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Ex-Yankees Closer, World Series MVP John Wetteland Charged With Child Sex Abuse

Former New York Yankees World Series MVP John Wetteland was arrested on a child sex abuse charge, according to authorities in Texas.

John Wetteland

John Wetteland

Photo Credit: COURTESY: Denton County Sheriff's Office

The 52-year-old former closer is accused of sexually abusing a child under 14 years old, Denton County Jail records show.

Wetteland, who pitched in the Bronx for two seasons, was the MVP of the 1996 World Series when the Yankees beat the Atlanta Braves four games to two.

A born-again Christian, he coached baseball and taught Bible studies at Liberty Christian School in Argyle, TX.

It’s the same school where New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton coached his son in 2012 while serving a year-long suspension from the NFL for bounties that the league said were posted for those players who knocked their opponents out of games with injuries.

Wetteland retired after the 2000 season as the Texas Rangers' all-time saves leader with 150.

He was a bullpen coach with the Washington Nationals, but was fired in 2006 at the demand of then-manager Frank Robinson for “practical jokes and fooling around out there in the bullpen rather than focusing and concentrating on the game.”

Three years later, he made an alleged suicide threat while working as a bullpen coach for the Seattle Mariners, who blamed elevated blood pressure for his hospitalization.

Records show that Wetteland posted $25,000 bond and was released after being arrested Monday.

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