Herb Washington
Encyclopedia
Herbert Lee Washington is a former world-class sprinter in the early 1970s who parlayed his speed into a brief Major League Baseball stint, and later became the owner/operator of numerous McDonald's restaurants and a minor-league professional hockey franchise and held a number of high-ranking executive posts on varied boards and organizations.
Washington became one of the world's most celebrated sprinters as a student-athlete at Flint Central High School
and Michigan State University
. The four-time all-American won one NCAA
title, seven Big Ten
titles, and tied or broke the world record in the 50- and 60-yard dashes several times. He went on to gain further recognition as a player for Major League Baseball
's Oakland Athletics
, despite his lack of previous baseball experience.
, Washington was a member of the Athletics 1974 World Series
championship team. His major league debut was on April 4, 1974 against the Texas Rangers
.
Appearing as a pinch-runner for Joe Rudi
in game two of the 1974 World Series
, Washington was picked off first base in a crucial ninth-inning situation by Dodgers' reliever Mike Marshall.
Washington played in 105 major league games without batting, pitching, or fielding, playing exclusively as a pinch runner
. He had 31 stolen bases in 48 attempts and scored 33 runs
during his short career. He was released one month into the season.
Washington's 1975 Topps baseball card is the only baseball card ever released that uses the "pinch runner" position label. http://www.langenberg.org/herbwashington.html
.
In 1980, he moved from the Detroit area to Rochester, NY where he opened an inner-city McDonald's Family Restaurant. He added his second local McDonald's franchise seven months later, and in 1986 he opened a McDonald's in suburban Pittsford, NY. He acquired a total of five Rochester-area McDonald's franchises and became one of the nation's most successful African-American restaurateurs.
Washington was Co-Chairman of the Small Business Committee of the United Way, and was active in the 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, NY branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and later was named Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
In 1998, Washington purchased all the Youngstown, Ohio area McDonald's franchises from Sam Covelli, once the largest McDonalds franchise owner in the United States
.
In 2005, he founded the Youngstown Steelhounds
minor league hockey
franchise, becoming one of the first African-American owners of a professional hockey league team. The following year, he sold several of his Youngstown-area McDonald's franchises to John Perdue, who turned them into 24/7 operations.
Washington currently resides in the Youngstown suburb of Boardman, OH with his wife and children.
Washington became one of the world's most celebrated sprinters as a student-athlete at Flint Central High School
Flint Central High School
Flint Central High School was one of the Flint Community Schools, located in Flint, Michigan, USA. Flint Central was the city's oldest school. Its first building was built in 1875, and the school moved into the present building in 1923. It was called Flint High School until Flint Northern High...
and Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
. The four-time all-American won one NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
title, seven Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
titles, and tied or broke the world record in the 50- and 60-yard dashes several times. He went on to gain further recognition as a player for Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
's Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, despite his lack of previous baseball experience.
Pro baseball career
In , Washington was tapped by Oakland owner Charlie Finley to become the A's "Designated Runner." Despite having no professional baseball experience, and having last played baseball in high schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, Washington was a member of the Athletics 1974 World Series
1974 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 12, 1974 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CaliforniaReggie Jackson put the A's on the board first with a solo homer in the top of the second off 20-game winner Andy Messersmith...
championship team. His major league debut was on April 4, 1974 against the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
.
Appearing as a pinch-runner for Joe Rudi
Joe Rudi
Joseph Oden Rudi is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Kansas City & Oakland Athletics , California Angels and Boston Red Sox . He batted and threw right-handed...
in game two of the 1974 World Series
1974 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 12, 1974 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CaliforniaReggie Jackson put the A's on the board first with a solo homer in the top of the second off 20-game winner Andy Messersmith...
, Washington was picked off first base in a crucial ninth-inning situation by Dodgers' reliever Mike Marshall.
Washington played in 105 major league games without batting, pitching, or fielding, playing exclusively as a pinch runner
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
. He had 31 stolen bases in 48 attempts and scored 33 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
during his short career. He was released one month into the season.
Washington's 1975 Topps baseball card is the only baseball card ever released that uses the "pinch runner" position label. http://www.langenberg.org/herbwashington.html
Business career
Following his 13-month stint as the only "Designated Runner" in Major League history, Washington joined the professional Track & Field circuit and remained in competition until 19761976 in sports
1976 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Ingemar Stenmark, Sweden** Women's overall season champion: Rosi Mittermaier, West Germany-American football:...
.
In 1980, he moved from the Detroit area to Rochester, NY where he opened an inner-city McDonald's Family Restaurant. He added his second local McDonald's franchise seven months later, and in 1986 he opened a McDonald's in suburban Pittsford, NY. He acquired a total of five Rochester-area McDonald's franchises and became one of the nation's most successful African-American restaurateurs.
Washington was Co-Chairman of the Small Business Committee of the United Way, and was active in the 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, NY branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and later was named Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
In 1998, Washington purchased all the Youngstown, Ohio area McDonald's franchises from Sam Covelli, once the largest McDonalds franchise owner in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In 2005, he founded the Youngstown Steelhounds
Youngstown Steelhounds
The Youngstown SteelHounds were a professional ice hockey team that participated in the CHL from the 2005-2006 season through the 2007-2008 season. The team was affiliated with the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL and the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL. The team played its home games at the Covelli...
minor league hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
franchise, becoming one of the first African-American owners of a professional hockey league team. The following year, he sold several of his Youngstown-area McDonald's franchises to John Perdue, who turned them into 24/7 operations.
Washington currently resides in the Youngstown suburb of Boardman, OH with his wife and children.