USA – As a major league catcher, Don Wakamatsu was a footnote: 18 games for the Chicago White Sox in 1991. But he could say proudly that he played baseball at every level.

Wakamatsu’s true distinction might have been overlooked but for his surname. He was a minority twice over, not just the great-grandson of a Japanese dairy farmer, but also one of the few Asian-Americans to play in the major leagues.

“My failures put me in a position to be where I am now,” Wakamatsu, 45, said. “One of my goals as a player was to bring recognition to my heritage. Since that didn’t come to fruition, I’m especially fortunate to be where I am now.”

When he was introduced last month as the Mariners’ manager, the first of Asian descent in the majors, Wakamatsu talked about serving as a metaphorical stepping stone for other Asian-Americans in sports.

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http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/sport/archives/2008/12/27/2003432189

Tags: American League, Coaches