Former Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington held a press conference on Sept. 18 in Irving to present a statement regarding his abrupt resignation from the team in Arlington on Sept. 5, just hours before a home game with Seattle. Washington said that he was resigning for personal reasons, which was confirmed by Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels, but no details were given.
At the Sept. 18 press conference, Washington implied that he had been unfaithful to his wife of 42 years, and that circumstances around the situation led to his resignation.
“I’m sorry for breaking the trust that I had with my wife and for disappointing my players, for disappointing my coaches, for disappointing Major League Baseball and for disappointing the Texas Rangers,” Washington said.
Washington took over as Texas manager in 2007 and finishes as the club’s winningest manager, with 664 victories and 611 losses. The Rangers made two World Series appearances under Washington, the first such appearances in franchise history.
The Rangers began play in Arlington in 1972, following 11 seasons in Washington, D.C., as the second incarnation of the Washington Senators. Among former Rangers managers, only Washington, Bobby Valentine (581-605) and Johnny Oates (506-476) accumulated more than 500 victories. Of the 14 Texas managers to have spent at least one complete season with the team, only Washington, Oates and Billy Hunter (146-108) finished with winning records.
Texas is currently managed by interim manager and former bench coach Tim Bogar, who has spent the last 11 seasons as a major league coach and minor league manager. Bogar is in his first season with the Rangers and was hired to replace veteran Texas bench coach Jackie Moore.
Transcript of Washington's statement as reported by The Dallas Morning News:
“I want to thank you guys for coming. I just wanted to say a couple of things. You know when you respect baseball, baseball respects you. I made a mistake and I’m embarrassed more than I’ve ever been in my life. I don’t run when I make a mistake. And when you put yourself in situations, you own it. Those are the type of things that my wife always say to me.
“I was not true to my wife after 42 years. I broke her trust. I’m here today to own that, the mistake, and to apologize to her and to those I disappointed. And those who have trusted in me and I let them down. You know when I was 22 years old, I went to Mexico and a lot of things started making sense to me about the game of baseball. I began to figure it out. I was able to see things that maybe other people weren’t able to see and I remember calling my wife and letting her know that I feel like I have arrived and I had figured this game out. In reality, you never really figure the game out. But I did tell her to quit her job. It was a really proud moment for me and it’s something that I’ll always remember and she’s always stood by me. Today I’m at a very low time in my life. I’m sorry for breaking the trust that I had with my wife and for disappointing my players, for disappointing my coaches, for disappointing Major League Baseball and for disappointing the Texas Rangers.
“All I ask is for your forgiveness and your understanding. I also ask that you respect our privacy as we go on with our lives. This matter is certainly personal and we are trying hard to put it behind us. And I was born to be a baseball player. I’m a baseball lifer. The Rangers gave me a home and I’m thankful for that. And I’m also thankful for the experience to have the opportunity to manage here in Texas. I look to the future and getting back into the game and continuing my career. I wanted to give a final thanks to the fans. Texas Rangers fans, you’ve been good to me and I will miss the Metroplex and I will miss you. That’s all I have to say. Thank you.”
