Ray Hayworth
Encyclopedia
Raymond Hall Hayworth was a catcher
in Major League Baseball
. From 1926 through 1945, Hayworth played for the Detroit Tigers
, Brooklyn Dodgers
, New York Giants
and St. Louis Browns
. He batted and threw right-handed.
, Ray Hayworth was a solid defensive catcher but a modest hitter. Hayworth, who worked in baseball for more than 50 years, spent 15 seasons in the majors, almost all of it with the Detroit Tigers. He played with Ty Cobb
in 1926, Hayworth's rookie season, and Cobb's final season in Detroit.
Hayworth was a member of two World Series
teams with Detroit in 1934
and 1935
. He set an American League
record for most consecutive chances
by a catcher without an error
at 439, from September 2, to August 29, , and his glove is exhibited in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The record was later broken by Hall of Famer Yogi Berra
.
Hayworth also had two stints with the Brooklyn Dodgers and played briefly for the New York Giants and St. Louis Browns. He posted a .265 career batting average
with five home run
s and 238 RBI
in 699 games played
.
Following his playing career, Hayworth worked for several teams, including the Chicago Cubs
, the Milwaukee
and Atlanta Braves
and the Montreal Expos
. Hayworth retired from baseball in . After that, he threw out the ceremonial first ball in the last game played at Tiger Stadium on September 29, .
Hayworth died in Salisbury, North Carolina
, at age of 98. At the time of his death, he was the oldest surviving major league player.
His younger brother, Red Hayworth
, also was a major league catcher, and his grandson, J. D. Hayworth
, was a Republican Party
member of the United States House of Representatives
from Arizona
between 1995 and 2007.
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. From 1926 through 1945, Hayworth played for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
and St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. He batted and threw right-handed.
Career
A native of High Point, North CarolinaHigh Point, North Carolina
High Point is a city located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. As of 2010 the city had a total population of 104,371, according to the US Census Bureau. High Point is currently the eighth-largest municipality in North Carolina....
, Ray Hayworth was a solid defensive catcher but a modest hitter. Hayworth, who worked in baseball for more than 50 years, spent 15 seasons in the majors, almost all of it with the Detroit Tigers. He played with Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
in 1926, Hayworth's rookie season, and Cobb's final season in Detroit.
Hayworth was a member of two World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
teams with Detroit in 1934
1934 World Series
The 1934 World Series matched the St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers, with the Cardinals' "Gashouse Gang" winning in seven games for their third championship in nine years....
and 1935
1935 World Series
The 1935 World Series featured the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago Cubs, with the Tigers winning in six games for their first championship in five Series appearances. They had lost in , , , and ....
. He set an American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
record for most consecutive chances
Total chances
In baseball statistics, total chances , also called chances offered, represents the number of plays in which a defensive player has participated. It is calculated as follows: Total Chances = assists + putouts + errors. Chances accepted refers to the total of putouts and assists only. Fielding...
by a catcher without an error
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
at 439, from September 2, to August 29, , and his glove is exhibited in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The record was later broken by Hall of Famer Yogi Berra
Yogi Berra
Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra is a former American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager. He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
.
Hayworth also had two stints with the Brooklyn Dodgers and played briefly for the New York Giants and St. Louis Browns. He posted a .265 career batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
with five home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 238 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs 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. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 699 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
.
Following his playing career, Hayworth worked for several teams, including the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, the Milwaukee
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
and Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
and the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
. Hayworth retired from baseball in . After that, he threw out the ceremonial first ball in the last game played at Tiger Stadium on September 29, .
Hayworth died in Salisbury, North Carolina
Salisbury, North Carolina
Salisbury is a city in Rowan County in North Carolina, a state of the United States of America. The population was 33,663 in the 2010 Census . It is the county seat of Rowan County...
, at age of 98. At the time of his death, he was the oldest surviving major league player.
His younger brother, Red Hayworth
Red Hayworth
Myron Claude "Red" Hayworth was an American baseball player who played in Major League Baseball from -45. He was a catcher, listed at 6' 1.5", 200 lb., Hayworth batted and threw right-handed....
, also was a major league catcher, and his grandson, J. D. Hayworth
J. D. Hayworth
John David Hayworth, Jr. , usually known as J. D. Hayworth, is an American politician who served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2007 from Arizona's 5th congressional district...
, was a Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
between 1995 and 2007.