RIP Claudell Washington

[John Kelly]

He was 65.

Battled prostate cancer in his final years.

Hit .571 in the 1974 Fall Classic when the A's defeated the Dodgers for their third straight World Series title.

Played for seven teams over 17 seasons.

Two-time All-Star.

 

[TheGuesser]

Should have been a better player than he ultimately became. Had tremendous talent. RIP.

 

[MrTop]

I had his baseball card. I remember him. Claudel played at the same time as herb on the A's. .....claudel a lefty outfielder... The A's were good...charlie finley creations, the designated runner , different color uniforms and the one that did not make it " the orange baseball "

 

[FairWarning]

I remember the banner at Comiskey that hung down when Claudell was playing RF - Washington Slept Here.

 

[Bushay]

I had his baseball card. I remember him. Claudel played at the same time as herb on the A's. .....claudel a lefty outfielder... The A's were good...charlie finley creations, the designated runner , different color uniforms and the one that did not make it " the orange baseball "

And the White spikes

 

[FairWarning]

And the White spikes

Finley tried the while blades on the skates when he owned the Golden Seals also.

 

[MrTop]

the white shoes too... good memory !!! good or bad finley changed part of the game..

 

[railbird]

i remember he threw his bat at Mario Soto who then threw a ball at him from 10 feet away

 

[John Kelly]

Also appeared briefly in the 1986 movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."

 

[FairWarning]

Soto was a bad ass, wouldn't want to mess with him.

 

[railbird]

Soto was a bad ass, wouldn't want to mess with him.

I modeled my pitching career after Soto, i also threw a ton of change ups. his nickname was Mario Speedwagon

 

[Almost Allright]

I had his baseball card. I remember him. Claudel played at the same time as herb on the A's. .....claudel a lefty outfielder... The A's were good...charlie finley creations, the designated runner , different color uniforms and the one that did not make it " the orange baseball "

In the Kansas City days there was the mechanical rabbit that would pop up next to home plate with a basket of baseballs and compressed air out of a hole in home plate to blow off the dirt.

 

[jimmythegreek]

Claudell was traded along with Paul Zuvella from Atlanta to the NY Yankees for Ken Griffey Sr. and Andre Robertson in 1986.. Trades back then we're a lot more even up individually and were more sensibly considered when it came to talent levels.

 

[TobyTyler]

RIP to a good Yankee

 

[fifty cint]

I remember having a baseball card of his brother Herb....His position=Pinch Runner. Can't make it up

 

[FairWarning]

I remember having a baseball card of his brother Herb....His position=Pinch Runner. Can't make it up

I never knew they were brothers.

 

[Valuist]

Should have been a better player than he ultimately became. Had tremendous talent. RIP.

Definitely agree on this. I remember back in '78 the White Sox traded Bobby Bonds for him straight up. I was a big fan of Bonds but had no idea he was an alcoholic. I just remember Harry (Caray) and Jimmy (Piersall) used to tear Claudell a new one day in day out. All that talent yet he never approached it.

In any event, Washington was a full time starter who hit .308 at age 20. I think many thought he'd be a superstar. What shocks me is he played 17 seasons. I have no recollection of him as a Brave or Yankee. Here's a link to his career stats:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/washicl01.shtml

Over 160 career home runs but never more than 17. Kind of odd. And according to his Wiki page, Washington appears briefly in Ferris Buehler's Day off, as he hits a foul ball at Wrigley Field, that is caught by Buehler (Matthew Broderick). Drugs played a role in Washington never fulfilling his potential.

RIP

 

[Brayden11]

Was a fan of the toothpick he chopped on while playing. RIP

 

[Valuist]

Was a fan of the toothpick he chopped on while playing. RIP

I had forgotten about that. That must be where Dusty Baker got it from.

I'd be afraid I'd choke on a toothpick if I tried playing with it.

 

[Brayden11]

Wish I'd played chomping on a toothpick instead of chewing tobacco as a young player. Finally kicked that habit late last summer.

 

[kane]

I don't recall C Dub using a toothpick, I think you guys are confusing him with UL Washington

 

[Rockfish]

I remember having a baseball card of his brother Herb....His position=Pinch Runner. Can't make it up

That is the only card topps ever released that said pinch runner as a players position.

 

[Rockfish]

By the way, Herb played in 105 games and never once batted, or played the field.

 

[Brayden11]

I don't recall C Dub using a toothpick, I think you guys are confusing him with UL Washington

You are correct, my memory is a little foggy and I should have caught that as I my golden age of baseball was the 1970's.

 

[Heim]

I never knew Herb Washington was his brother.....Herb used to hold the world indoor 60 yard dash record. That
family was speed plus. Claudel was the fastest guy I ever saw go from home to first.

 

[John Kelly]

Claudell had a great body for the game.

Lean and twitchy.

Many excellent contributions here.

No political nonsense beginning July 4.

 

[Viejo Dinosaur]

Claudell had a great body for the game.

Lean and twitchy.

Many excellent contributions here.

No political nonsense beginning July 4.

Good luck enforcing that....

 

[Viejo Dinosaur]

I modeled my pitching career after Soto, i also threw a ton of change ups. his nickname was Mario Speedwagon

Let’s see a baseball card or it didn’t happen....

 

[railbird]

Let’s see a baseball card or it didn’t happen....

Estancia 7, Newport Harbor 3--Matt Hatfield struck out 13 and allowed only one hit to lead the Eagles (2-1) past the Sailors (2-1) at Estancia. Joey James got Newport Harbor’s hit--a two-run homer--in the first inning and from that point on Hatfield was overpowering. The Sailors other run, which came in the fifth inning, was unearned. Estancia got seven hits off losing pitcher Jon Dishon.

 

[Brayden11]

Someone please Q up the song Glory Days for Railfraud.

 

[Almost Allright]

Good luck enforcing that....

I’d be happy to assist. Sports posters lives matter.

 

[Almost Allright]

Figured Railbird as more of a catcher than a pitcher

 

[kane]

Someone please Q up the song Glory Days for Railfraud.

I'm not even joking, when I read his post that song immediately popped into my head and was so close to posting the video, but I decided against it, then I read your post, too funny

 

[Bigrunner]

Claudell had a great body for the game.

Lean and twitchy.

Many excellent contributions here.

No political nonsense beginning July 4.

Remember Willie McGee?

 

[FairWarning]

Remember Willie McGee?

Hit for the cycle in the Sandberg Game.

 

[Brayden11]

Remember Willie McGee?

Sure do. Pigeon toed Willie always looked like he was holding in a fart when he walked.

 

[Bigrunner]

Sure do. Pigeon toed Willie always looked like he was holding in a fart when he walked.

Great description. He seemed to have a forward lean to his body.

 

[Foresthill]

No political nonsense beginning July 4.

Why wait till July 4th?

 

[billysink]

I never knew Herb Washington was his brother.....Herb used to hold the world indoor 60 yard dash record. That
family was speed plus. Claudel was the fastest guy I ever saw go from home to first.

Ron Leflore fast as I have seen.

We went to the same school. Jackson State.

 

[FairWarning]

I would start the no politics on the next holiday Juneteenth.