European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 29, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday August 29,1987 the stars and stripes Page 21 sports royals fire Gardner hire Wathan Kansas Crry map the Kansas cily royals fired manager Billy Gardner thursday and replaced him with Long time royals player John Wathan. Wathan who was in his first year As manner of the royals class aaa team at Omaha was Given the Job after it was turned Down by Hal Mcrae the icam s baiting instructor and former designated hitter said general manager John Schuerholz. Mcrae has said previously that he wants 10 spend More time with his family. He said thursday he was t sure i f he could com i i h in self to managing i know in s a Tough Job and you have 10 make a Strong commitment to a Mcrae said who retired this year after 17 years As a player. To me the most important people arc the players. I did t want to be in a position of protecting myself trying to save my Job. I wanted to create an environment where the players could work and gel their jobs done without worrying about wins and  the offer to Mcrae who is Black followed owner Ewing Kauffman s announcement in the Spring Lylial the royals would develop a plan to move minorities Inlo management positions with the club. Aultman s statement followed a remark an nation Al television by Al Campanis of the us Angeles Dodg ers that Blacks might Lack some of the necessities for management. That remark Cost Campanis his Job and called attention to inc Lack of Blacks in from office and management positions throughout baseball. The royals were 62-64 going into thursday s game with the Texas rangers and trailed the Minnesota twins by 3tt games in the american league West. It is our belief this club still has an Opportunity to win the Pennant with the Talent and commitment that in has Schuerholz said. We believe this club Lias the necessary Talent to put a Pennant drive on. We feel that with John Wathan s knowledge of the organization and especially his knowledge of inc peo ple on this team and More especially his feel for what the royals organization Means that he is the Man most qualified to gel the season on track albeit with a Short time  took Over the royals when manager Dick How scr resigned feb. 21 because of a Bruin Lumen. Gardner had been hired in the Oft season As third base coach with the expectation that he would manage if How scr was too weak 10 handle the Job. Schuerholz said that Walhan would manage the royals for the a Cal of the season and that a decision about who would manage the club in i ass would be made  be played poorly at times this season we be played great a times Walihan said. My Job is to gel that consistency  Wathan has been in the royals organi action for 17 years As a player coach and manager. He was a catch or first baseman and outfielder in 10 big league sea sons with Kansas City. Even though i have limited experience As a manager i think the Way i played the game and the Way i studied inc game