Ray Durham (born November 30, 1971 in ), nicknamed
The Sugarman, is a
Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. Specifically, Major League Baseball refers to the organization that operates the National League and the American League, by means of a joint organizational structure that has developed gradually between...
second basemanSecond base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
.
A two-time
All-StarThe Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also popularly known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
, Durham in his prime was one of the premier offensive catalysts in all of baseball, providing prototypical lead-off hitting with power. He is a 14-year major league veteran owning a .277 lifetime
batting averageBatting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball measuring the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters, respectively. The two statistics are related, in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages....
with 1,222
runs scoredIn baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded. A player may score by hitting a home run or by any combination of plays that puts him safely "on base" as a...
, 2,015
hitsIn baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 426
doublesIn baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 79
triplesIn baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 189
home runIn baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle all the bases, ending at home plate and scoring runs for himself and each runner who was already on base, with no errors by the defensive team on the play...
s, 858
RBIRuns batted in or RBI is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play...
and 271
stolen baseIn baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate. In baseball statistics, stolen bases are denoted by SB...
s in 1,925 career games.
Ray Durham (born November 30, 1971 in ), nicknamed
The Sugarman, is a
Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. Specifically, Major League Baseball refers to the organization that operates the National League and the American League, by means of a joint organizational structure that has developed gradually between...
second basemanSecond base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
.
A two-time
All-StarThe Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also popularly known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
, Durham in his prime was one of the premier offensive catalysts in all of baseball, providing prototypical lead-off hitting with power. He is a 14-year major league veteran owning a .277 lifetime
batting averageBatting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball measuring the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters, respectively. The two statistics are related, in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages....
with 1,222
runs scoredIn baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded. A player may score by hitting a home run or by any combination of plays that puts him safely "on base" as a...
, 2,015
hitsIn baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 426
doublesIn baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 79
triplesIn baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 189
home runIn baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle all the bases, ending at home plate and scoring runs for himself and each runner who was already on base, with no errors by the defensive team on the play...
s, 858
RBIRuns batted in or RBI is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play...
and 271
stolen baseIn baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate. In baseball statistics, stolen bases are denoted by SB...
s in 1,925 career games. Durham is considered an average fielder. Though he has solid range on pop-ups, he has been plagued by below-average hands throughout his career. His arm is considered average.
Early life
He graduated from
Harding University High SchoolHarry P. Harding University High School was established in 1992 as a Math, Science and Technology school in Charlotte, North Carolina. International Baccalaureate was added to the established program in 1995....
in
CharlotteCharlotte is the largest city in the state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. Charlotte's population was estimated to be 687,456 in 2008, making it the 18th largest city in the United States. Residents of Charlotte are referred to as "Charlotteans"...
in 1990, where he played
baseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The goal is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot square, or diamond...
and
footballAmerican football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, and often as Gridiron or Tackle football outside North America, is a competitive team sport known for combining strategy with physical play. The objective of the game is to score points by advancing the ball into the...
. He was on the state select baseball team and was an honorable mention All-American
defensive backIn American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
. He was a bit of a womanizer because of his amazing looks. He did not attend college as he began playing minor league baseball with the Gulf Coast White Sox. Ray Durham was originally a 5th round pick by the
Chicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in . He still resides in North Carolina in the off-season, in a small town called
Stanley, North CarolinaStanley is a town in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,053 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Stanley is located at ....
, on the northwest fringes of the
Charlotte areaThe Charlotte metropolitan area is a metropolitan area/region of North and South Carolina within and surrounding the city of Charlotte...
.
Chicago White Sox (1995–2002)
A bundle of talent, Durham was a member of the
Chicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
from to . Durham was a leadoff hitter during these years of his career. Durham established himself as one of baseballs better leadoff hitters with above league average
on base percentageIn baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
s and averaging well over 20 stolen bases and 10 home runs per season. His performance from to 2002 was exceptional. By posting at least 15 home runs with 100 runs, 20 steals, a .450
slugging percentageIn baseball statistics, slugging percentage is a popular measure of the power of a hitter. It is calculated as total bases divided by at bats:...
and 65 RBI in three consecutive seasons, Durham became just the 10th player in baseball history to accomplish such a feat. Durham is in great company, with the list including Hall of Famers Hank Aaron,
Willie MaysWilliam Howard "Willie" Mays, Jr. is a retired American baseball player who played the majority of his career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his first year of...
, and
Joe MorganJoe Leonard Morgan is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990...
, as well as current superstars
Barry BondsBarry Lamar Bonds is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds. He debuted in the Major Leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1986 and joined the San Francisco Giants in 1993, where he stayed through 2007.Bonds has led a controversial...
and
Alex RodriguezAlexander Emmanuel Rodriguez is a Dominican and American professional baseball player. Nicknamed "Alex" or "A-Rod," he currently plays third base for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. He previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.Rodriguez is considered...
. Durham left Chicago as the club's all-time leader in leadoff home runs (20), while ranking fifth in steals (219), 7th in doubles (249) and
extra base hitIn baseball, an extra base hit , also known as a long hit, is any base hit on which the batter is able to advance past first base without the benefit of a fielder either committing an error or opting to make a throw to retire another base runner...
s (408) and 8th in runs (784).
Oakland Athletics (2002)
Durham was traded to the
Oakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the Oakland Coliseum....
before the 2002 baseball trading deadline for
right-handedRight-handedness is the form of handedness in which one has greater coordination and dexterity in the right hand than in the left hand. Right-handed individuals will perform everyday tasks such as writing, cooking and carrying out one's personal hygiene with the right hand.A variety of studies...
pitcherIn baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter who attempts to either make contact with it or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the pitcher is...
