Happy Birthday to the late U.L. Washington; Former @MLB player U.L. Washington was born and raised in Stringtown, Oklahoma ( population 419), where he lived much of his life and ultimately passed away in March 2024—He was born in Stringtown, Oklahoma, on October 27, 1953, as one of 11 children. Notably, “U.L.” was his legal given name rather than initials ( a detail he frequently explained to curious fans)—He attended Stringtown High School, graduating in 1971, and went on to play college baseball for one season at Murray State College in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. He was later inducted into the Murray State College Hall of Fame in 2016—Washington was famously known for playing with a toothpick in his mouth. This trademark look began in Oklahoma and the minor leagues, where he used to chew on blades of green Bermuda grass because he loved the smell of a fresh field. When he transitioned to playing on the @Royals artificial turf, he substituted the grass for a toothpick—Lacking attention from professional scouts in rural Oklahoma, Washington reportedly hitchhiked from Oklahoma to a tryout camp in Kansas City to secure his roster spot with the @Royals —Following an 11-year @MLB career with the @Royals @Montreal_Expos & @Pirates he remained tied to his home state. He passed away from cancer at the age of 70 on March 2, 2024, in Atoka, Oklahoma; 10-27-1953 to 3-3-2024……