Herb Washington
| Herb Washington | |
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| Pinch runner | |
| Born: November 16, 1951 Belzoni , United States 
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| Strikes: Right | Throws: Right |
| Debut in Major League Baseball | |
| April 4, 1974 for the Oakland Athletics | |
| Last MLB assignment | |
| May 4, 1975 with the Oakland Athletics | |
| MLB statistics (until end of career) |
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| Games | 105 |
| At bats | 0 |
| Runs | 33 |
| Stolen Bases | 31 |
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| Awards | |
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Herbert Lee "Herb" Washington (born November 16, 1951 in Belzoni , Mississippi ) is a retired American baseball player who played for the Oakland Athletics in Major League Baseball . He played exclusively in the special position of pinch runner .
Career
Washington was a talented sprinter at Michigan State University in his youth and college days and narrowly missed qualifying for the 1972 US Olympic team. Charles Finley, the manager of Oakland Athletics , was looking for a so-called pinch runner , a quick substitute, who replaces a teammate standing on the base and provides stolen bases with his sprint strength . Although Washington had little baseball experience, he was signed by the Athletics in 1974. He played 92 games in his debut season, stole 29 bases, scored 29 runs and became part of the team that played the 1974 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers . In the second game, the Athletics were back in the ninth inning 2: 3, whereupon Washington was substituted on as a pinch runner , but his steal attempt was thwarted by Dodgers pitcher Mike Marshall . Even so, Oakland won the series in five games, so Washington immediately won its first MLB championship. In 1975 he was only used sporadically, managed only two steals and suffered a total of 17 failed steal attempts. Washington ended his career and went down as one of the strangest players in MLB history: he played 131 games without ever being called up as a batsman. The Baseball Hall of Fame states that Washington is the only player whose official player card uses the "pinch runner" position.
After his baseball career, Washington became a successful businessman. He is married and has two children.
Web links
- Player information and statistics Baseball Reference (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ One of a Kind: Herb Washington became the first ever designated runner for a big league team , Baseball Hall of Fame
- ↑ Designated Runner: Herb Washington , SABR.org
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Washington, Herb |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Washington, Herbert Lee (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American baseball player |
| DATE OF BIRTH | November 16, 1951 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Belzoni , Mississippi |