March 13, 1981 – UL Washington has swapped his trademark, the ever-present tooth­pick dangling from the mouth, for bubblegum.

The Kansas City Royals’ shortstop says it’s not because of any worry about jamming the pointed splinter down his throat, something team trainer Mickey Cobb has worried about “I just got tired of answering all the questions about the toothpick,”. Washington said.

Excessive questions also have driven the shortstop to consider changing his name. People constant­ly ask what the initials U.L. stand for. The answer is they don’t stand for anything.

‘‘I would change it. too, but my momma and daddy must have had something in mind when they gave me my name.”

 
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