Ray King (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ray King |
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King with the Colorado Rockies in 2006
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: January 15, 1974 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| May 21, 1999, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| April 23, 2008, for the Washington Nationals | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 20–23 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.46 | ||
| Strikeouts | 278 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Raymond Keith King, born on January 15, 1974, is a former professional baseball player from the United States. He was a special kind of pitcher called a relief pitcher. Ray played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. These included the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Colorado Rockies, and Washington Nationals. His career in the MLB lasted from 1999 to 2008.
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Ray King's Early Life and School Baseball
Ray King grew up in Ripley, Tennessee. He went to Ripley High School. There, he was a talented athlete. He earned special recognition in three sports: football, basketball, and baseball. In his senior year, he was named an All-American in baseball. After high school, Ray went to Lambuth University. He continued to play college baseball for the Lambuth Eagles team.
Ray King's Professional Baseball Career
Ray King played in the major leagues for ten seasons. He appeared in 593 games as a pitcher. He pitched a total of 411 innings. During his career, he had 20 wins and 23 losses. His ERA was 3.46. He also had 278 strikeouts and 2 saves. As a batter, he did not get any hits in six tries.
Starting His Journey in Baseball
The Cincinnati Reds picked Ray King in the eighth round of the 1995 MLB draft. He spent the next four years playing in the minor leagues. He played for teams connected to the Reds, Atlanta Braves, and Chicago Cubs. Ray finally made his big league debut on May 21, 1999. He played for the Chicago Cubs.
Playing for the Milwaukee Brewers
After playing for the Cubs in 1999, Ray King moved to the Milwaukee Brewers. This happened in the spring of 2000. In the 2001 and 2002 seasons, Ray was a key player for the Brewers. He pitched in over 75 games each year. He was a reliable part of their pitching team.
Time with the Atlanta Braves
After the 2002 season, Ray King went back to the Atlanta Braves. He was traded for infielder Wes Helms and pitcher John Foster. Ray continued to show how strong he was. He played in 80 games for the Braves in 2003. He was their main left-handed relief pitcher. That year, he also played in the postseason for the first time. He pitched one inning without giving up any runs. In the winter of 2003, Ray moved again. He joined the St. Louis Cardinals with other pitchers, Jason Marquis and Adam Wainwright.
Success with the St. Louis Cardinals
The 2004 season was Ray King's best in the major leagues. He played in a career-high 86 games for the Cardinals. He also set personal bests for holds (31), wins, and ERA. He finished with a 5–2 record and a 2.61 ERA. From May to July, Ray had an amazing 30-game streak where he did not give up any runs. This was another personal best. He also pitched 6 and 2/3 innings in the postseason. The Cardinals won the National League pennant that year.
Joining the Colorado Rockies
Ray King joined the Colorado Rockies for the 2006 season. He was traded from St. Louis. In return, the Cardinals received outfielder Larry Bigbie and second baseman Aaron Miles.
Playing for the Washington Nationals
The next winter, Ray King signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals. He was invited to their spring training. He made the Nationals team for Opening Day in 2007.
Second Time with the Milwaukee Brewers
In September 2007, the Brewers got Ray King back. They traded for him to help with their push for the playoffs. Ray finished the 2007 season with a 1-1 record. His ERA was 4.76 in 67 games. He became a free agent after the season ended.
Second Time with the Washington Nationals
On November 30, 2007, Ray King signed again with the Nationals. It was a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Ray made the Nationals team and pitched on opening day. He played in 12 games in April 2008. He had a 0-0 record with a 5.68 ERA. He pitched his final MLB game on April 23, 2008. He gave up two runs in 2/3 of an inning. On April 24, Ray was sent to the Triple-A Columbus team. However, he chose not to go and became a free agent on April 29.
Other Teams in 2008
On May 5, 2008, Ray King signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox. But he was released on May 20 after only four games in Triple-A. On May 29, 2008, Ray signed another minor league contract. This time it was with the Houston Astros. He pitched in 32 games for their Triple-A team, the Round Rock Express. He became a free agent at the end of that season.
Ray King's Pitching Style
Ray King was known as a "lefty specialist." This means he was very good at pitching against left-handed batters. He had a strong arm and could pitch often. From 2001 to 2005, he was one of the top ten relief pitchers in the National League for how many games he played. He threw a fastball that moved late and was in the low 90s (miles per hour). He also had a sharp breaking slider. Ray usually pitched the ball low in the strike zone. This made it hard for batters to hit home runs off him. He was also good at stopping runners from stealing bases. He was also good at fielding his position. He made only seven errors in 577 career games.
Interesting Facts About Ray King
- Even though he played almost 600 career games, Ray King only had 2 saves. He never started a game as a pitcher.
- Ray King holds the second-highest number of single-season appearances for two teams. He played in 80 games for the Atlanta Braves in 2003. He also played in 84 games for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2001.
- In 2004, Ray King received two awards from the Milwaukee Brewers. These were the Manager's Award and the Amanda Curran Award for Community Service.
- Ray King went 328 games without intentionally walking a batter. This streak lasted over four years. It is the longest known streak of its kind. On August 6, 2007, he intentionally walked Dave Roberts. This ended his amazing streak.
Ray King's Coaching Career
On November 28, 2023, Ray King started a new chapter in his baseball career. He was named the first pitching coach for the Oakland Ballers. This team plays in the Pioneer League.
Cool Facts About Ray King
- Even though he played in almost 600 games, King only had 2 saves and never started a game as a pitcher.
- He holds the record for the second-most single-season appearances for two different teams: 80 appearances with the Atlanta Braves in 2003 and 84 appearances with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2001.
- In 2004, King received two special awards from the Milwaukee Brewers: the Manager's Award and the Amanda Curran Award for Community Service. This shows he was a great player and a great person in the community.
- King once went 328 games without giving an intentional walk. This was the longest known streak of its kind!
