Ray Webster (second baseman)
| Ray Webster | |
|---|---|
 Webster, circa 1956 | |
| Second baseman | |
| Born: September 15, 1937 Grass Valley, California | |
| Died: June 3, 2020 (aged 82) Browns Valley, California | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 17, 1959, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| May 15, 1960, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .195 |
| Home runs | 2 |
| Runs batted in | 11 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| |
Raymond George Webster (November 15, 1937 – June 3, 2020) was a backup second baseman in Major League Baseball who played in part of two seasons for the Cleveland Indians (1959) and Boston Red Sox (1960). Listed at 6' 0", 175 lb., he batted and threw right-handed. In a two-season career, Webster had a .195 batting average (15-for-77) with two home runs and 11 runs batted in in 47 games.
Webster began his professional career with the Salem Senators, who he played for from 1955 to 1956. The following season he played for the Amarillo Gold Sox, and had a .284 batting average and 19 home runs in 154 games. In 1958, Webster played for the Sacramento Solons of the Pacific Coast League, and ended the year with a .244 batting average and 10 home runs.[1] After finishing the season, Cleveland Indians manager Joe Gordon recommended that they acquire him for their major league roster, and as a result they selected Webster in the rule 5 draft.[2]
During the 1959 offseason, Webster worked as a surveyor for the Yuma County, Arizona Public Works Department before Indians spring training began.[3] After spring training ended, he made the major league roster as the backup to Billy Martin, though Gordon felt Webster had the superior exhibition season.[4] He played in 40 games for the Indians in 1959, and had a .203 batting average. In January 1960, the Indians traded Webster to the Boston Red Sox for Leo Kiely. He played in seven games early in the season, but was sent to the minors after May 15.[5]
Webster finished 1960 with the Montreal Royals and Indianapolis Indians. He spent the next two seasons with the Vancouver Mounties and Hawaii Islanders, then ended his career with the Charlotte Hornets, hitting .225 in 104 games.[1]
Webster died of liver cancer on June 3, 2020, at Browns Valley, California.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Ray Webster Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
- ^ Jones, Harry (December 2, 1958). "2 Players Selected By Tribe". The Plain Dealer. p. 29.
- ^ "Webster, Shortstop With Big Bat, Eyes Tribe Job". The Plain Dealer. January 12, 1959. p. 29.
- ^ Jones, Harry (March 29, 1959). "Handsome Webster Looks Good To Tribe Chiefs, Too". The Plain Dealer. p. 5C.
- ^ "Ray Webster Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
- ^ "Raymond George Webster". Appeal Democrat. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics from Baseball Reference
- Retrosheet
- 1937 births
- 2020 deaths
- Amarillo Gold Sox players
- Baseball players from Nevada County, California
- Boston Red Sox players
- Charlotte Hornets (baseball) players
- Cleveland Indians players
- Hawaii Islanders players
- Indianapolis Indians players
- Major League Baseball second basemen
- Montreal Royals players
- People from Grass Valley, California
- Sacramento Solons players
- Salem Senators players
- Vancouver Mounties players