ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Bob Watson will retire at the end of the year as baseball’s vice president in charge of discipline.
Watson has decided penalties for brawls, intentional hit batters and other matters since 2002 in his role as VP of on-field operations. The retirement was announced by the commissioner’s office Tuesday.
The 64-year-old Watson was a two-time All-Star as a player. He was general manager of the Houston Astros and New York Yankees. He became the first black GM in baseball to win a World Series title, with the Yankees in 1996.
He also was the U.S. Baseball Federation’s selection committee chairman, helping staff Olympic baseball teams.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.