Herb Washington
Herbert Lee " Herb" Washington ( born November 16, 1951 in Belzoni ) is a former American professional baseball player who played for the Oakland Athletics in Major League Baseball. He played exclusively on the special position Pinch Runner.
Career
Washington was in his youth and college years, a talented sprinter at Michigan State University and just missed qualifying for the U.S. Olympic team in 1972. Charles Finley, manager of the Oakland Athletics, sought a so-called pinch runner, a quick substitute, replaces a teammate standing on the base and, with his sprinting power for Stolen Bases. Although Washington had little baseball experience, he was obliged by the 1974 Athletics. He played 92 games in his debut season, stole 29 bases, scored 29 runs and was part of the team, what the World Series in 1974 played against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the second game, the Athletics were back in the ninth inning 2:3, after which Washington came off the bench as a pinch runner, but his steal attempt by Dodgers pitcher Mike Marshall was defeated. Nevertheless Oakland won the series in five games, so that Washington immediately won his first MLB championship. In 1975, he was only used sporadically, only managed two steals and has suffered a total of 17 failed steal attempts. Washington ended his career and left as one of the strangest player in the MLB history one: he played 131 games without ever having been summoned as a hitter. The Baseball Hall of Fame argues that Washington was the only player whose official player card the "pinch runner" position used.
After his baseball career, Washington was a successful businessman. He is married and has two children.