UL Washington, the former MLB shortstop known for playing with a toothpick in his mouth during his 11-year career, reportedly died Sunday after a battle with cancer. He was 70 years old.
Canada Baseball Network first reported Washington’s death, and former teammates took to social media to share their condolences. George Brett was among them.
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UL Washington of the Kansas City Royals poses before an MLB game at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois. (Ron Vesely/Getty Images)
“So sorry to hear of the passing of my teammate UL Washington from cancer. He was a great player and will always be grateful for his time with the Royals,” Brett wrote in a statement to X.
Washington played for the Kansas City Royals, Montreal Expos, and Pittsburgh Pirates from 1977 to 1987, batting .251 with 27 home runs and 255 RBIs in 907 career games. In 1980, he batted .364 with one RBI and a double against the New York Yankees, helping the Royals win the American League championship.
Kansas City lost in the World Series to the Philadelphia Phillies in six games.
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UL Washington of the Kansas City Royals at bat during the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri in October 1980. (Getty Images Focus on Sports)
Washington was a fan favorite because of the thing he kept in his mouth while playing: toothpicks.he explained: kansas city star The cigarette burned his mouth, so he decided to keep a toothpick in his mouth. The toothpick reached its peak in 1980, sparking debate about its possible banning in MLB. But that never happened.
“I’d like to be remembered as a pretty good player, but most people will remember me as the guy with the toothpicks,” he told The Oklahoman in 1988.
“Especially when I look back on how I entered professional baseball, I feel like I’ve had a pretty good career.”
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UL Washington No. 28 of the Pittsburgh Pirates stands at bat during a Major League Baseball game at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1986. (George Gojkovic/Getty Images)
The Oklahoma State native served as a manager in several minor league systems after his playing career ended. He is also credited with helping Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts transform into a power hitter.
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