Ray Francis
Encyclopedia
Ray James Francis was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played between and for the Washington Senators
(1922), Detroit Tigers
(1923), New York Yankees
(1925) and Boston Red Sox
(1925). Listed at 6' 1.5", 182 lb., Francis batted and threw left-handed
. He was born in Sherman, Texas
.
In a three-season career, Francis posted a 12-28 record with 96 strikeout
s and a 4.65 ERA
in 82 appearances
, including 36 starts
, 15 complete game
s, two shutout
s, 25 games finished
, 110 walks
, and 337.0 innings
of work.
Roy James Francis ran away from home in Oklahoma to play baseball after working for Wells Fargo. He changed his name to Ray after a local sportswriter made a typo in a local newspaper. Ray played in many cities, including 1917 Beaumont TX, 1920 Seattle in the PCL, 1921 Seattle in the PCL, 1924 Atlanta Crackers, 1925 Minneapolis Millers, 1926 Atlanta Crackers, 1926 Minneapolis Millers, 1927 Atlanta Crackers, 1928 Birmingham Barons, 1929 Birmingham Barons, 1930 Birmingham Barons, 1931 Raleigh, 1932 Raleigh. http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=franci001ray
A few career notes: His only baseball card is 1921 Zeenut for Seattle in the PCL. Ty Cobb warned Ray (then playing for Washington Senators) not to pitch inside and Ray hit Ty with a fastball. Ty Cobb and Ray fought during the game and then exchanged blows after the game outside the stadium. Ty later said he signed Ray to play for the Detroit Tigers because of that toughness. He was a hold out for the Yankees spring training camp because he said "he had more friends in Atlanta." He also showed up to the Yankees team hotel carrying a shoebox of mice. The hotel manager kicked him out. He gave up a home run to Babe Ruth and also gave up Lou Gehrig's first RBI.
Ray Francis gave away all of his baseball income to the needy. He was known to buy groceries, clothing, and pay bills for complete strangers and come home with no money after a payday.
After retirement, Ray Francis worked for the Atlanta police department and was shot on duty. He later died of a heart attack while breaking up a fight on duty. He is buried in Atlanta.
Francis died in Atlanta, Georgia
, at age 42.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played between and for the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
(1922), Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1923), New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(1925) and Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1925). Listed at 6' 1.5", 182 lb., Francis batted and threw left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
. He was born in Sherman, Texas
Sherman, Texas
Sherman is a city in and the county seat of Grayson County, Texas, United States. The city's estimated population as of 2009 was 38,407. It is also one of two principal cities in the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
.
In a three-season career, Francis posted a 12-28 record with 96 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and a 4.65 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 82 appearances
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
, including 36 starts
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
, 15 complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s, two shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s, 25 games finished
Games finished
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a game finished if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game. A starting pitcher is not credited with a GF for pitching a complete game...
, 110 walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
, and 337.0 innings
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
of work.
Roy James Francis ran away from home in Oklahoma to play baseball after working for Wells Fargo. He changed his name to Ray after a local sportswriter made a typo in a local newspaper. Ray played in many cities, including 1917 Beaumont TX, 1920 Seattle in the PCL, 1921 Seattle in the PCL, 1924 Atlanta Crackers, 1925 Minneapolis Millers, 1926 Atlanta Crackers, 1926 Minneapolis Millers, 1927 Atlanta Crackers, 1928 Birmingham Barons, 1929 Birmingham Barons, 1930 Birmingham Barons, 1931 Raleigh, 1932 Raleigh. http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=franci001ray
A few career notes: His only baseball card is 1921 Zeenut for Seattle in the PCL. Ty Cobb warned Ray (then playing for Washington Senators) not to pitch inside and Ray hit Ty with a fastball. Ty Cobb and Ray fought during the game and then exchanged blows after the game outside the stadium. Ty later said he signed Ray to play for the Detroit Tigers because of that toughness. He was a hold out for the Yankees spring training camp because he said "he had more friends in Atlanta." He also showed up to the Yankees team hotel carrying a shoebox of mice. The hotel manager kicked him out. He gave up a home run to Babe Ruth and also gave up Lou Gehrig's first RBI.
Ray Francis gave away all of his baseball income to the needy. He was known to buy groceries, clothing, and pay bills for complete strangers and come home with no money after a payday.
After retirement, Ray Francis worked for the Atlanta police department and was shot on duty. He later died of a heart attack while breaking up a fight on duty. He is buried in Atlanta.
Francis died in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, at age 42.