Eddie Watt (1987) - Hall of Fame

Eddie Watt

Induction:
1987
Class:
1966

Born in Lamoni, Iowa, Eddie Watt was a two-sport letterman at Northern Iowa in basketball and baseball between 1959-66. He left school the first time in 1961 to sign a major league contract but later returned to complete work on his degree. Watt earned All-North Central Conference honors in 1961 and was the top pitcher on a team that participated in the NCAA playoffs. He led UNI in 1961 with a 5-1 record, 1.98 ERA in 50 innings, yielding just 29 hits and 18 walks while striking out 56.

In 1962, he signed with the Baltimore Orioles, playing in the A, AA and AAA leagues until 1965, then playing in Baltimore from 1966-73. He played on four American League championship teams, in 1966, '69, '70 and '71, and two world championship teams, in 1966 and 1970. Watt also played for the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs. His playing career ended in 1977 in the American Association and Pacific Coast Leagues. Watt's major league career record is 38-36 with 80 saves. He pitched 659 innings in 411 appearances, recording 254 walks and 462 strikeouts. Following his major league career, Watt coached professional baseball, with the San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros.