manager Ned Yost
2024: General manager Cedric Tallis, general manager John Schuerholz and outfielder Bo Jackson
2025: Outfielder Alex Gordon