Editing Herb Washington

{{short description|American sprinter, baseball player and businessman (born 1951)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| name        = Herb Washington
| image       =Herb Washington 1974.jpg
| image_size = 240px
| caption     =Washington in 1974
| position    = [[Pinch runner]]
| bats        = Right
| throws      = Right
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1951|11|16}}
| birth_place = [[Belzoni, Mississippi]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
| debutdate   = April 4
| debutyear   = 1974
| debutteam   = Oakland Athletics
|finalleague = MLB
| finaldate   = May 4
| finalyear   = 1975
| finalteam   = Oakland Athletics
|statleague = MLB
| stat1label  = [[Games played]]
| stat1value  = 105
| stat2label  = [[At bat]]s
| stat2value  = 0
| stat3label  = [[Run (baseball)|Runs]]
| stat3value  = 33
| stat4label  = [[Stolen base]]s
| stat4value  = 31
| teams       =
* [[Oakland Athletics]] ({{mlby|1974}}–{{mlby|1975}})
| highlights  =
* [[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|1974}})
}}

'''Herbert Lee Washington''' (born November 16, 1951) is an American world-class [[sprint (running)|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.<ref name=Success>{{cite web|title=Herb Washington: World-record sprinter and business success|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/genrel/021907aac.html|publisher=[[Michigan State University]]|access-date=June 10, 2015|date=February 19, 2007}}</ref>

At Michigan State, the four-time all-American won one [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA) title, won seven [[Big Ten Conference|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 [[1972 NFL draft]] by the [[Baltimore Colts]], but did not play for them; he informed the team that he was committed to competing in the Big Ten Conference meet, in addition to attempting to make the US Olympic track team for the [[1972 Summer Olympics]]; at the time, amateur status was a much stricter requirement.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/herb-washington/ |title=Herb Washington – Society for American Baseball Research |last=Costello |first=Rory |publisher=Society for American Baseball Research |access-date=10 March 2023}}</ref>

==Track career==
During the 1972 indoor season, he tied [[Kirk Clayton]]'s two-year-old hand-timed [[World bests in athletics|world record]] in the 50-yard dash of 5.0 at a meet in [[Toronto]], which [[Mel Pender]] also tied twice a month later. The following week, he set the 60-yard dash record outright, stopping the clock at 5.8 at a home meet in East Lansing. Neither record has been surpassed {{as of|2019|lc=on}}, as races run in yards are rare, with records for these having been discontinued in 1976, and hand times ceased to be accepted from 1977. A few years later, Washington said that his biggest disappointment had been not qualifying for the 1972 Summer Olympics.<ref name=OSB/>

Washington was on the cover of the February 1972 issue of ''[[Track and Field News]].''<ref>[https://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/archivemenu/28-covers/133-past-covers-1967 Past Covers 1972] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904155357/https://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/archivemenu/28-covers/133-past-covers-1967 |date=September 4, 2017 }}. Trackandfieldnews.com. Retrieved on September 4, 2017.</ref>  In 1973, Washington again tied the 50-yard record at the same meet in Toronto.  Later that summer, Washington won the international [[Pacific Conference Games]] [[100 metres]] which was also in Toronto.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/pcg.htm |title=Pacific Conference Games |publisher=Gbrathletics.com |access-date=April 16, 2015}}</ref>

==Pro baseball career==
In 1974, Washington was tapped by Oakland A's owner [[Charlie Finley]] to become the team's "designated runner". Finley and Washington worked out a one-year $45,000 contract with a $20,000 signing bonus. The contract had an unusual clause requiring Washington to grow facial hair before the beginning of the season. Washington had difficulty growing a full mustache, so he used an [[eyebrow pencil]] to simulate full facial hair.<ref name=Success/>

