The Novice Thief

While Lou Brock has been tormenting opponents this year, the fastest man in baseball has been something less than a sensation. Since joining the Oakland A's this spring as baseball's only "designated runner," Herb Washington, 23, has been careening around the bases like a sprinter without a road map--which is precisely what the former track star is. "He got on first once this year and asked me whether to steal on the second pitch," recalls A's Coach Irv Noren.

"The only trouble was there was already someone on second." With only ten stolen bases in 16 attempts to his credit, Washington, who runs the 100-yd. dash in 9.2 sec., concedes, "Raw speed is not enough." Once he learns to get a good jump on pitchers, though, and masters the strategy that Maury Wills coached him on this spring, Washington promises, "I could steal 100 bases a year." A's Owner Charles Finley is already delighted with the progress of his $27,000-a-year pinch runner. "He's going to rise and shine in the '74 World Series," says Finley.

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