Washington was born in Stringtown, Oklahoma,[1] as one of 11 children born to Ora Lee and George Washington Jr.[2] The U and L are Washington's legal given name and were not initials of other names.[1][3]
Washington played for the Royals from 1977 through 1984. His best offensive season was 1982, when he batted .286 with 10 home runs and 60 RBIs – all career highs. Washington was on first base and scored on George Brett's "pine tar" home run in 1983.[5] In his eight seasons with the Royals, Washington hit .254 with 26 home runs and 228 RBIs. He was in four postseason series with the Royals — the 1980 ALCS, 1980 World Series, 1981 ALDS, and 1984 ALCS — batting 12-for-43 (.279) overall.[6]
Montreal Expos
In January 1985, the Royals traded Washington to the Montreal Expos for Mike Kinnunen and minor leaguer Ken Baker.[7] He played in 68 games for the Expos as a utility infielder, batting .249 with one home run and 17 RBIs. In November 1985, he became a free agent.[2]
Pittsburgh Pirates
Washington signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in April 1986.[8] During his two seasons with the Pirates, he appeared in a total of 82 games, batting .207 with no home runs and ten RBIs, again in a utility infielder role. He was released by the Pirates in October 1987.[9] "I won't go back to the minors, but I haven't said I've officially retired. If someone called and said they wanted me to play in the majors I'd go. I spent nine straight years in the majors, so going back to the minors was the toughest thing for me the past two years. At my age it got to where every time out, I was fighting pain off here or there anyway. I really admire the guys who play until they're 40," Washington said early in the 1988 season.[1]