Despite having no professional baseball experience, and having last played baseball in [[high school]], Washington was a member of the Athletics [[1974 World Series]] [[1974 Oakland Athletics season|championship team]].<ref name=SacBee>{{cite web|last1=Kawahara|first1=Matt|title=Herb Washington served as A's 'designated runner' 40 years ago|url=http://www.sacbee.com/sports/mlb/san-francisco-giants/article2600259.html|publisher=[[The Sacramento Bee]]|access-date=June 11, 2015|date=May 31, 2014}}</ref> Finley announced that he would utilize Washington as a "designated runner" and that he did not expect Washington to develop other baseball skills.<ref name=OSB/> Washington received coaching on baserunning from [[Maury Wills]].<ref name=SacBee/> Though Washington's teammates recognized his speed, he received a mixed reception from them because of his unusual background. [[Reggie Jackson]] said, "He's a great athlete, but he's not a baseball player."<ref name=OSB>{{cite news|title=Herb Washington – athlete, not baseball player|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19750506&id=PZdPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8QUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5242,1090782&hl=en|access-date=June 11, 2015|work=[[Ocala Star-Banner]]|date=May 6, 1975}}</ref>  Pitcher [[Rollie Fingers]] said that he thought the idea was "a little crazy" but that Washington "could run like crazy".<ref name=SacBee/> [[Bert Campaneris]] said that the team could count on Washington to steal a base when needed.<ref name=SacBee/>

Before the 1974 World Series, team captain [[Sal Bando]] said that he did not think Washington should be used in the World Series, noting that Washington might not have a second chance to make up for any mistakes committed during the series. Appearing as a [[pinch runner]] for [[Joe Rudi]] in game two of the World Series, Washington was [[pickoff|picked off]] first base in a crucial ninth-inning situation by [[Dodgers]] reliever [[Mike Marshall (pitcher)|Mike Marshall]].

Early in the [[1975 Oakland Athletics season|1975 season]], Washington was released. Before the season, the Athletics had acquired [[Don Hopkins (baseball)|Don Hopkins]], a pinch running specialist who could also play in the [[outfield]].<ref name=OSB/>  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 [[pinch runner]].<ref name="reference">{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/w/washihe01.shtml |title=Player Page |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=November 11, 2007}}</ref>  He had 31 [[stolen bases]] in 48 attempts and scored 33 [[run (baseball)|runs]] during his short career. Washington is one of only seven position players to have more game appearances than plate appearances.<ref>{{cite book |last=Spatz |first=Lyle |title=TheSABR Baseball List & Record Book&nbsp;– Baseball's Most Fascinating Records and Unusual Statistics |year=2007 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=United States |isbn=9781416532453 |page=496}}</ref>

Washington's 1975 [[Topps]] baseball card is the only [[baseball card]] ever released that uses the "pinch runner" position label.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.centerfieldmaz.com/2008/05/baseballs-only-designated-runner-herb.html |title=Baseball's Only Designated Runner: Herb Washington |date=May 16, 2009 |access-date=June 2, 2014}}</ref>

==Business career==
Following his 13-month stint as the only "designated runner" in MLB history, Washington joined the [[International Track Association|professional track and field circuit]] and remained in competition until 1976. He worked for [[Michigan Bell]] as an assistant director of personnel.<ref name=Gate>{{cite web|last1=Ortiz|first1=Jorge L.|title=Herb Washington / From fast to fast food / A's 'designated runner' succeeds in business|url=http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/WHERE-ARE-THEY-NOW-Herb-Washington-From-fast-2884238.php|publisher=[[SFGate.com]]|access-date=June 11, 2015|date=January 13, 2002}}</ref>

