Ron Washington

Sport: BaseballCoach

Induction Year: 2023

University: State College of Florida

A New Orleans native who played 10 major league seasons with five teams –primarily with Minnesota. … A middle infielder, he hit .261 in 564 career games (1977, 1981-1989) before becoming a coach with the New York Mets and Oakland where he helped develop some of the game’s top young infielders in the 1990s and early 2000s. … On Nov. 6, 2006, Washington was hired by the Texas Rangers as their field manager and held that position for eight seasons. … From 2007-14, he had five winning seasons and compiled a record of 664-611 (.521) with his best seasons being 2010-13 when he won at least 90 games each year. He’s the franchise’s all-time wins leader after passing Bobby Valentine with his 582nd victory on Aug. 4, 2013. … In 2010, Washington became just the second Rangers’ manager to lead his team to the postseason when they won the A.L. West title in going 90-72 (.556) … That year, Washington became the franchise’s first manager to win a playoff series when the Rangers beat Tampa Bay in the ALDS and eventually advanced to the organization’s first World Series. … Texas lost in five games to San Francisco, but Washington became only the third African-American manager to guide a team to the World Series — joining Toronto’s Cito Gaston (1992, 1993) and San Francisco’s Dusty Baker (2002). … In 2011, Washington led the Rangers to a career-best record of 96-66 (.593) and a second straight division title, but Texas fell to St. Louis in seven games in the World Series – coming up one strike short of the title. … He has an 18-16 postseason record. … Washington, who was manager of the American League all-star team in 2011 and 2012, won a World Series ring as third base coach of the Atlanta Braves in 2021, and remains with the Braves. … Born April 29, 1952 in New Orleans.