Oates was a battler ... and a good man
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Ken Rosenthal /
Posted: 7 hours ago
Johnny Oates was only supposed to live one year after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.
He lived three.
Johnny Oates didn't give up even when he learned he had a brain tumor that would likely kill him. (PAUL BUCK/AFP / GettyImages)
Oates' brave fight was a testament to the power of his faith. Rangers manager Buck Showalter has called Oates the most ethical and moral man he has ever met. I would echo that sentiment, and so would virtually everyone else who knew him.
I covered Oates for The (Baltimore) Sun when he managed the Orioles. He later became the only manager ever to lead the Rangers to the postseason. Players liked him. He sympathized with their plight, having spent 11 seasons in the majors as a struggling backup catcher, Oates hated cut-down days in spring training, hated telling players they weren't good enough. He could be uptight, but he also was loyal, compassionate and knowledgeable, a good package for a manager.
On Opening Day 2002, in the midst of battling his illness, Oates walked slowly toward the mound to throw out the first pitch at Camden Yards. It was a beautiful, touching moment, a triumphant return for a man who had been fired by the Orioles in 1994.
I had a tear in my eye watching him that day. I've got a tear in my eye now.
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Ken Rosenthal /
Posted: 7 hours ago
Johnny Oates was only supposed to live one year after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.
He lived three.
Johnny Oates didn't give up even when he learned he had a brain tumor that would likely kill him. (PAUL BUCK/AFP / GettyImages)
Oates' brave fight was a testament to the power of his faith. Rangers manager Buck Showalter has called Oates the most ethical and moral man he has ever met. I would echo that sentiment, and so would virtually everyone else who knew him.
I covered Oates for The (Baltimore) Sun when he managed the Orioles. He later became the only manager ever to lead the Rangers to the postseason. Players liked him. He sympathized with their plight, having spent 11 seasons in the majors as a struggling backup catcher, Oates hated cut-down days in spring training, hated telling players they weren't good enough. He could be uptight, but he also was loyal, compassionate and knowledgeable, a good package for a manager.
On Opening Day 2002, in the midst of battling his illness, Oates walked slowly toward the mound to throw out the first pitch at Camden Yards. It was a beautiful, touching moment, a triumphant return for a man who had been fired by the Orioles in 1994.
I had a tear in my eye watching him that day. I've got a tear in my eye now.
