Ted Gray
Encyclopedia
Ted Glenn Gray was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played eight seasons with the Detroit Tigers
(1946, 1948–1954), and then had short stints during the season with the Chicago White Sox
, Cleveland Indians
, New York Yankees
, and Baltimore Orioles
.
A native Detroiter, Gray was a star pitcher at Highland Park High School
. He signed with the Tigers in 1942 at age 17 and played the 1942 season with Winston-Salem in the Piedmont League, posting a 13-14 record and a 2.04 ERA. He briefly joined the Tigers at the end of the 1942 season but did not play.
Gray enlisted in the Navy when he turned 18 after the 1942 season. Gray was assigned to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station where he pitched for the Great Lakes team managed by Mickey Cochrane
. Tigers pitchers Schoolboy Rowe
and Dizzy Trout
also pitched for Cochrane's star-studded Great Lakes team. Gray was transferred to the New Hebrides
in the Pacific Theater, where he continued pitching for the Navy. He won 12 straight games and averaged 17 strikeouts per game in his Navy career. In January 1945, he pitched for the Navy All Stars. He lost his first game against the Army All Stars 3-1 despite striking out 19 batters. In three games against the Army All Stars, Gray had a 1-2 record and a remarkable 46 strikeouts. After the series, The Sporting News
reported: "You can’t tell any of the fellows in this war sector that when peace is restored, Ted Gray won’t match the records of Grove, Hubbell, Pennock, Newhouser and the other great ." (The Sporting News, February 22, 1945.)http://www.garybed.co.uk/Player_Bios/gray_ted.htm
After the war, Gray played with Buffalo before joining the Tigers for a brief stay in 1946. He pitched only three games in the Major Leagues in 1946 (an 0-2 record) and was returned to the minors where he spent the balance of the 1946 season and the entire 1947 season. Gray returned to the Tigers in 1948, posting a record of 6-2.
Though Gray never lived up to the expectations that were created by his wartime performance, he became part of the Tigers starting rotation from 1949-1953. In 1949, Gray won 10 games and had a career-best 3.51 ERA (Adjusted ERA+
of 118).
Gray then got off to a phenomenal start in 1950, winning 10 games before the All-Star break. He was selected for the American League All-Star team but ended up as the losing pitcher in the 1950 All Star Game after giving up a game-winning home run to Red Schoendienst
in the 14th inning. http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ALS/ALS195007110.shtml After the All Star game, Gray failed to win another game for the remainder of the year, finishing with a 10-7 record.
Gray reportedly suffered from chronic blisters that hindered his performance. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Ted_Gray_1924
In 1951, Gray's downward slide continued as he led the American League in losses with a record of 7-14. And in 1952, Gray was among the league leaders in losses with 17 (third most in the AL) and earned runs allowed with 103 (third most in the AL).
Gray was a power pitcher who was known for his forkball and ranked among the American League leaders in strikeouts four consecutive years from 1950-1954. He had the second-highest rate of strikeouts per 9 innings in both 1951 (5.97) and 1952 (5.88). He was also among the league leaders in home runs allowed on three occasions, leading the league in home runs allowed in 1953 with 25.
At the end of the 1954 season, Gray was traded to the Chicago White Sox
with Walt Dropo
. He was released by four different teams during the 1955 season. Only two other players have played for four American League teams in one season: Frank Huelsman
and Paul Lehner
.
Gray posted a career won-loss record of 59-74 with a 4.37 ERA
in 222 career games.
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 eight seasons with the 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...
(1946, 1948–1954), and then had short stints during the season with the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, 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...
, and Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
.
A native Detroiter, Gray was a star pitcher at Highland Park High School
Highland Park Community High School (Highland Park, Michigan)
Highland Park Community High school is a public high school in Highland Park, Michigan. About 775 students currently attend HP. Its mascot is the polar bears, and its school colors are Blue and white The school motto is "Striving for Excellence; Learning for Life."-History:The current Highland...
. He signed with the Tigers in 1942 at age 17 and played the 1942 season with Winston-Salem in the Piedmont League, posting a 13-14 record and a 2.04 ERA. He briefly joined the Tigers at the end of the 1942 season but did not play.
