Ex-Yankees GM Bob Watson turns down lifesaving kidney offers

Tom Schad | USA TODAY

As he battles kidney failure, former New York Yankees general manager Bob Watson told The New York Daily News that he has turned down lifesaving offers of a new kidney from his children.

"Both my kids offered to donate kidneys to me," said Watson, the first African American general manager to win a World Series title. "And I told them both the same thing: ‘I’ve had a good life and I don’t want to take a kidney from young people who really need them and still have their whole lives ahead of them.' That would be very selfish on my part.

"I’ve lived a real good life, and I’m ready for whatever happens now."

Watson, 71, played 19 seasons in the majors, including 14 with the Houston Astros, and was a two-time All-Star. A career .295 hitter, he also had the unique honor of scoring the millionth run in MLB history in 1975.

After retiring in 1984, Watson worked as a hitting coach for the Oakland Athletics before moving into the front office, first with the Astros and then with the Yankees. He helped guide New York to a World Series title in 1996 and remained with the organization the following season before accepting a job with MLB.

Today, Watson undergoes dialysis three times a week and said he's got "no complaints" about how his life has unfolded, according to The New York Daily News.

"Ten months ago, the doctors told me I could have two years or 12. Well now I’ve gotten to the point where every day I’m still here is a blessing," Watson told the newspaper.

“I had a reputation for never giving up an at-bat, so I’m still fouling them off as long as I can."

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.