U. L. Washington
Born: 10/27/1953 in Stringtown, OK, USA
Died: 3/2/2024 in Atoka, OK, USA
MLB Debut: 1977-09-06 | Final Game: 1987-10-04
Bats: B | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 175 lbs
Biography
U. L. Washington, born in 1953, was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1977 to 1987. Known for his versatility and speed on the base paths, Washington played primarily as an infielder during his career, appearing in 907 games. He compiled a total of 703 hits, including 27 home runs and 255 runs batted in, while maintaining a career batting average of .251. His ability to steal bases was a noteworthy aspect of his game, as he successfully swiped 132 bases throughout his time in the league.
Washington played in an era that witnessed the transition from the traditional styles of play to a more dynamic approach, characterized by speed and agility. His contributions to the teams he played for, notably the Kansas City Royals and the New York Mets, highlighted his talent as a position player who could impact the game both offensively and defensively. As a player who embraced the fundamentals of the game, Washington remains a notable figure in baseball history, remembered for his dedication and performance during a decade of significant change in the sport.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 907 | 2797 | 358 | 703 | 103 | 36 | 27 | 255 | 132 | 261 | 409 | 0.251 | 0.313 | 0.343 | 0.656 | -4018.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | KCR | AL | 10 | 20 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 1978 | KCR | AL | 69 | 129 | 10 | 34 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 0.264 | -281.3 |
| 1979 | KCR | AL | 101 | 268 | 32 | 68 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 25 | 10 | 20 | 44 | 0.254 | -583.4 |
| 1980 | KCR | AL | 153 | 549 | 79 | 150 | 16 | 11 | 6 | 53 | 20 | 53 | 78 | 0.273 | -2.5 |
| 1981 | KCR | AL | 98 | 339 | 40 | 77 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 29 | 10 | 41 | 43 | 0.227 | -567.0 |
| 1982 | KCR | AL | 119 | 437 | 64 | 125 | 19 | 3 | 10 | 60 | 23 | 38 | 48 | 0.286 | 397.6 |
| 1983 | KCR | AL | 144 | 547 | 76 | 129 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 41 | 40 | 48 | 78 | 0.236 | -1432.0 |
| 1984 | KCR | AL | 63 | 170 | 18 | 38 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 14 | 31 | 0.224 | -612.0 |
| 1985 | WSN | NL | 68 | 193 | 24 | 48 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 6 | 15 | 33 | 0.249 | -320.2 |
| 1986 | PIT | NL | 72 | 135 | 14 | 27 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 15 | 27 | 0.200 | -617.5 |
| 1987 | PIT | NL | 10 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0.300 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 43 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 0.279 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | ALCS | KCA | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
| 1981 | AWDIV | KCA | 3 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.222 |
| 1980 | ALCS | KCA | 3 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0.364 |
| 1980 | WS | KCA | 6 | 22 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0.273 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 111 | 83 | 214 | 257 | 17 | 69 |
| 3B | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| SS | 737 | 647 | 1005 | 2077 | 141 | 413 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | KCA | SS | 9 | 6 | 13 | 21 | 5 | 4 |
| 1978 | KCA | 2B | 19 | 13 | 32 | 37 | 1 | 10 |
| 1978 | KCA | SS | 49 | 20 | 47 | 55 | 8 | 8 |
| 1979 | KCA | 2B | 46 | 35 | 112 | 111 | 12 | 37 |
| 1979 | KCA | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979 | KCA | SS | 50 | 37 | 62 | 131 | 6 | 31 |
| 1980 | KCA | SS | 152 | 146 | 237 | 467 | 32 | 86 |
| 1981 | KCA | SS | 98 | 97 | 135 | 297 | 12 | 58 |
| 1982 | KCA | SS | 117 | 114 | 173 | 371 | 22 | 63 |
| 1983 | KCA | SS | 140 | 139 | 201 | 448 | 36 | 91 |
| 1984 | KCA | SS | 61 | 54 | 81 | 166 | 10 | 40 |
| 1985 | MON | 2B | 43 | 34 | 70 | 104 | 4 | 22 |
| 1985 | MON | 3B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1985 | MON | SS | 9 | 7 | 5 | 25 | 1 | 7 |
| 1986 | PIT | 2B | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | PIT | SS | 51 | 26 | 50 | 92 | 8 | 25 |
| 1987 | PIT | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | PIT | SS | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 111 |
| Third Base | 5 |
| Shortstop | 738 |
| Designated Hitter | 6 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | PIT | NL | $80,000 |
| 1986 | PIT | NL | $180,000 |
| 1985 | MON | NL | $650,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $910,000 | ||