In 1980, he moved from [[Detroit, Michigan|Detroit]] to [[Rochester, New York]], where he opened an inner-city [[McDonald's]] restaurant. He added his second local McDonald's [[franchising|franchise]] seven months later, and in 1986 he opened a McDonald's in suburban [[Pittsford, New York]].  He acquired a total of five Rochester-area McDonald's franchises.{{citation needed|date=June 2014}} Washington's restaurant enterprise, HLW Fast Track Inc., owned 21 McDonald's franchises in [[Ohio]] and [[Pennsylvania]] by 2009; at that time, it was the largest McDonald's franchisee owned by an [[African-American]].<ref name=BlackEnt>{{cite web|title=84. H.L.W. Fast Track Inc.|url=http://www.blackenterprise.com/news/84-hlw-fast-track-inc/|publisher=[[Black Enterprise]]|access-date=June 10, 2015|date=May 13, 2009}}</ref> In 2021, Washington held a press conference to announce he was suing McDonald's for systemic [[racial discrimination]].<ref name="atlantablackstar.com">{{Cite web|date=2021-02-17|title='Full-Scale Retaliation': Black McDonald's Franchise Owner Files Racial Discrimination Lawsuit, Saying He's Been Redlined, Forced to Sell Restaurants to Whites|url=https://atlantablackstar.com/2021/02/17/full-scale-retaliation-black-mcdonalds-franchise-owner-files-federal-lawsuit-saying-hes-been-redlined-forced-to-sell-restaurants-to-whites/|access-date=2021-02-18|website=Atlanta Black Star|language=en-US}}</ref> At the time of the lawsuit, Washington owned 14 franchises, down from his high of 27 franchises.<ref name="atlantablackstar.com"/> Washington alleged that he was being discriminated due to having him operate restaurants with low-volume sales to go with unfair grading. The two sides announced a [[Settlement (litigation)|settlement]] of the lawsuit on December 16, in which McDonalds purchased 13 restaurants for $33.5 million in exchange for Washington exiting the McDonalds system and dismissing the lawsuit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/mcdonald-s-settles-racial-discrimination-lawsuit-with-former-mlb-star-herb-washington/ar-AARTaEu?ocid=msedgntp|title = McDonald's settles racial discrimination lawsuit with former MLB player Herb Washington|website = [[MSN]]}}</ref>

Washington was co-chairman of the Small Business Committee of the [[United Way]], and was active in the [[National Urban League|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.<ref>{{cite book |title=African-American Who's Who, Past & Present, Greater Rochester Area |first1=Mike F. |last1=Molaire |first2=Marsha |last2=Jones |first3=Fred |last3=Tanksley |edition=New Millenium |pages=193–4}}</ref>

In 2005, he founded the [[Youngstown SteelHounds]] minor league [[ice hockey|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.<ref name=Vindy>{{cite web|last1=Williams|first1=Tom|title='Hounds scramble to find a league|url=http://www.vindy.com/news/2008/jun/04/8217hounds-scramble-to-find-a-league/?print|publisher=[[Vindy.com]]|access-date=June 11, 2015|date=June 4, 2008}}</ref> The [[United Hockey League|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.<ref name=Minus>{{cite web|title=IHL moves on minus SteelHounds|url=http://www.vindy.com/news/2008/jul/13/ihl-moves-on-minus-steelhounds/|publisher=[[Vindy.com]]|access-date=June 11, 2015|date=July 13, 2008}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Herb Washington – Society for American Baseball Research|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/herb-washington/|access-date=2021-02-18|language=en-US}}</ref> Washington's son Terrell ran track in college, and<ref name=Success/> as of 2012, he was the general manager of his father's McDonald's franchising company.<ref name=BJD>{{cite web|last1=Nelson|first1=George|title=McDonald's operator plans big updates|url=http://archive.businessjournaldaily.com/company-news/mcdonalds-operator-plans-big-upgrades-2012-2-3|publisher=Business Journal Daily|access-date=June 10, 2015|date=February 3, 2012}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of baseball players who went directly to Major League Baseball]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{baseballstats|br=w/washihe01}}
*[http://www.inhistoric.com/2010/3/16/1055698/today-in-sports-history-march-16th Inhistoric: A's sign Herb Washington] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108145053/http://www.inhistoric.com/2010/3/16/1055698/today-in-sports-history-march-16th |date=January 8, 2011 }}

{{Baltimore Colts 1972 draft navbox}}
{{1974 Oakland Athletics}}
{{Footer US NC Indoor 60m Men}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Washington, Herb}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:African-American baseball players]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Mississippi]]
[[Category:Flint Central High School alumni]]
[[Category:Oakland Athletics players]]
[[Category:People from Belzoni, Mississippi]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Flint, Michigan]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Flint, Michigan]]
[[Category:American male sprinters]]
[[Category:Michigan State Spartans men's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:USA Indoor Track and Field Championships winners]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:New York state athletic commissioners]]
[[Category:NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships winners]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from Michigan]]