Watkins\' baseball career began in 1963 when he was signed by the Detroit Tigers. The catcher threw and batted right-handed, and was listed as 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) tall and 185 pounds (84 kg). He was selected by the Phillies in December 1963 in the annual first-year player draft then in force, and worked his way through the club\'s farm system for the next five seasons. In 1969, he made the MLB Phillies\' roster and spent the season as the team\'s backup catcher to regular Mike Ryan. In 69 games, including 33 as starting catcher, Watkins had 26 hits in 148 at-bats for a .176 batting average. He collected two doubles, a triple and four home runs.\n', "

The 1969 campaign was Watkins' last in baseball before he began his education and career in medicine.\n", '

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