Johnny Gray
From BR Bullpen
John Leonard Gray
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 4", Weight 226 lb.
- School Rollins College
- Debut July 18, 1954
- Final Game July 16, 1958
- Born December 11, 1926 in West Palm Beach, FL USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Johnny Gray was signed as an amateur free agent by the New York Yankees before the 1950 season. The 6'4" righthander was assigned to the Amsterdam Rugmakers of the Canadian-American League, appeared in 19 games, won 10 and lost 4 with a 3.86 ERA. He would spend three more years in the minors (1951-53) and the Yankees would trade him to the Athletics in 1953 and he would reach the majors with them in 1954, their final season in Philadelphia with a record of 3-12.
Johnny was also with the Athletics in their first season in Kansas City but was sold to the Cleveland Indians on October 13, 1955. In 1956 he was with the AAA Indianapolis Indians, where he was roommates with Roger Maris, married a local woman who was Miss Universe, and posted the best ERA in the American Association at 2.72 while winning 10 and losing 7.
His ERA was 1.84 at San Diego of the PCL in 1957 when he was called up to the Indians after Herb Score was hit by Gil McDougald's line drive. His only victory for Cleveland was a shutout which turned out to be his final win. On December 2, 1957 he was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies from the Indians in the 1957 Rule V Draft. Johnny would finish up his major league time with the Phillies in 1958 with a 4-18 major league career record and a 6.18 ERA.
Gray would spend two more years in the minors, with little luck, going 3-11 with five different clubs and after eleven active years (1950-60) in pro baseball the 33 year old pitcher decided to seek other avenues. He finished up his minor league stat sheet with 274 appearances, winning 71 and losing 75, while pitching 1,463 innings, giving up 1,232 base hits along with 820 base on balls for a 3.59 ERA.
After baseball Johnny became an apartment complex manager in Miami, FL and resides in Margate, Florida.
[edit] Sources
Baseball-Reference.com
Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Third Edition
Baseball Players of the 1950s
SABR MILB Database:page
