IRVING, Texas — Former Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington said Thursday that he is embarrassed for breaking the trust of his wife of 42 years, offering some insight but few details for his sudden resignation two weeks ago.
“I made a mistake and I’m embarrassed more than I’ve ever been in my life,” Washington said. “I was not true to my wife, after 42 years. I broke our trust. I’m here today to own that mistake and to apologize to her, and to those I disappointed, and those who have trusted in me, and I let them down.”
Washington never said what that mistake was during his 3 1/2-minute statement, his first public comments since he resigned Sept. 5. Washington’s wife, Gerry, and an attorney sat in chairs to the side of the podium in the hotel meeting room more than 15 miles from the Rangers’ ballpark. They left without taking questions, with Washington putting his right hand on her right shoulder as they departed through a back door.
“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, disappointing Major League Baseball, and for disappointing the Texas Rangers,” he said. “All I ask for your forgiveness and your understanding.”
The 62-year-old Washington asked that everyone respect the couple’s privacy, “as we go on with our lives. This matter is certainly personal, and we’ve been trying hard to put it behind us.”
Washington led the Rangers to their only two World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011. The team’s winningest manager was nearing the end of his eighth season, and was expected back in 2015, when he stepped down.
He thanked the Rangers for the experience and opportunity to manage, and also thanked Texas fans.
The Rangers had no response to Washington’s statement Thursday, noting that Washington resigned “to turn his full attention to addressing an off-the-field personal matter,” and that any inquiries regarding the situation should be directed to the former manager.
Washington, as he strongly indicated in texts to several people following his resignation, again expressed his desire to get back in baseball. He didn’t say when hoped that would be, and if he wanted to manage again or be a coach like he was for 11 seasons in Oakland before joining the Rangers.
“I was born to be a baseball player. I’m a baseball lifer,” Washington said. “I look to the future and getting back into the game and continuing my career.”
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