“Bob Watson was a highly accomplished figure in our National Pastime and a deeply respected colleague for those of us at Major League Baseball,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement Friday morning.
“Bob was known for some of the unique moments of his generation, including scoring the millionth run in baseball history and a memorable role in The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training.
On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to his wife Carol, their children, and his many friends and admirers across our game.”
“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.
He became MLB’s second African American general manager when the Astros hired him in 1993 after The Atlanta Braves mention Bill Lucas the first in Major League Baseball history.