Herb Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Herb Washington |
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Washington in 1974
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| Pinch runner | |||
| Born: November 16, 1951 Belzoni, Mississippi, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 4, 1974, for the Oakland Athletics | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| May 4, 1975, for the Oakland Athletics | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Games played | 105 | ||
| At bats | 0 | ||
| Runs | 33 | ||
| Stolen bases | 31 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Herbert Lee Washington, born on November 16, 1951, is an amazing American runner. He was so fast that he even played a short time in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics in 1974 and 1975.
In 1975, the Athletics found another player who was also a great runner. After his baseball career, Washington went back to professional running. Later, he became a successful business owner. He owned many McDonald's restaurants and even a small professional hockey team. He also served on different important groups and boards.
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Early Life and School Years
Herb Washington was born in Belzoni, Mississippi. When he was a baby, his family moved to Flint, Michigan. His parents worked in the car industry.
Washington went to Flint Northern High School. In 10th grade, it was found that he lived outside the school's area. This meant he lost a semester of being able to play sports. He had to move to a different school, Flint Central High School. There, he ran the 100-yard dash in just 9.4 seconds! This amazing speed got him many college scholarship offers. Washington chose Michigan State University because he knew many Black athletes were there.
At Michigan State, Washington was a four-time All-American. This means he was one of the best college athletes in the country four times. He won one NCAA title and seven Big Ten titles. He also tied or broke world records several times in the 50- and 60-yard dashes.
The Baltimore Colts football team picked Washington in the 13th round of the 1972 NFL draft. But he did not play for them. He told the team he wanted to compete in the Big Ten Conference track meet. He also wanted to try out for the US Olympic track team for the 1972 Summer Olympics.
Track and Field Career
In 1972, Herb Washington tied the world record for the 50-yard dash. He ran it in 5.0 seconds at a meet in Toronto. The next week, he set a new record for the 60-yard dash, finishing in 5.8 seconds. These records have not been beaten. This is because races in yards are now rare, and hand-timed records stopped being accepted in 1977. Washington later said his biggest disappointment was not making the 1972 Summer Olympics team.
Washington was featured on the cover of Track and Field News magazine in February 1972. In 1973, he again tied the 50-yard record in Toronto. Later that summer, Washington won the 100 meters race at the international Pacific Conference Games, also in Toronto.
Baseball Career as a "Designated Runner"
In 1974, Oakland Athletics owner Charlie Finley had a unique idea. He wanted Washington to be the team's "designated runner." This meant Washington would only run the bases, not bat or play defense. Finley and Washington agreed on a one-year contract for $45,000. It also included a $20,000 bonus for signing. The contract had a funny rule: Washington had to grow facial hair before the season. Washington had trouble growing a full mustache, so he used an eyebrow pencil to make it look fuller.
Even though Washington had no professional baseball experience, he became part of the Athletics team. This team won the 1974 World Series. Finley said he only wanted Washington to be a runner. He did not expect him to learn other baseball skills. Washington even got special coaching on how to run bases from Maury Wills, a famous base stealer.
Washington's teammates had mixed feelings about him. They knew he was incredibly fast. But his unusual role was new to them. Reggie Jackson said, "He's a great athlete, but he's not a baseball player." Pitcher Rollie Fingers thought the idea was "a little crazy" but said Washington "could run like crazy." Bert Campaneris said the team could count on Washington to steal a base when they needed one.
Before the 1974 World Series, team captain Sal Bando felt Washington should not be used. He worried Washington might make a mistake in such an important game. In Game Two of the World Series, Washington was a pinch runner for Joe Rudi. He was caught off first base by Dodgers pitcher Mike Marshall. This happened in a very important moment in the ninth inning.
Washington was released early in the 1975 season. Before that season, the Athletics had gotten Don Hopkins. He was also a pinch running expert who could play in the outfield. They also got another pinch running specialist, Matt Alexander, just before Washington left.
Washington played in 105 MLB games. He never batted, pitched, or played defense. He was only a pinch runner. During his short career, he stole 31 bases out of 48 tries. He also scored 33 runs. Washington is one of only a few players who played in more games than they had chances to bat.
Washington's 1975 Topps baseball card is special. It is the only baseball card ever made that uses the label "pinch runner" for a player's position.
Business Ventures
After his 13 months as the only "designated runner" in MLB history, Washington joined the professional track and field circuit. He continued to compete until 1976. He then worked for Michigan Bell as an assistant director of personnel.
In 1980, he moved from Detroit to Rochester, New York. There, he opened a McDonald's restaurant in the city. Seven months later, he opened his second McDonald's. By 1986, he opened another McDonald's in a nearby suburb. He eventually owned five McDonald's restaurants in the Rochester area.
His company, HLW Fast Track Inc., grew to own 21 McDonald's restaurants in Ohio and Pennsylvania by 2009. At that time, it was the largest McDonald's franchise group owned by an African-American. In 2021, Washington announced he was taking legal action against McDonald's. He claimed he was treated unfairly because of his race. He said he was given restaurants with lower sales and unfair ratings. In December 2021, both sides announced they had reached an agreement. McDonald's bought 13 of his restaurants, and Washington left the McDonald's system.
Washington also helped lead the Small Business Committee for the United Way. He was also active in the Urban League of Rochester. In 1990, he was named to the New York State Athletic Commission. In 1992, he became the chairman of the board of directors for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York branch in Buffalo, New York. Later, he became a Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
In 2005, he started a minor league ice hockey team called the Youngstown SteelHounds. The team played in the Central Hockey League (CHL). The SteelHounds were removed from the CHL in 2008. This was because of unpaid league fees. Washington said he had paid the team's starting fees. He also said he owed some money but was holding it back because the league did not pay him back for some travel costs.
Family Life
Herb Washington married Gisele Gibbs in 1980. She also went to Michigan State University. They have two children, Terrell and Arielle. Both of their children also attended Michigan State University. Washington's son, Terrell, ran track in college. As of 2012, he was the general manager of his father's McDonald's company.
See also
- List of baseball players who went directly to Major League Baseball
