Herb Washington
Herb Washington | |
---|---|
Pinch runner | |
Born: Belzoni, Mississippi, U.S. | November 16, 1951|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 4, 1974, for the Oakland Athletics | |
Last MLB appearance | |
May 4, 1975, for the Oakland Athletics | |
MLB statistics | |
Games played | 105 |
At bats | 0 |
Runs | 33 |
Stolen bases | 31 |
Teams | |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Herbert Lee Washington (born November 16, 1951) is an American world-class sprinter who parlayed his speed into a brief Major League Baseball (MLB) stint in 1974 and 1975 with the Oakland Athletics.
He was replaced in 1975 when the Athletics acquired a baserunning specialist who was also a position player. Washington returned to professional track, then became the owner/operator of numerous McDonald's restaurants and a minor league professional hockey franchise. He has held a number of executive posts on varied boards and organizations.
Early life
Washington was born in Belzoni, Mississippi, and his family moved to Flint, Michigan, when Washington was an infant. His parents worked in the automotive industry. Washington attended Flint Northern High School until 10th grade, when it was discovered that he lived outside of the school's boundaries. Losing a semester of athletic eligibility, Washington was forced to transfer to a rival school, Flint Central High School. There he ran the 100-yard dash in 9.4 seconds, attracting numerous college scholarship offers. Washington chose Michigan State University because he knew that there were a number of black athletes at the school.[1]
At Michigan State, the four-time all-American won one National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) title, won seven Big Ten titles, and tied or broke the world record in the 50- and 60-yard dashes several times.
Washington was selected in the 13th round in the
Track career
During the 1972 indoor season, he tied
Washington was on the cover of the February 1972 issue of
Pro baseball career
In 1974, Washington was tapped by Oakland A's owner
Despite having no professional baseball experience, and having last played baseball in
Before the 1974 World Series, team captain
Early in the 1975 season, Washington was released. Before the season, the Athletics had acquired Don Hopkins, a pinch running specialist who could also play in the outfield.[3] The Athletics had also acquired a second pinch running specialist, Matt Alexander, just before Washington's release.
Washington played in 105 MLB games without batting, pitching, or fielding, playing exclusively as a
Washington's 1975 Topps baseball card is the only baseball card ever released that uses the "pinch runner" position label.[9]
Business career
Following his 13-month stint as the only "designated runner" in MLB history, Washington joined the professional track and field circuit and remained in competition until 1976. He worked for Michigan Bell as an assistant director of personnel.[10]
In 1980, he moved from
Washington was co-chairman of the Small Business Committee of the United Way, and was active in the Urban League of Rochester. Washington was named to the New York State Athletic Commission in 1990. In 1992, he became the chairman of the board of directors of the Buffalo, New York, branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and later was named Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.[14]
In 2005, he founded the Youngstown SteelHounds minor league hockey franchise in the Central Hockey League (CHL). The SteelHounds were removed from the CHL in 2008 for non-payment of league dues. Washington said that he had paid the league's expansion team fees but that he owed some money, which he was withholding because the league did not reimburse him for some travel expenses.[15] The International Hockey League (IHL) expressed some interest in picking up the Youngstown team, but the league dropped the idea after no serious meetings were held between the team and the IHL.[16]
Personal
Washington married Gisele Gibbs, who also attended Michigan State University, in 1980, and the couple had two children, Terrell and Arielle, both of whom also attended MSU.[17] Washington's son Terrell ran track in college, and[1] as of 2012, he was the general manager of his father's McDonald's franchising company.[18]
References
- ^ a b c "Herb Washington: World-record sprinter and business success". Michigan State University. February 19, 2007. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
- ^ Costello, Rory. "Herb Washington – Society for American Baseball Research". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- ^ Ocala Star-Banner. May 6, 1975. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
- ^ Past Covers 1972 Archived September 4, 2017, at the Wayback Machine. Trackandfieldnews.com. Retrieved on September 4, 2017.
- ^ "Pacific Conference Games". Gbrathletics.com. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
- ^ a b c d Kawahara, Matt (May 31, 2014). "Herb Washington served as A's 'designated runner' 40 years ago". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
- ^ "Player Page". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 11, 2007.
- ISBN 9781416532453.
- ^ "Baseball's Only Designated Runner: Herb Washington". May 16, 2009. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
- SFGate.com. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
- ^ "84. H.L.W. Fast Track Inc". Black Enterprise. May 13, 2009. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
- ^ a b "'Full-Scale Retaliation': Black McDonald's Franchise Owner Files Racial Discrimination Lawsuit, Saying He's Been Redlined, Forced to Sell Restaurants to Whites". Atlanta Black Star. February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
- ^ "McDonald's settles racial discrimination lawsuit with former MLB player Herb Washington". MSN.
- ^ Molaire, Mike F.; Jones, Marsha; Tanksley, Fred. African-American Who's Who, Past & Present, Greater Rochester Area (New Millenium ed.). pp. 193–4.
- Vindy.com. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
- Vindy.com. July 13, 2008. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
- ^ "Herb Washington – Society for American Baseball Research". Retrieved February 18, 2021.
- ^ Nelson, George (February 3, 2012). "McDonald's operator plans big updates". Business Journal Daily. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference
- Inhistoric: A's sign Herb Washington