Born on the bayou and that's where Washington's staying
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Though new Texas manager Ron Washington left his native New Orleans in 1971 to go play professional baseball, and though he's never played or coached for the minor league affiliate in his hometown, he's continued to live there in the off-season his entire life.
But for the past two winters Washington, 54, has lived in an apartment instead of his house. Hurricane Katrina forced that unwelcome exchange a year ago September, and when Washington's first season as a major league manager finishes this fall, he will head home to continue working to rebuild his house.
"I need to put in the kitchen, bathroom, floors and windows," says Washington, who constantly has battled people stealing construction materials when they're delivered to the house. "My walls, doors and electrical outlets, all that is in. I'm going to have some work to do on the outside lawn.
"But when I get back this winter, I can get the kitchen, floors and bathrooms in. It will be three years."
Katrina flooded Washington's single-story ranch home at Perth and Dorchester streets in East New Orleans, the waters rising to seven feet. The ceiling in Washington's home is eight feet.
Not only did Katrina ravage the foundation of the house, it also ruined many of the material possessions that Ron and Gerry, his wife of 34 years, had spent a lifetime collecting. Photos, mementos, the 2003 Gold Glove that Eric Chavez gave to Washington as a thank you for years of infield tutelage, all gone.
Well, check that. Washington still has the Gold Glove -- such as it is.
"It's full of mold," Washington says. "Rawlings told me to call them and they're going to get me another one, but I haven't had time. But once I get settled, I'll order it and then have Eric sign it again."
