Bronx Bomber Ball

Former Yankees First Baseman and General Manager, Bob “Bull” Watson, has passed away after a battle with kidney disease. Watson became the first African-American General Manager to win a World Series in 1996, after putting together the 1996 Yankees who ended the franchise’s 18-year drought without a World Series Title.  Watson and his successor, Brian Cashman (Photo by Michael  Schwartz) Watson also has a gold medal, as the Chairman of USA Baseball’s selection committee for the 2000 Olympics. Watson is still the only executive to hold a gold medal in addition to a World Series ring. As a player, Watson played 19 seasons, earning himself two All-Star Game appearances in 1973 and 1975 and receiving votes for MVP in three seasons. He played 14 seasons with the Houston Astros before playing a season with the Red Sox, and three each with the Yankees and Atlanta Braves. Watson finished his career with 1,826 hits, 184 home runs, and a .295 batting average across his 19 se...

For those Yankee fans that are about my age in their 20's (give or take a few years) it may be difficult to remember a time when Brian Cashman was not the General Manager and calling the shots in the Yankees’ front office. Such a time did occur however and even though he has occupied a few different roles in the organization throughout his tenure with the team, on February 3 rd,  1998, Cashman was promoted to the role he has become synonymous with over the years, General Manager of the New York Yankees.   Photo Via Bronx Pinstripes

Despite featuring one of the most detrimental trades in recent Yankees history, February 1 st  is a day that is usually forgotten by Bombers fans.   On this day in 1999, Yankees General Manager Bob Watson pulled off a trade that would go on to haunt the Yankees for the next 12 seasons.   18 years ago today New York traded highly touted third base prospect Mike Lowell to the Florida Marlins in exchange for Mark Johnson and Ed Yarnall, eventually proving to be one of the worst trades of Watson’s career. Photo via Bronx Baseball Daily