When Ron Washington resigned from being the Texas Rangers manager on September 5, he and the organization cited personal reasons as to why he was quitting, but they didn’t disclose what the issues were.

During a press conference Thursday, Washington revealed his issue was infidelity.

"I was not true to my wife, after 42 years," Washington told members of the media, including ESPN, with his wife, Gerry, seated nearby. "I broke her trust. I'm here today to own that mistake and apologize to her, and to those I disappointed, and those who have trusted in me, and I let them down. Today, I'm at a very low time in my life. I'm sorry for breaking the trust that I had with my wife and for disappointing my players, for disappointing my coaches, disappointing Major League Baseball and for disappointing the Texas Rangers.

"All I ask is for your forgiveness and your understanding," Washington added. "I also ask that you respect our privacy as we go on with our lives. This matter is certainly personal and we are trying hard to put it behind us.”

After making his statement, Washington stepped off the stage and draped his arm around his wife’s shoulder.

ESPN reported that several Rangers players reached out to Washington, although none disclosed the details of those conversations.

Five years back, Washington faced hardship of a different kind, having tested positive for cocaine. Then-Rangers president Nolan Ryan stayed loyal to Washington, though, even inking him to a two-year contract extension in 2012.

Washington, 62, has amassed a 664-611 record with the Rangers over eight seasons, including 2010 and 2011, when the organization made its first two World Series appearances. Tim Bogar is currently the Rangers interim manager. 

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(Photo: Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo)