MY FAVORITE CARDS:

1975 TOPPS HERB WASHINGTON

 

 

            Part owner, part mad genius, Charles Finley was once referred to as the “P.T. Barnum of Baseball.” After acquiring a controlling interest in the A’s before the 1961 campaign, he did everything in his power to draw fans to the ballpark. The team had posted 96 losses in 1960 while averaging just 5,000 paid admissions per home game. Looking to transform the club into a marketable commodity, Finley unleashed a series of zany promotional stunts. In one of his earliest schemes, he placed A’s tickets inside helium-filled balloons and released them into the community. He added a splash of color to everything, including bright yellow fences, pink foul poles, golden bases, and tacky green/yellow uniforms. He allowed sheep to graze beyond the outfield wall and opened a children’s petting zoo. A mechanical rabbit named “Harvey” was installed underground near home plate, supplying umpires with baskets of baseballs on demand. In keeping with the animal theme, a mule named “Charlie O.” was designated team mascot. Not only was the quadruped paraded onto the field before home games, but Finley even arranged for it to stay overnight with the team on road trips.

            Not all of Finley’s schemes were quite as bonkers. In 1964, he created the “K.C. Pennant Porch,” moving the right field fence at Municipal Stadium to a mere 296 feet from home plate. Unfortunately, this was in violation of a rule requiring all new stadiums to have outfield dimensions of at least 325 feet. League officials made Finley move the fences back after just two games. An ongoing series of roster upgrades made the A’s legitimate contenders. Upon moving from Kansas City to Oakland in 1968, the club enjoyed nine consecutive winning seasons. This included three straight World Series titles from 1972-1974. In an attempt to increase visibility for fans and players before the ’73 campaign, Finley introduced bright orange baseballs. The balls were used during a pair of spring training games and, while some observers reported that the experiment had the desired effect, the project was scrapped due to multiple player complaints.

            Finley’s quest to revolutionize the game continued undaunted. Hoping to generate more runs, he signed a world-class sprinter named Herb Washington to serve as a full-time pinch-runner. While attending Michigan State University, Washington either tied or broke world records in the 50 and 60 yard dashes on multiple occasions. Drafted in 1972 by the NFL’s Baltimore Colts, he turned down the offer so he could compete in the Summer Olympics. Unfortunately, he never qualified for the U.S. Team.

            In 1974, Washington accepted a $45,000 contract offer with a $20,000 signing bonus to join the A’s. According to multiple sources, Finley was promoting wild facial hair at the time and the requirement was included in Washington’s contract. Since the newly signed speedster was unable to grow a full moustache, he resorted to using an eyebrow pencil to create the illusion. Washington was coached by former Dodger stolen base king Maury Wills. He was not expected to learn any other skills beyond baserunning. During his brief tenure with the A’s, he never logged an official major league at-bat or received a defensive assignment.

            Long story short, the experiment was somewhat of a flop. Washington appeared in 92 regular season games in ’74. He scored 29 runs and stole 29 bases, but he was caught 16 times for a 64% success rate—not awful by any stretch of the imagination, but not quite as good as expected. Worse yet, he crumbled in the postseason. In the ALCS against the Orioles, he appeared twice and was caught stealing both times. Then, in Game 2 of the World Series, he was picked off of first base in the ninth inning by Dodger relief specialist Mike Marshall (the NL Cy Young Award-winner that year). Washington ended up being released by the A’s early in the ’75 campaign.

            Honoring Finley’s innovative strategy, the Topps company released a Herb Washington card in 1975. The groovy colors are a fitting tribute. Appearing at #407 in the set, it features the fleet-footed sprinter in an action pose leading off of first base in an empty stadium. It’s the only card in the entire Topps catalog that lists a player as a pinch-runner. The card still resonates with hobbyists even today. Raw copies in mid-grade condition can be purchased cheaply for $12-$20. But a PSA-graded Gem Mint copy sold for over $3,000 in May of 2023.