Ron Washington facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ron Washington
Washington coaching the Oakland Athletics in 2015
Los Angeles Angels – No. 37
Infielder / Manager / Coach
Born: (1952-04-29) April 29, 1952 (age 73) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
September 10, 1977, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Last appearance
July 7, 1989, for the Houston Astros
MLB statistics
Batting average	.261
Home runs	20
Runs batted in	146
Managerial record	763–748
Winning %	.505
Teams
As player Los Angeles Dodgers (1977) Minnesota Twins (1981–1986) Baltimore Orioles (1987) Cleveland Indians (1988) Houston Astros (1989) As manager Texas Rangers (2007–2014) Los Angeles Angels (2024–present) As coach Oakland Athletics (1996–2006, 2015–2016) Atlanta Braves (2017–2023)
Career highlights and awards
World Series champion (2021)

Ronald Washington (born April 29, 1952) is an American professional baseball manager, coach, and former infielder. Since November 2023, he has been the manager for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Washington played for several teams during his career. These included the Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, and Houston Astros. His playing career lasted from 1977 to 1989. He mostly played as a middle infielder. However, he also played first base, center field, and left field. In his 10 seasons as a player, Washington had a batting average of .261. He hit 20 home runs and had 146 runs batted in. He also stole 28 bases.

After he stopped playing, Washington became a coach. He worked for the New York Mets and Oakland Athletics. He then became the manager of the Texas Rangers from 2007 to 2014. He led the Rangers to the World Series in 2010 and 2011. He coached for the Oakland Athletics again in 2015. From 2016 to 2023, he was the third base coach for the Atlanta Braves. Washington won a World Series championship with the Braves in 2021.

Playing Baseball: Ron Washington's Early Career

Washington started his baseball journey when the Kansas City Royals signed him on July 17, 1970. For the next ten years, he played in the minor leagues. He was part of three different teams: the Royals, Mets, and Dodgers. During winters in the 1970s and 1980s, he also played in the Mexican Pacific League.

In 1977, he had a short time in the major leagues with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He hit very well, getting 7 hits in 19 tries, which is a .368 batting average. He returned to the major league level in 1981 with the Minnesota Twins. He stayed with them until 1986. After that, he played one season each for the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, and Houston Astros. He played in the Senior Professional Baseball Association in 1989–90. He was even named their most valuable player. He retired from playing in 1990. He was mainly a middle infielder throughout his career.

On May 28, 1988, while playing for the Indians, Washington made a big play. He broke up a no-hit game by Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Odell Jones. Jones had pitched for 8 and 1/3 innings without giving up a hit. Washington hit a single as a pinch-hitter.

Washington is one of only 14 MLB players who came from the Royals Academy. Other famous players from the academy include U L Washington and Frank White.

Ron Washington: From Player to Coach and Manager

After he stopped playing, Washington worked for the New York Mets organization for five years. In 1996, he became the first base coach for the Oakland Athletics. He worked under his former Astros manager Art Howe. From 1997 to 2006, Washington was the infield and third base coach for the A's.

As an infield coach, Washington helped many young players. He is known for developing talented infielders. These include six-time Gold Glover Eric Chavez and former MVP and A's shortstop Miguel Tejada. In 2004, Eric Chavez showed his thanks by giving Washington one of his Gold Glove trophies. It was signed "Wash, not without you." Sadly, the trophy was lost during Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.

Washington is also featured in the book Moneyball. This book talks about how the A's competed with a small budget. Washington is shown as a positive figure. He successfully trained Scott Hatteberg to play first base, even though Hatteberg had never played that position before. In the movie based on the book, actor Brent Jennings played Ron Washington.

Managing the Texas Rangers Baseball Team

On November 6, 2006, the Texas Rangers announced that Ron Washington would be their new manager. He took over from Buck Showalter. Washington was chosen over four other candidates for the job.

Ron Washington in the dugout in 2007

In 2010, Washington made history for the Rangers. He became only the second manager in the team's history to lead them to the postseason. On October 12, 2010, he became the first Rangers manager to win a playoff series. They beat the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS. On October 22, 2010, Washington's Rangers defeated the New York Yankees in the ALCS. This sent them to their first ever World Series. They eventually lost to the San Francisco Giants in five games.

He also became the third African American manager to lead a team to the World Series. The others were Cito Gaston, who managed the Toronto Blue Jays to championships in 1992 and 1993, and Dusty Baker, who managed the Giants in 2002.

Washington talks to fans in Houston in August 2014

On October 15, 2011, Washington led the Rangers to their second World Series in a row. They beat the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS. The Rangers then lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in 7 games. They were very close to winning, being just one strike away from the title twice in Game 6. On January 30, 2012, Washington signed another two-year contract extension. That year, the Rangers had a five-game lead in their division. However, they lost many of their last games. This meant they had to play in the first ever AL Wild Card Game, which they lost to the Baltimore Orioles.

On September 2, 2012, Washington earned his 507th win as manager of the Texas Rangers. This put him second in wins for a Rangers manager, passing Johnny Oates. On August 4, 2013, Washington passed Bobby Valentine for the most wins as a Rangers manager, reaching 582 wins.

On September 5, 2014, Washington announced he was stepping down as manager of the Rangers. He said it was for personal reasons. Washington's record as manager with the Rangers was 664 wins and 611 losses. He led them to four straight seasons with 90 or more wins (2010–2013) and two American League championships.

Returning to Coaching Baseball

Washington as the third base coach for the Braves in 2021

Ron Washington was hired as an infield coach by the Oakland Athletics on May 21, 2015. He then became the A's third base coach on August 24, 2015.

In October 2016, Washington was considered for the manager job with the Atlanta Braves. The Braves chose to promote their interim manager, Brian Snitker. However, they then announced that Washington would be their new third base coach. Washington won his first World Series championship on November 2, 2021. He was the third-base coach for the Atlanta Braves when they won. Washington continued as the Braves' third-base coach through the 2023 season.

Managing the Los Angeles Angels Baseball Team

After November 8, 2023, the Los Angeles Angels hired Ron Washington as their new manager. On June 20, 2025, it was announced that Washington would be out for the rest of the season due to health challenges.

Ron Washington's Managerial Record

As of June 26, 2025