A longtime player, coach, manager and broadcaster who spent decades with the Kansas City Royals organization has been voted into the team’s Hall of Fame. Video above: Royals announce outfield wall move for 2026 season John Wathan was drafted to the Royals in 1971. He was a part of several Royals’ successes, including their first American League West Championship and their first World Series in 1985, his last big league season as a player. Wathan still holds the Major League Baseball record for most stolen bases as a catcher in a single season, with 36. After his retirement, he returned as a member of the coaching staff and later became a Royals broadcaster. “After 52 years in baseball and 47 with the Royals, I can honestly say I have always bled Royal blue,” Wathan said in a 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.” After decades as a player, coach, manager and broadcaster, Wathan officially retired from baseball following the 2022 season. “John Wathan is truly the Royals man for all seasons,” said Curt Nelson, senior director of the Royals Hall of Fame. “As a player, he was a key contributor in a career that bookended the entire first Royals championship era. He followed that with decades of service as a coach, manager, broadcaster, instructor and scout. All of it with class and a deep devotion to the Royals and Kansas City.” Wathan was elected through the Royals Hall of Fame Veterans Committee, which is made up of 16 voting members, including Royals Hall of Fame members, club executives and media members. Candidates must be named on at least 75% of ballots to be elected. In 2025, outfielder Alex Gordon was elected to the Hall of Fame.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —
A longtime player, coach, manager and broadcaster who spent decades with the Kansas City Royals organization has been voted into the team’s Hall of Fame.
Video above: Royals announce outfield wall move for 2026 season
John Wathan was drafted to the Royals in 1971. He was a part of several Royals’ successes, including their first American League West Championship and their first World Series in 1985, his last big league season as a player. Wathan still holds the Major League Baseball record for most stolen bases as a catcher in a single season, with 36.
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals shared photos of John Wathan during his time as a player along with an official Royals headshot.
After his retirement, he returned as a member of the coaching staff and later became a Royals broadcaster.
“After 52 years in baseball and 47 with the Royals, I can honestly say I have always bled Royal blue,” Wathan said in a 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.”
After decades as a player, coach, manager and broadcaster, Wathan officially retired from baseball following the 2022 season.
“John Wathan is truly the Royals man for all seasons,” said Curt Nelson, senior director of the Royals Hall of Fame. “As a player, he was a key contributor in a career that bookended the entire first Royals championship era. He followed that with decades of service as a coach, manager, broadcaster, instructor and scout. All of it with class and a deep devotion to the Royals and Kansas City.”
Wathan was elected through the Royals Hall of Fame Veterans Committee, which is made up of 16 voting members, including Royals Hall of Fame members, club executives and media members. Candidates must be named on at least 75% of ballots to be elected.
In 2025, outfielder Alex Gordon was elected to the Hall of Fame.