Ray Murray
Raymond Lee Murray (October 12, 1917 – April 9, 2003) was a Major League Baseball catcher who played for six seasons. He played for the Cleveland Indians during their championship 1948 season and from 1950 to 1951. He also played for the Philadelphia Athletics from 1951 to 1953 and the Baltimore Orioles in 1954.
As a baseball player Ray was a talented catcher with a big bat. As a rookie He won a World Series ring in 1948 catching the hall of fame pitcher Bob Feller for the Cleveland Indians. Although Ray had a powerful bat his best weapon was his cannon of a right arm, in his short career he allowed very few stolen bases and quickly gained recognition as a gun slinger at the plate. Ray was known for his colorful antics with the umpires which may have earned him the nickname "Deacon" for the way he preached to the umps. On one occasion he stopped in the middle of a game and removed all of his catchers gear to kneel at home plate and pray to the lord to give the umpire eyesight because he must be blind, Ray was promptly ejected from the game.
After his baseball career Ray lived until his death in Ft. Worth TX. He worked for many years for the Tarrant County sheriffs department as a warrant officer until his retirement. Ray raised two children, Buddy and Jill, he was involved in little league baseball for many years. He served as president of the Forest Hill youth association in the 1970s and managed several pony and colt league boys teams. Ray was also a very accomplished golfer carrying a scratch handicap up into his 50s, he was a longtime member of Glen Garden Country Club in Ft. Worth and also a winner of their club championship.
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