"I remember our father telling us that we had no idea how hard it was for our grandfather," Kraig Washington told The Times in 2011. "Those were painful times that weren't easily discussed."
Pro sports ran in the Washington family. Two generations removed from his grandfather's achievements on the football field, the grandson entered pro baseball. Kraig Washington ultimately played three seasons. He never made AA.
Kraig Washington's career began in 1988, taken by the Cubs in the 21st round of the draft out of Rancho Santiago College in California.
Kraig Washington's brother also briefly played pro baseball. Kirk Washington pitched in 17 games for the Cubs at rookie Wytheville in 1986. Kraig and Kirk Washington were also the great-grandsons of Negro Leaguer and actor Edgar "Blue" Washington.
In high school in Diamond Bar, Ca., Kraig Washington played both baseball and football. On the baseball field, he hit .471, with three home runs and also pitched.
At Rancho Santiago, Washington picked up four hits and three RBI in an April 1988 game. He then reached on an error and scored in a game the next month.
Washington started with the Cubs between short-season Geneva and rookie Wytheville. He got into 59 games between them and hit .284.
Washington then had a brief 1989 campaign. He got into 11 games at single-A Charleston. He then returned for a full 1990 at single-A Peoria.
Washington knocked in a run in a June game on a single, then hit a two-run single in a July game. Washington hit .249 in 98 games overall to end his career.
- Los Angeles Times, Oct. 11, 2011: Remembering forgotten hero Kenny Washington
- Society for American Baseball Research: Edgar "Blue" Washington
Players/Coaches Featured:3,242
Made the Majors:1,168-36.0%
Never Made Majors:2,074-64.0%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 484
10+ Seasons in the Minors:284
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