Ray Semproch
Encyclopedia
Roman Anthony Semproch also known as Baby and Ray, was a right-handed Major League Baseball
pitcher who played from 1958 to 1961 for the Philadelphia Phillies
, Detroit Tigers
and Los Angeles Angels
.
He was signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent in 1951, but he did not make his big league debut until many years later - on April 15, 1958, against the Cincinnati Reds
. The year prior, he'd gone 12-4 with a 2.64 ERA for the Triple-A Miami Marlins
. In his first major league game, he gave up a hit and a walk, struck out two, and earned the win in a three inning relief appearance. Overall, he went 13-11 with a 3.92 ERA in 36 big league games (30 starts) that season. Although he was leading the league in wins at mid-season, his success tapered off and he finished with a winning percentage slightly higher than .500.
Asthmatic, Semproch never lived up to his rookie season's success. In 1959, he went only 3-10 with a 5.40 ERA in 30 games (18 starts). He was traded to the Tigers on December 5, 1959 with Chico Fernandez
for Ken Walters
, Ted Lepcio
, and minor leaguer Alex Cosmidis
. In 17 relief appearances for the Tigers in 1960, he had an ERA of 4.00 and a record of 3-0. Despite that moderate success, he was traded on June 15, 1960 to the Los Angeles Dodgers
with cash for Clem Labine
. He would never play in a Dodgers uniform.
On November 28, 1960, he was drafted by the Washington Senators
in the Rule 5 draft
(he and John Gabler
were the first two player acquired by the "new" Washington Senators of 1961. On April 7, 1961, the Angels purchased him from the Senators. He'd appear in only two games for the Angels, posting a 9.00 ERA. He played his final major league game on May 2, 1961.
Overall, Semproch went 19-21 with a 4.42 ERA in 85 games (48 starts). In 344 innings, he walked 136 batters and struck out 156. He hit .116 at the plate and had a .965 fielding percentage
.
Following his big league career, he worked as a bar manager at his brother's Italian restaurant.
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...
pitcher who played from 1958 to 1961 for the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, 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...
and Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
.
He was signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent in 1951, but he did not make his big league debut until many years later - on April 15, 1958, against the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. The year prior, he'd gone 12-4 with a 2.64 ERA for the Triple-A Miami Marlins
Miami Marlins (IL)
The Miami Marlins was the name of a Class AAA American minor league baseball franchise based in Miami, Florida, that played in the International League from 1956 through 1960.The Marlins were a transplanted version of the original Syracuse Chiefs...
. In his first major league game, he gave up a hit and a walk, struck out two, and earned the win in a three inning relief appearance. Overall, he went 13-11 with a 3.92 ERA in 36 big league games (30 starts) that season. Although he was leading the league in wins at mid-season, his success tapered off and he finished with a winning percentage slightly higher than .500.
Asthmatic, Semproch never lived up to his rookie season's success. In 1959, he went only 3-10 with a 5.40 ERA in 30 games (18 starts). He was traded to the Tigers on December 5, 1959 with Chico Fernandez
Chico Fernandez
Humberto "Chico" Fernández Pérez is a former Major League Baseball shortstop who played eight seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers , Philadelphia Phillies , Detroit Tigers , and New York Mets . Fernández played in 856 Major League games, 810 at shortstop...
for Ken Walters
Ken Walters
Kenneth Rogers Walters was a right-handed Major League Baseball outfielder who played from 1960 to 1961 for the Philadelphia Phillies and in 1963 with the Cincinnati Reds....
, Ted Lepcio
Ted Lepcio
Thaddeus Stanley Lepcio is an American former Major League Baseball utility infielder.Lepcio attended Seton Hall University. A one-time semiprofessional baseball player in Oneida, New York, he was signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent in...
, and minor leaguer Alex Cosmidis
Alex Cosmidis
Alex N. Cosmidis is an American professional baseball scout. He was a minor league baseball infielder for eleven seasons, a manager for eight, and a scout since 1982....
. In 17 relief appearances for the Tigers in 1960, he had an ERA of 4.00 and a record of 3-0. Despite that moderate success, he was traded on June 15, 1960 to 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...
with cash for Clem Labine
Clem Labine
Clement Walter Labine was an American right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball best known for his years with the Brooklyn & Los Angeles Dodgers from 1950 to 1960...
. He would never play in a Dodgers uniform.
On November 28, 1960, he was drafted by the Washington Senators
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
in the Rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
(he and John Gabler
John Gabler
John Richard Gabler was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played in , and with the New York Yankees, and in with the Washington Senators. He was a switch hitter and threw right-handed. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri.He was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1949...
were the first two player acquired by the "new" Washington Senators of 1961. On April 7, 1961, the Angels purchased him from the Senators. He'd appear in only two games for the Angels, posting a 9.00 ERA. He played his final major league game on May 2, 1961.
Overall, Semproch went 19-21 with a 4.42 ERA in 85 games (48 starts). In 344 innings, he walked 136 batters and struck out 156. He hit .116 at the plate and had a .965 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...
.
Following his big league career, he worked as a bar manager at his brother's Italian restaurant.