Robert Walden Schaefer (born May 22, 1944) is an American baseball executive. He is currently the special assistant to the general manager with the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB), and is a former interim manager, bench coach and farm system official. Playing career Schaefer attended the University of Connecticut, graduating in 1966. He was a member of the UConn College World Series team in 1965, when he was the team captain and the NCAA home run champion. In 1965, Schaefer played collegiate summer baseball for the Sagamore Clouters of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL), leading Sagamore to the league title under field manager Lou Lamoriello. He returned to manage the CCBL's Bourne Canalmen in 1971 and 1972, and Hyannis Mets in 1978 and 1979, winning league titles in both years with Hyannis. Schaefer was inducted into the CCBL Hall of Fame in 2007. He was drafted as a shortstop by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1966, but never reached the major leagues in three seasons with the organization. He progressed as far as Modesto in the High A California League. Schaefer batted left-handed and threw right-handed. In 2005, Schaefer received the Distinguished Alumni Award from UConn, primarily for his achievements on that College World Series team. Coaching and managing career Twice, Schaefer has served as the interim pilot of the Kansas City Royals. In 1991, he was interim manager during the period between managers John Wathan and Hal McRae. In 2005, he succeeded Tony Peña on May 11 and served through May 30. On May 31, 2005, Buddy Bell took the reins as permanent manager and Schaefer returned to the bench coach position. Schaefer's position with the Royals was terminated at the end of the 2005 season, the worst in Royals history. He began his managerial career in the minor leagues, where he won numerous awards. He was twice named Manager of the Year (in 1980 and 1981) at Class A Greensboro, then a part of the New York Yankees organization. He also managed the New York Mets' Class AAA team in Tidewater to an International League championship in 1985. He first joined the Royals organization in 1987, managing the Class AA Memphis Chicks. His first major-league job was as the Royals' first base coach from 1988 to 1990, then he was the Royals' bench coach in 1991. He worked as a special assignment scout with the