It was a fitting way to finish his career, as Paul had been a Royal from the start of the franchise, picked in the 25th round of the 1968 draft. Now, he was handing the ball over to the future pitching star of the franchise. The future that would win two Cy Young’s and shutout the Cardinals in game 7 of the 1985 Series while in a Royals uniform.

For most of Paul’s career, he was a solid part of the Kansas City pitching staff as the team grew from expansion club into perennial threat to win it all. He’s still the franchise leader in victories with 166, and 2nd in shutouts with 17.

Like his teammate Dan Quisenberry, he wasn’t a strikeout artist, but he trusted his defense and tried to induce the hitter into making weak contact. He often succeeded. He also didn’t walk many batters, so he didn’t buy himself trouble he didn’t need.

A career 3.81 ERA might not look all that great at first glance, especially considering his ERA+ was 101, but he was often far better than that. In the 166 games he was credited with a win, his ERA was a slim 2.02, which gives you an idea just how good he could be when he was on.

In the end, like so many other 37 year old pitchers, he just ran out of gas to keep up with the young up-and-coming hitters that would stand at the plate trying everything to prove they belong in the major leagues.

Today, on the 76th anniversary of Babe Ruth’s final home run, Paul ran out of gas completely, a little younger than most, at the age of 64. We still love ya Paul, thanks for the memories.

The record had been set 66 years earlier in 1916 by Hall of Fame catcher Ray Shalk. The closest any catcher had gotten during that time was John Stearns of the Mets, with 25 swipes in 1978.

John’s achievement is even more amazing to me, after I found out that he fractured his ankle on July 5th of the season and spent 5 weeks on the DL. Yet still managed to break the record with more than a month to go and finish the season with 36.

He almost led the team in stolen bases too, but leadoff man Willie Wilson managed to steal his 37th base in the final week of 1982.

The following year, John did an encore by stealing another 28. Through 2009, those 28 steals are still the most any catcher has stolen since he broke the record himself.

John Wathan’s final appearance in the major leagues, was as a pinch runner in the bottom of the 9th of game 6 of the 1985 World Series. The Royals won the game, and the World Series. Nice way to finish a career.

In one of the coolest coincidences ever, Topps added a Larry Gura trivia note to the back of John’s ’82 card. Larry Gura ended up being the winning pitcher of the game in which John broke the steals record.

Random John Wathan facts and stats—

• Drafted by Royals, and played entire career with the team
• Total of 79 steals as a catcher
• Stolen base percentage was 76% as a catcher
• .363 OBP against the White Sox
• Slugged 40 points higher against lefties than he did against righties
• Slugged best when he was batting 4th in the lineup
• Stole 40 bases when was in the #2 slot
• Managed the Royals ’87-’91, to a 287-270 record (.515)

He somehow managed to drive in more than 1400 runs while posting an on base percentage below .320. In fact, he’s one of only 10 players to ever accomplish 1000+ RBI’s with an OBP under .320. There’s something to be said for that, since it’s nearly impossibly to bring runners home when you can’t hit or walk well.

He really didn’t have an exciting season in ’82, only coming to the plate 107 times. He did hit better in those appearances than any other season in his career though, posting a whopping .393 OBP.

He really loved facing the Indians that year though, putting together a .458/.440/.792 batting line in 6 games against them. He smacked 2 of his 3 HR’s against them, and a .600 BABIP.

Until recently, I’d completely forgotten that Lee May even played in the 80′s. I think of him more as a late 60′s to mid-70′s player. You know…the guy who hit the ball to Brooks Robinson in the 1970 World Series when Robinson made that spectacular play in foul territory and still threw the runner out. He actually hit very well in that Series, which is sad, ’cause we only remember a time when he got out.

The Royals though, were getting tired of Hurdle being a potential talent and not becoming the superstar they expected from a 1st round draft pick. So after the ’81 season they traded Clint to Cincinnati for…Scott Brown. Scott who?

Scott Brown, appeared in 10 major league games, earning a nice 2.77 ERA. The Royals must’ve thought they were getting a deal here. Brown though, fizzled and disappeared. He didn’t play anywhere in ’82 and played only one more season of baseball, before his playing days were over. I assume an injury, but I have no clue.

And Hurdle didn’t do so well for the Reds, so they sent him to the Mets in ’83, who sent him to the Cardinals in ’86, and then back to the Mets in ’87. Yeah, he just missed being on the ’86 World Champion Mets and the ’87 NL Champion Cardinals. Go figure.

Nowadays, most people know him for his managerial time. He led the Rockies to the 2007 World Series.