Johnny Ray (second baseman) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Johnny Ray
Second baseman
Born: (1957-03-01) March 1, 1957 (age 68) Chouteau, Oklahoma, U.S.
Batted: Switch Threw: Right
Professional debut
MLB: September 2, 1981, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
NPB: April 6, 1991, for the Yakult Swallows
Last appearance
MLB: September 30, 1990, for the California Angels
NPB: July 16, 1992, for the Yakult Swallows
MLB statistics
Batting average	.290
Home runs	53
Runs batted in	594
NPB statistics
Batting average	.269
Home runs	13
Runs batted in	64
Teams
Pittsburgh Pirates (1981–1987) California Angels (1987–1990) Yakult Swallows (1991–1992)
Career highlights and awards
All-Star (1988) Silver Slugger Award (1983)

Johnny Cornelius Ray (born March 1, 1957) is a former professional baseball player from the United States. He was a talented second baseman and sometimes an outfielder. Johnny played for 10 years in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1981 to 1990. He was part of the Pittsburgh Pirates and the California Angels. After his time in the MLB, he also played for two seasons in Japan for the Yakult Swallows.

Johnny Ray's Early Baseball Career

Johnny Ray loved baseball from a young age. He played college baseball at the University of Arkansas. In 1979, his team, the Razorbacks, made it to the College World Series. They finished as the runner-up, which was a great achievement!

How Johnny Ray Started in MLB

After college, Johnny was chosen by the Houston Astros in the 1979 amateur baseball draft. This is how many young players get their start in professional baseball. However, he didn't play for the Astros for long. On August 31, 1981, Johnny was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He moved to the Pirates along with another player, Randy Niemann.

Becoming a Star Player

Johnny quickly became a key player for the Pirates. He took on the role of their starting second baseman.

Johnny Ray's Rookie Year Success

In 1982, his first full year in the MLB, Johnny played in every single game! This is very rare for a rookie. His amazing performance earned him the "Rookie of the Year" award from The Sporting News. Even though another player, Steve Sax, won the award from the Baseball Writers' Association of America, Johnny's talent was clear to everyone.

Johnny Ray's Hitting Skills

Johnny was known for his strong hitting. He was especially good at hitting doubles. In both 1983 and 1984, he led the entire league in doubles! In 1983, he won the Silver Slugger Award for second basemen. This award goes to the best offensive player at each position. In 1984, he finished fifth in the league for batting average. Johnny was also very hard to strike out, which meant he often put the ball in play.

Moving to New Teams

In 1987, the Pirates decided to focus on younger players. So, on August 29, 1987, Johnny was traded to the California Angels.

Johnny Ray's All-Star Moment

After joining the Angels, Johnny continued to play well. He had been close to making the All-Star team a few times before. Finally, in 1988, he was chosen to be an American League All-Star! This was a big moment in his career. While playing for the Angels, Johnny also sometimes played in left field, showing his versatility.

Playing Baseball in Japan

After his time in Major League Baseball, Johnny Ray decided to play overseas. He spent two seasons, 1991 and 1992, playing for the Yakult Swallows in Japan. This gave him a chance to experience baseball in a different country.

Life After Baseball

After retiring from baseball, Johnny Ray returned to his hometown. He went back to Chouteau, Oklahoma, where he was born and grew up. He still lives there today. As a special tribute to his career, there's even a sign outside Chouteau that says, "Chouteau, OK. Home of Johnny Ray."

Career Statistics Highlights

Johnny Ray had a strong career. Here are some of his main statistics from Major League Baseball: