Bob Watson, former All-Star and championship GM, dies at 74

HOUSTON -- Bob Watson, a two-time All-Star as a player who later became the first black general manager to win a World Series with the New York Yankees in 1996, has died. He was 74.

The Houston Astros, for whom Watson played his first 14 major league seasons, announced the death Thursday night. Watson died from kidney disease, according to his son.

"This is a very sad day for the Astros and for all of baseball," the team said in a statement. "Bob Watson enjoyed a unique and remarkable career in Major League Baseball that spanned six decades, reaching success at many different levels, including as a player, coach, general manager and MLB executive."

Watson, who was nicknamed "The Bull,'' made the All-Star team in 1973 and '75, hit over .300 four times and drove in at least 100 runs twice while hitting in the middle of the Astros' lineup. He also holds the distinction of scoring the 1 millionth run in major league history, accomplishing the feat on May 4, 1975, against the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park, although some statisticians have since disputed that he was the player to reach the milestone.

"Bob Watson was a highly accomplished figure in our National Pastime and a deeply respected colleague for those of us at Major League Baseball," said MLB commissioner Rob Manfred via statement. "He was an All-Star during his 19-year Major League career and a groundbreaking executive in the front office. Bob rose up to become general manager of the Astros in 1993 and made history as the first African American GM of a World Series Champion with the 1996 Yankees. He then oversaw all On-Field Operations for the Commissioner's Office and played a pivotal role in USA Baseball's success internationally, including its Olympic Gold Medal in the 2000 Sydney Games."

Watson also became a big hit off the field for his cameo, along with several Astros teammates, in the 1977 comedy film "The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training." In a key scene, Watson delivered the memorable line: "Hey, c'mon, let the kids play!"

He also played for Boston (1979), the Yankees (1980-82) and Atlanta Braves (1982-84), finishing with a .295 career batting average and 184 home runs, 989 RBIs and 802 runs scored while primarily playing first base and left field. Watson also hit .371 in 17 career postseason games. With the Astros, he hit .297 with 139 homers and 782 RBIs. He was the first player to hit for the cycle in both leagues, accomplishing the feat for Houston in 1977 and Boston two years later.

After retiring from playing, Watson began coaching and helped the 1988 Oakland Athletics win the American League pennant as the hitting coach for the likes of Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire.

He became the second black general manager in major league history when he was hired by the Astros in 1993. Watson was hired by the Yankees in 1995, and helped put together the World Series-winning squad in 1996. He retired from the Yankees after the 1997 season and later served as Major League Baseball's vice president in charge of discipline and vice president of rules and on-field operations.

Watson retired from his MLB roles in 2010.

"He was an All-Star on the field and a true pioneer off of it, admired and respected by everyone he played with or worked alongside,'' the Astros' statement said. "Bob will be missed, but not forgotten."

The team honored Watson in March by dedicating the Bob Watson Education Center at the Astros Youth Academy in Houston with the former All-Star in attendance.

Watson overcame prostate cancer after being diagnosed in 1994, and became an advocate for awareness and early detection. He often spoke at conferences and seminars about his experience, which he also discussed in his book "Survive To Win," which was published in 1997. He dealt with other health problems in recent years, including kidney failure.

He is survived by wife, Carol; daughter, Kelley; and son, Keith.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.