Dick Gray facts for kids

Richard Benjamin Gray (July 11, 1931 – July 8, 2013) was an American professional baseball player. He played as an infielder, mostly a third baseman, in Major League Baseball (MLB). Dick played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals from 1958 to 1960. He was 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed 165 pounds. He batted and threw with his right hand.

Dick Gray is famous for hitting the very first home run in the history of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He also hit the first home run in their opening game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Early Life and Baseball Dreams

Dick Gray was born in Jefferson, Pennsylvania. From a young age, he loved playing baseball with his friends. He played on local "sandlot" teams, which are informal baseball teams.

He went to Jefferson High School in Pennsylvania. There, he was a talented athlete. He played baseball, football, and was on the wrestling team. After graduating in June 1949, he immediately began his career in professional baseball.

Starting His Professional Journey

When Dick was 18, he tried out for the Brooklyn Dodgers. This was at their training camp in Vero Beach, Florida, in 1949. The Dodgers signed him, and he started playing in their minor league system. Minor leagues are where players develop their skills before reaching the big leagues.

In 1950, he played for the Class D Sheboygan Indians. He had a great year, hitting for a .310 average and 11 home runs. He scored 118 runs in 1951 while playing for the Valdosta Dodgers. He even made the All-Star team as a third baseman.

Serving His Country

Like many players of his time, Dick Gray's baseball career was paused. He joined the United States Army during the Korean War. He served for two years, from 1953 to 1954.

During his time in the Army, he was lucky enough to play baseball. He played on a special Army team at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. Many future major league players were on that team, including Whitey Herzog. Dick said this time helped him grow a lot as a person.

Back to Baseball

After leaving the Army in 1955, Dick joined the Fort Worth Cats. He played well, hitting 24 home runs and getting 91 runs batted in (RBIs) in 1956. RBIs are when a player hits the ball and helps a teammate score a run.

In 1957, he moved up to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints. This is the highest level in the minor leagues. He had his best year, hitting for a .297 average and getting 111 RBIs. After this season, his main team, the Dodgers, moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles.

Making History in Los Angeles

In 1958, Dick Gray became the regular third baseman for the Dodgers. This was their first season in Los Angeles.

First Dodgers Home Run in LA History

On April 16, 1958, the Dodgers played the San Francisco Giants. In the second inning, Dick Gray hit a two-run home run. This was off pitcher Ramón Monzant. It was the first home run ever hit by a Los Angeles Dodger player!

First Home Run at LA Memorial Coliseum

Two days later, on April 18, 1958, the Dodgers played their first home game in Los Angeles. The game was at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Again, they played against the Giants.

In the seventh inning, Dick Gray hit another home run. This one was off Giants pitcher Johnny Antonelli. This made him the first Dodger to hit a home run in the city of Los Angeles. The Dodgers won that historic game 6-5.

Dick remembered that the Coliseum was a football field, not a perfect baseball field. He said, "Left field was only about 280 feet, but then you had an eighty foot fence." This made it tough for some players to hit home runs there.

Later Career and Retirement

After his time with the Dodgers, Dick Gray was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in June 1959. He played 36 games for them. In 1960, he played a few more games for the Cardinals. He was then traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates sent him to their Triple-A team, where he played until he retired in 1962.

In his short four-season MLB career, Dick Gray played in 124 games. He hit 12 home runs and had 41 RBIs. Over his ten years in the minor leagues, he hit 96 home runs and had 622 RBIs.

After baseball, Dick Gray lived in Anaheim, California. He worked for a school district's maintenance department until he retired in 1993. He also enjoyed going to baseball card shows and signing autographs for fans. In 2009, he was honored by being inducted into the Washington-Greene County Sports Hall of Fame.

Dick Gray passed away in 2013 at his home, just three days before his 82nd birthday.