Last fall, the KC Royals called up minor-league outfielder Terrance Gore to be their pinch runner in the playoffs. Gore reminded many older observers of A’s pinch runner Herb Washington from the early 70’s: a specialty player who made the roster purely for his speed.
It was an apt comparison. The 23-year-old Gore had been playing in High A Wilmington when the Kansas City Royals brass called him up for the playoff drive last season. Gore is a career .242/.349/.276 hitter over his minor league career.