Gray enlisted in the Navy when he turned 18 after the 1942 season. Gray was assigned to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station where he pitched for the Great Lakes team managed by Mickey Cochrane
Mickey Cochrane
Gordon Stanley "Mickey" Cochrane was a professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
. Tigers pitchers Schoolboy Rowe
Schoolboy Rowe
Lynnwood Thomas "Schoolboy" Rowe was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, primarily for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies...
and Dizzy Trout
Dizzy Trout
Paul Howard "Dizzy" Trout was a Major League Baseball pitcher primarily for the Detroit Tigers. Born in Sandcut, Indiana, he first played professionally in 1935 with the Terre Haute Tots in the Three-I League before signing with Detroit in 1939.Trout played for the Tigers for fourteen seasons,...
also pitched for Cochrane's star-studded Great Lakes team. Gray was transferred to the New Hebrides
New Hebrides
New Hebrides was the colonial name for an island group in the South Pacific that now forms the nation of Vanuatu. The New Hebrides were colonized by both the British and French in the 18th century shortly after Captain James Cook visited the islands...
in the Pacific Theater, where he continued pitching for the Navy. He won 12 straight games and averaged 17 strikeouts per game in his Navy career. In January 1945, he pitched for the Navy All Stars. He lost his first game against the Army All Stars 3-1 despite striking out 19 batters. In three games against the Army All Stars, Gray had a 1-2 record and a remarkable 46 strikeouts. After the series, The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
reported: "You can’t tell any of the fellows in this war sector that when peace is restored, Ted Gray won’t match the records of Grove, Hubbell, Pennock, Newhouser and the other great ." (The Sporting News, February 22, 1945.)http://www.garybed.co.uk/Player_Bios/gray_ted.htm
After the war, Gray played with Buffalo before joining the Tigers for a brief stay in 1946. He pitched only three games in the Major Leagues in 1946 (an 0-2 record) and was returned to the minors where he spent the balance of the 1946 season and the entire 1947 season. Gray returned to the Tigers in 1948, posting a record of 6-2.
Though Gray never lived up to the expectations that were created by his wartime performance, he became part of the Tigers starting rotation from 1949-1953. In 1949, Gray won 10 games and had a career-best 3.51 ERA (Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+, often simply abbreviated to ERA+ or ERA plus, is a pitching statistic in baseball. It adjusts a pitcher's earned run average according to the pitcher's ballpark and the ERA of the pitcher's league...
of 118).
Gray then got off to a phenomenal start in 1950, winning 10 games before the All-Star break. He was selected for the American League All-Star team but ended up as the losing pitcher in the 1950 All Star Game after giving up a game-winning home run to Red Schoendienst
Red Schoendienst
Albert Fred "Red" Schoendienst is an American Major League Baseball coach, former player and manager, and 10-time All-star. After a 19-year playing career with the St...
in the 14th inning. http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ALS/ALS195007110.shtml After the All Star game, Gray failed to win another game for the remainder of the year, finishing with a 10-7 record.
Gray reportedly suffered from chronic blisters that hindered his performance. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Ted_Gray_1924
In 1951, Gray's downward slide continued as he led the American League in losses with a record of 7-14. And in 1952, Gray was among the league leaders in losses with 17 (third most in the AL) and earned runs allowed with 103 (third most in the AL).
Gray was a power pitcher who was known for his forkball and ranked among the American League leaders in strikeouts four consecutive years from 1950-1954. He had the second-highest rate of strikeouts per 9 innings in both 1951 (5.97) and 1952 (5.88). He was also among the league leaders in home runs allowed on three occasions, leading the league in home runs allowed in 1953 with 25.
At the end of the 1954 season, Gray was traded to the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
with Walt Dropo
Walt Dropo
Walter Dropo , nicknamed "Moose", was an American college basketball standout and a professional baseball first baseman...
. He was released by four different teams during the 1955 season. Only two other players have played for four American League teams in one season: Frank Huelsman
Frank Huelsman
Frank Elmer Huelsman was a Major League Baseball left fielder. Huelsman batted and threw right-handed. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri....
and Paul Lehner
Paul Lehner
Paul Eugene Lehner was an American outfielder in Major League Baseball, playing mainly as a center fielder for five American League teams from 1946 through 1952. A native of Dolomite, Alabama, Lehner batted and threw left-handed...
.
Gray posted a career won-loss record of 59-74 with a 4.37 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 222 career games.