Jim Ray Explained

Jim Ray
Position:Pitcher
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Birth Date:1 December 1944
Birth Place:Rock Hill, South Carolina, U.S.
Death Place:Margate, Florida, U.S.
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:September 16
Debutyear:1965
Debutteam:Houston Astros
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:September 30
Finalyear:1974
Finalteam:Detroit Tigers
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:43–30
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:3.61
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:407
Teams:

James Francis Ray (December 1, 1944 – May 26, 2005) was an American right-handed professional baseball pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1965 to 1966 and from 1968 to 1974 for the Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers.

Born in Rock Hill, South Carolina, he attended Holly High School in Holly, Michigan, and was signed by the Baltimore Orioles in 1963.

The 6inchesft1inchesin (ftin), 185lb Ray was known as a hard thrower with a stellar fastball and earned the nickname "Ray Gun" during the season when he struck out 115 batters in 115 innings. Two years later, he appeared in 47 games played for the 1971 Astros, all but one in relief, and won ten of 14 decisions with a 2.12 earned run average (ERA). He was traded along with Gary Sutherland from the Astros to the Tigers for Fred Scherman at the Winter Meetings on December 3, 1973.[1] For his career, Ray appeared in 308 Major League games, all but 20 in relief, and notched 25 saves.

Ray died on May 26, 2005, in Margate, Florida.[2]

Notes and References

  1. https://www.nytimes.com/1973/12/04/archives/4-trades-made-at-mee-tings-4-trades-made-at-baseball-meetings.html Durso, Joseph. "4 Trades Made at Meetings," The New York Times, Tuesday, December 4, 1973.
  2. Web site: Jim Ray Stats. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. March 30, 2015.