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 on March 1, 1957, is a former American baseball player. He was a talented second baseman and sometimes played as an outfielder. Johnny played in Major League Baseball for 10 years, from 1981 to 1990. He played for two main teams: the Pittsburgh Pirates and the California Angels. After his time in the U.S., he also played baseball in Japan for the Yakult Swallows.

Johnny Ray's Early Career

Johnny Ray played college baseball for the University of Arkansas. In 1979, his team, the Razorbacks, finished as runner-up in the College World Series. This was a big achievement for his college team.

Joining Major League Baseball

The Houston Astros picked Johnny in the 12th round of the amateur baseball draft. Later, on August 31, 1981, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He joined the Pirates along with Randy Niemann, in exchange for Phil Garner.

Becoming a Star Player

Johnny quickly became the starting second baseman for the Pirates. In 1982, as a rookie, he played in every single game. He was named the Rookie of the Year by The Sporting News. Even though another player, Steve Sax, won the official award, Johnny's performance was still amazing.

Hitting Success and Awards

Johnny Ray was known for his great hitting. He led the league in doubles in both 1983 and 1984. 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 showed how skilled he was at the plate.

Moving to New Teams

In 1987, the Pirates decided to focus on younger players. So, on August 29, 1987, they traded Johnny Ray to the California Angels. He was traded for Miguel García and a minor league player named Bill Merrifield.

All-Star Recognition

After joining the Angels, Johnny finally made it to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in 1988. He had been close to making the team in previous seasons, so this was a special moment. While with the Angels, he also played some games in left field.

Playing in Japan and Retirement

After his time in Major League Baseball, Johnny Ray played for two seasons in Japan. He played for the Yakult Swallows in 1991 and 1992.

Life After Baseball

After retiring from baseball, Johnny Ray returned to his hometown. He was born and raised in Chouteau, Oklahoma, and he still lives there today. As a special honor, there is a sign outside Chouteau that says, "Chouteau, OK. Home of Johnny Ray."

Career Statistics Overview

Here are some of Johnny Ray's career statistics from his time in Major League Baseball. These numbers show how well he played during his career.