Jon AdkinsJonathan Scott Adkins is a former Major League Baseball pitcher currently playing for the Lotte Giants of the Korean Baseball Organization...
. Durham's hitting helped push the A's into the 2002 playoffs. The Durham deal was a prototypical "rent a player" trade that can occur at the trading deadline. The A's, who constantly rank among the bottom teams in baseball in player salaries, made a trade for the short-term playoff push. With the A's limited finances, it was well known in baseball circles that Durham would most likely re-sign elsewhere.
San Francisco Giants (2003–2008)
After the 2002 season, Durham signed a three-year contract
$The United States dollar is the unit of currency of the United States. The U.S. dollar is normally abbreviated as the dollar sign, $, or as USD or US$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies and from others that use the $ symbol. It is divided into 100 cents .The U.S...
20.1m with the
San Francisco GiantsThe San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California who currently play in the National League West Division. One of the oldest baseball teams, the Giants hold the honor of having won the most games of any team in the history of baseball...
with a $7m player option for a fourth year that was later exercised. The health Durham displayed during the earlier years of his career vanished. Between 1996 and 2002, Durham appeared in at least 150 games each season, but in he only appeared in 110 games and in he appeared in 120. Recurring
hamstringIn human anatomy, a hamstring is one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the semimembranosus...
injuries and other injuries caused Durham to spend time on the
disabled listIn Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
. The injuries also hampered Durham's success when he was on the field. Durham's running game and stolen bases dropped as Durham tried to protect his hamstrings from reinjury. Despite these injuries, Durham did post solid offensive numbers during his time in the line up.
Because of Durham's injuries that limited his speed and the recurring injuries to Giants
outfielderOutfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Moisés AlouMoisés Rojas Alou is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball. His father Felipe, who managed Moises with the Expos from 1992 to 1996 and the Giants from 2005 to 2006, as well as uncles Matty and Jesús, and cousin Mel Rojas, all had long careers in Major League Baseball...
, Durham was given the opportunity to bat fifth in the batting order more often. Durham was batted fifth regularly in . In the 2005-2006 off-season, Durham adopted a new work out and strength conditioning routine. The result was a healthy Durham and perhaps his best offensive year in 2006 when in 137 games he batted .293 with career highs in slugging percentage (.538),
home runIn baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle all the bases, ending at home plate and scoring runs for himself and each runner who was already on base, with no errors by the defensive team on the play...
s (26), RBI (93).
Durham re-signed with the Giants for a two-year contract worth $14.5 million on December 2, 2006. Giants general manager
Brian SabeanBrian Sabean is the Senior Vice President and General Manager of the San Francisco Giants, a Major League Baseball franchise. He has held the job since 1997, when he replaced former General Manager Bob Quinn...
lauded Durham for making an impressive transition from a lead off hitter to a middle of the order run producer .
After re-signing with the Giants, Durham struggled in . Durham called the season "embarrassing" and the "worst" of his career. Durham admitted that his defense has suffered because he was thinking about his hitting while on defense. Durham claims he has had trouble adjusting to the new strategy to pitch against him that includes throwing
cutterIn baseball, a cutter, or cut fastball, is a type of fastball which breaks slightly as it reaches home plate. This pitch is somewhere between a slider and a fastball, as it is usually thrown faster than a slider but with more motion than a typical fastball...
s inside and throwing
curveballThe curveball is a breaking pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that impart down and/or sideways spin to the ball. It is therefore considered a type of breaking ball. Contrary to a fastball , the curveball has a diagonal spin that creates a wake behind the ball,...
s on the outside corner. Some Giants fans and radio personalities criticized Durham's performance in 2006 as being motivated by money because 2006 was Durham's contract year. Durham denied these claims and claimed that almost every year is a contract year.
On August 21, 2007, against
Sergio MitreSergio Armando Mitre is a Mexican American professional baseball player. A right-handed starting pitcher, he is currently 5th in the starting rotation for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball....
of the
Florida MarlinsThe Florida Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami Gardens, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, Durham fouled a pitch at the plate that bounced up and hit his groin. He would go on to
singleIn baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
on the next pitch. "I was swinging at the first thing so I could sit down," Durham said. "Then, I end up with a knock and I had to run from first to third. It did not feel good".
Ray Durham has also gained fame and popularity through his nickname: "Ray-Ray." As he once said in a clubhouse interview, Durham prefers the nickname because it brings out his youthful attitude and enjoyment of the game of baseball.
On September 9, 2007, Durham hit a
pinch-hitIn baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
three-run homer in the 8th inning to help San Francisco beat the
Los Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles, California, USA. The team is in the Western Division of the National League. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming the Brooklyn...
4-2.
On June 12, 2008, Durham got his 2000th hit off
Colorado RockiesThe Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993, the Rockies play in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains, which pass through Colorado, just west of Denver...
pitcher
Greg ReynoldsGregory Adam Reynolds is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Colorado Rockies.-Major League career:Reynolds was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies out of Terra Nova High School in the 41st round of the 2003 MLB Draft, but he instead decided to attend Stanford University...
.
Milwaukee Brewers (2008)
On July 20, 2008, Durham, was traded to the
Milwaukee BrewersThe Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for minor league pitcher Steve Hammond and minor league outfielder Darren Ford.
Durham filed for free agency on November 1, 2008. He is mulling retirement after rejecting a minor league deal from the
Washington NationalsThe Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly-built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK...
. He said the chance of him playing now is about 50-50.
See also
External links
- Ray Durham 2007 Interview on Sidewalks Entertainment
Sidewalks Entertainment is a long-running, weekly American television series that is a combination of a talk show, magazine show and variety show featuring celebrity interviews, music, artistic and novelty acts, and rising performers...