Ray Moore (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Raymond Leroy Moore was an American
right-handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers
, Baltimore Orioles
, Chicago White Sox
, Washington Senators
and Minnesota Twins
from to .
A fastballing right-hander, Moore was nicknamed "Farmer" and "Old Blue". He was 6'1" tall and he weighed 205 pounds.
Born in Meadows, Maryland
, Moore was originally signed by the Dodgers in . He spent a few years in the minors, and made his major league debut on August 1, at the age of 26.
Moore, who today wouldn't be considered a "control specialist" as he walked
as many as 112 batters in a season, was used both as a reliever and starter in his career, starting mostly during his time with the Orioles, to whom he'd been traded for Chico Garcia
on October 8, . He also started a large number of games one year with the White Sox. He was involved in a blockbuster deal when he was sent to the White Sox, being traded with Tito Francona
and Billy Goodman
for Hall of Famer Larry Doby
, Jim Marshall
, Russ Heman
and Jack Harshman
.
Perhaps his best season as a starter was , while with the Orioles. That year, Moore posted a 12-7 record with a 4.18 ERA. He also completed nine games that season, a career high. He also had the ninth best hits allowed per nine innings ratio in 1956, with a ratio of 7.83:9.
On June 28, , Moore threw the White Sox fourth consecutive shutout, which set an American League
record. Overall that year, went 11-13 with a 3.72 ERA.
Moore saw the only postseason action of his career as his White Sox battled the Los Angeles Dodgers
in the 1959 World Series
. Moore only appeared in one inning in the World Series, striking out one and giving up a hit-a home run by Chuck Essegian
.
He was purchased from the White Sox by the Senators a little ways into , and it was with the Senators and Twins (the Senators relocated to Minnesota after 1960) that he became one of the better closers in the league, ranking from 1960 to third, fourth and seventh in the league in saves, respectively.
Moore finished up his career in 1963, playing his final game on September 6 against the Chicago White Sox
, striking out the last batter he faced - Cam Carreon
. Overall, he was 63-59 with 560 walks and 612 strikeouts in 1072 innings. He completed 24 of the 105 games he started, shutting out five of them. Overall, he appeared in 365 games, saving 46.
Moore had a total of six home runs in his career, with as many as three in a season. In 1956, he hit .271 in 70 at-bats. Overall, his batting average was .187 with 56 hits in 299 at-bats. He struck out 99 times and walked seven times in his entire career.
He had a .946 fielding percentage
in his career.
Moore died in 1995 in Clinton, Maryland
. He is buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery
in Suitland, Maryland.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
right-handed pitcher
Pitcher
In 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 the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
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...
who played for the 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...
, Baltimore Orioles
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...
, Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located 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...
, Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
and Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
from to .
A fastballing right-hander, Moore was nicknamed "Farmer" and "Old Blue". He was 6'1" tall and he weighed 205 pounds.
Born in Meadows, Maryland
Meadows, Maryland
Meadows is an unincorporated community located in Prince George's County, Maryland, near the east end of Andrews Air Force Base. One person of note from Meadows is baseball player Ray Moore....
, Moore was originally signed by the Dodgers in . He spent a few years in the minors, and made his major league debut on August 1, at the age of 26.
Moore, who today wouldn't be considered a "control specialist" as he walked
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
as many as 112 batters in a season, was used both as a reliever and starter in his career, starting mostly during his time with the Orioles, to whom he'd been traded for Chico Garcia
Chico Garcia
Vinicio "Chico" García Uzcanga was a second baseman in Major League Baseball. He played for the Baltimore Orioles in the 1954 season. Listed at 5' 8", 170 lb., García batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Veracruz, Veracruz, Mexico...
on October 8, . He also started a large number of games one year with the White Sox. He was involved in a blockbuster deal when he was sent to the White Sox, being traded with Tito Francona
Tito Francona
John Patsy "Tito" Francona is a former outfielder/first baseman in professional baseball. He is the father of former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona.-Career:...
and Billy Goodman
Billy Goodman
William Dale Goodman was an infielder and left-handed batter who played Major League Baseball with the Boston Red Sox , Baltimore Orioles , Chicago White Sox and Houston Colt .45's ....
for Hall of Famer Larry Doby
Larry Doby
Lawrence Eugene "Larry" Doby was an American professional baseball player in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball....
, Jim Marshall
Jim Marshall (baseball)
Rufus James Marshall is a former first baseman and manager in American Major League Baseball. Marshall managed the Chicago Cubs and the Oakland Athletics but never enjoyed a winning season in either post...
, Russ Heman
Russ Heman
Russell Frederick Heman is an American former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. The , right-hander was signed by the Chicago White Sox as an amateur free agent before the 1952 season...
and Jack Harshman
Jack Harshman
John Elvin Harshman , is a former professional baseball pitcher who played from 1945 through 1960. He played for the New York Giants, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, and Cleveland Indians....
.
Perhaps his best season as a starter was , while with the Orioles. That year, Moore posted a 12-7 record with a 4.18 ERA. He also completed nine games that season, a career high. He also had the ninth best hits allowed per nine innings ratio in 1956, with a ratio of 7.83:9.
On June 28, , Moore threw the White Sox fourth consecutive shutout, which 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. Overall that year, went 11-13 with a 3.72 ERA.
Moore saw the only postseason action of his career as his White Sox battled the Los Angeles 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...
in the 1959 World Series
1959 World Series
The 1959 World Series featured the National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers beating the American League champion Chicago White Sox, four games to two. It was the first pennant for the White Sox in 40 years . They would have to wait until 2005 to win another championship...
. Moore only appeared in one inning in the World Series, striking out one and giving up a hit-a home run by Chuck Essegian
Chuck Essegian
Charles Abraham Essegian, Jr. is a former backup outfielder who played from through in Major League Baseball. Listed at 5' 11", 200 lb., he batted and threw right-handed....
.
He was purchased from the White Sox by the Senators a little ways into , and it was with the Senators and Twins (the Senators relocated to Minnesota after 1960) that he became one of the better closers in the league, ranking from 1960 to third, fourth and seventh in the league in saves, respectively.
Moore finished up his career in 1963, playing his final game on September 6 against the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located 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...
, striking out the last batter he faced - Cam Carreon
Cam Carreon
Camilo Carreon was an American Major League Baseball player from 1959 to 1966 for the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles. His son Mark was also a Major League player....
. Overall, he was 63-59 with 560 walks and 612 strikeouts in 1072 innings. He completed 24 of the 105 games he started, shutting out five of them. Overall, he appeared in 365 games, saving 46.
Moore had a total of six home runs in his career, with as many as three in a season. In 1956, he hit .271 in 70 at-bats. Overall, his batting average was .187 with 56 hits in 299 at-bats. He struck out 99 times and walked seven times in his entire career.
He had a .946 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
in his career.
Moore died in 1995 in Clinton, Maryland
Clinton, Maryland
Clinton is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Clinton was formerly known as Surrattsville until after the time of the American Civil War. The population of Clinton was 26,064 at the 2000 census. However, as of 2007, there is an...
. He is buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery
Cedar Hill Cemetery
Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford, Connecticut is located at 453 Fairfield Avenue. It was designed by landscape architect Jacob Weidenmann who also designed Hartford's Bushnell Park. Its first sections were completed in 1866 and the first burial took place on July 17, 1866...
in Suitland, Maryland.