Baseballer showing plenty of ticker after full heart transplant

Canberra baseball player Ian Watson is giving new meaning to the term ‘showing plenty of ticker’ at this year’s Pan Pacific Masters Games.

Watson has helped his Capital City Bin Chickens team towards a medal the Baseball competition at the Pan Pacific Masters Games just two years after having a full heart transplant.

Eight years on from his last appearance at the Games, Watson is back on the Gold Coast playing alongside mates he’s shared a baseball diamond with for 20 or 30 years.

He credits those mates and his family with helping him get back on the field, along with the biggest influence on his ‘comeback’

“And of course, the donor. What the donors have done to anybody that’s ever had a transplant is just amazing,”  said Watson.

“For people to donate organs after a tragedy in their own families to then pass on the gift of life to so many other people, to provide us with an opportunity to continue on. It’s amazing.”

When asked what he wanted people to know about organ donation, Watson thought of a milestone he got to share with his son.

“There’s so many moments just in the last two years that I wouldn’t have seen without a donor, and to be able to take my son to college in America, and to see my family grow up, it’s an amazing gift.”

The Bin Chickens opened their campaign with three straight wins before two losses left them needing another victory to stay in medal contention. Whatever the result, Watson already has his sights set on playing with his mates at the 2028 Games.

“Definitely, yeah. I’ll be back.”