No. 1974.10.13 · Expansion Era
Herb Washington Is Picked Off
Charlie Finley signed a world-class sprinter who had never played baseball and used him only as a pinch runner. In the World Series, Mike Marshall picked him off.
Herb Washington was a sprinter, a Michigan State man who held world-class times and had no baseball career behind him. Charlie Finley signed him in 1974 as a designated runner. He appeared in 92 games that year, stole 29 bases, and never came to the plate. His career, ended when the A's released him in May 1975, was 105 games, 31 steals, 17 times caught stealing, and no at-bats.
The World Series exposed the experiment in one pitch. Game 2, October 13 at Dodger Stadium. Oakland trailed 3–2 in the ninth and had just scored twice. Washington ran for Joe Rudi, the tying run, at first base. Mike Marshall, the Dodgers' relief pitcher and another former Spartan, picked him off. Steve Garvey put the tag on. Marshall then struck out the next hitter. The A's lost the game and won the series anyway.
Washington was asked to do one thing he had never practiced under major-league pickoff moves. Finley was the one who sent him out there to learn it in October.
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