Born in Solon, Maine, he threw right-handed, batted left-handed, and was listed as 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and 175 pounds (79 kg).

On Sunday, May 4, Washburn took the ball from manager Joe McCarthy as the starting pitcher against the defending American League champion Detroit Tigers at Briggs Stadium.

He walked four men, including Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg, threw a wild pitch, and surrendered three runs, all earned.

Breuer struck out both Rudy York and Greenberg, but gave up an unearned tally when McCosky scored on a two-out error by Phil Rizzuto.

Sent to the high-level New Orleans Pelicans of the Southern Association in 1944, he found a home in Louisiana, eventually spending almost six full seasons in the lower-level Evangeline League as a player-manager, appearing as a first baseman and outfielder as well as taking on mound duties.