did you know
galaxy27
Posts: 7,823 ✭✭✭✭✭
Herb Washington's MLB career:
105 games
31 stolen bases
33 runs
0 plate appearances
his 75T card is the only ⚾️ card ever released that uses the "pinch runner" position label
you'll never be able to outrun a bad diet
8
Comments
No I had no clue.
This is an extremely interesting MLB tid bit
Thank you. Very interesting.
That is crazy. Love that Topps set, very colorful. I'm not a baseball collector, but Topps put out a set this year that has some awesome colors, might grab a few, love the design.
I guess since ol' Herb never batted, he ran the bases in just his cap/no helmet to enable a little extra speed? 😉
That's a somewhat tough card in the regular 1975 issue, not sure about the minis. Nice one, if it's yours.
I like the transition black to gray to white borders.
It really is one heck of a design, love the neon sign team names.
The card at that price is a steal.
That play likely was a big part in the demise of his MLB career.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herb_Washington
Of course I had to Google this Washington fellow
Pasted:
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 picked off first base in a crucial ninth-inning situation by Dodgers reliever Mike Marshall.
Early in the 1975 season, Washington was released.
I know in the 74 World Series Highlights...there's a segment with Tommy Lasorda & Ron Luciano talking how the N.L. will adopt the DH & Designated Runner...
If you guys here on the forum would like to watch the 74 series on VHS; just feel free to stop over...
The Royals employed a guy named Terrance Gore as a similar kind of baserunning weapon, calling him up for the pennant races in 2014 and 2015, and he was on the postseason roster both years, but did not make an appearance in the 2015 World Series, but was still awarded a ring.
Gore was a fan favorite, and I recall that they cut into a Royals radio broadcast one time when Gore was in the minor leagues to let the fans know that Gore had just hit his first professional homerun, a line drive yanked down the left field line that just skimmed the top of the wall.
Gore traveled around after that, once teams realized what a weapon he could be. The Cubs added him to their late season roster and utilized his speed like the Royals did. Then he moved on to the Dodgers, and won a second ring there in 2020. Then Gore found himself with a job on the Braves in 2021, where he won another ring. He then made the Mets roster in 2022, but a championship with that team was not meant to be.
The dude had 1 career RBI in the major leagues, 43 stolen bases, and 3 rings. His career W.A.R. is 0.1, but I can tell you that's why you can't believe that made up nonsense. Gore was valuable in a way that W.A.R. just can't measure. If you saw how the game changed when he was on base; if you saw him run, then you know, "That's what speed do!"
The irony about Washington, as shown in that clip, is that he sucked at his job. He got thrown out on over a third of his steal attempts. Some of that was probably that teams knew what was coming.
The A's didn't learn their lesson, though, and replaced Washington with Matt Alexander. Alexander at least went to the plate on occasion - 11 PAs in 63 games in 1975. Alexander somehow had an actual career, playing 364 games over 9 seasons with an OPS+ of 57.
I didn't know that about Alexander, but looking at his Wikipedia page suggests that there are seven (!) non-pitchers who played more than 100 games and have more games played than at bats. Of course Washington is one, and a quick glance shows Gore (112/74) is too, but who are the other three? It might make an interesting subset.
Tough card in high grade for 75 mini set and would command a significant premium in PSA 9 grade. I bet $650+.
The 8.5 is very nice!
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
another strange "did you know" was the case of Larry Yount. He is the only pitcher in MLB history credited with 1 pitching appearance but never facing a batter. I believe he blew out his elbow on the mound warming before he faced his first batter. never made it back to the majors.
Robin Younts brother.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
That would be a great trivia question.