Don Wakamatsu
From BR Bullpen
Wilbur Donald Wakamatsu
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 200 lb.
- School Arizona State University
- Debut May 22, 1991
- Final Game October 5, 1991
- Born February 22, 1963 in Hood River, OR USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Catcher Don Wakamatsu got all nine of his big league starts with the Chicago White Sox when knuckleballer Charlie Hough pitched. After a twelve year minor league career ended, he spent four seasons as a minor league manager. He was the Texas Rangers bench coach from 2003 to 2006 and was a candidate to replace Buck Showalter as skipper after his dismissal. Instead, Showalter was replaced by Ron Washington and Wakamatsu became the club's third base coach. In 2008 he moved to the Oakland A's as bench coach.
On November 18, 2008, he was named the Seattle Mariners manager for the 2009 season. He is the first Asian-American manager in major league history. Don's Japanese-American grandparents were in an internment camp during World War II. His mother is of Irish descent. After a strong 2009 season the Mariners struggled in 2010 and Wakamatsu was fired along with coaches Rick Adair and Ty Van Burkleo on August 9.
On November 9, 2010, he was named the new Bench Coach for the Toronto Blue Jays for the 2011 season in a post-season coaching shuffle.
Don Wakamatsu authored the foreword for the full-length biography "Kenichi Zenimura, Japanese American Baseball Pioneer," by baseball historian and author Bill Staples, Jr., due for release by McFarland Press in June 2011. Fans seeking additional information on Zenimura can visit: http://www.zenimura.com.
| Preceded by Jim Riggleman | Seattle Mariners Manager 2009-2010 | Succeeded by Daren Brown |
[edit] Year-By-Year Managerial Record
| Year | Team | League | Record | Finish | Organization | Playoffs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | AZL Diamondbacks | Arizona League | 27-29 | 4th | Arizona Diamondbacks | none | shared position with Brian Butterfield |
| 1998 | High Desert Mavericks | California League | 82-58 | 2nd | Arizona Diamondbacks | Lost in 2nd round | |
| 1999 | El Paso Diablos | Texas League | 64-76 | 7th | Arizona Diamondbacks | ||
| 2000 | Erie Sea Wolves | Eastern League | 47-94 | 12th | Anaheim Angels | ||
| 2009 | Seattle Mariners | American League | 85-77 | 3rd | Seattle Mariners | ||
| 2010 | Seattle Mariners | American League | 42-70 | -- | Seattle Mariners | replaced by Daren Brown on August 9 |
[edit] Related Sites
Don Wakamatsu's grandparents' story puts new spin on life, baseball
