Claudell Washington, a two-time All-Star outfielder who played 17 seasons in the majors after being called up as a teenager by the Oakland Athletics, has died. He was 65.
Washington died early Wednesday morning in the Bay Area according to his friend, A's scout and former major leaguer Shooty Babitt. Washington had been battling prostate cancer.
Babitt, who followed Washington's path from Berkeley High School to the Athletics, called Washington his "baseball hero" and said he taught him never to accept a losing effort.
Washington played with seven teams in his career, finishing with 1,884 hits, 164 home runs and 312 stolen bases.