Ray Blemker

From BR Bullpen

Raymond Blemker

Bats Right, Throws Left
Height 5' 11", Weight 190 lb.
School Georgia Institute of Technology
Debut July 3, 1960
Final Game July 3, 1960
Born August 9, 1937 in Huntingburg, IN USA
Died February 15, 1994 in Evansville, IN USA

[edit] Biographical Information

In 1959 the Kansas City Athletics signed left handed pitcher Ray Blemker to a free agent contract. He was sent to the class AA Southern Association Shreveport Sports and the young rookie appeared in five games before being sent to the class B Three I League Sioux City Soos. Blemker finished up 1959 in Shreveport where he had a good season, winning 8 and losing only 2, with a 3.45 ERA.

On July 3, 1960 Blemker was called up to the American League Kansas City Athletics for his one and only chance in the Major Leagues. It was not his time and he gave up 3 hits, 5 runs, 2 base on balls and 5 earned runs. After this outing he was sent back to the minors where he finished up the year with the Shreveport Sports, going 8-6 with a 4.78 ERA. Ray had been with the American Association Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers when he was called up to the Athletics in July. He had a 5-3 record with a 4.83 ERA while there.

He spent the next two seasons, 1961 and 1962 with four different teams in the minors and left baseball after the '62 season.

A Huntingburg, Indiana native, Buddy, as he was known in his earlier years, was the first Major League baseball player from Dubois County. He was an outstanding three-sport athlete at Huntingburg High School, and ended his high school career with 12 varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball. He went on to have a stellar career in college at Georgia Tech, playing basketball and baseball for the Yellow Jackets. In 1957 and 1959 Buddy helped pitch Georgia Tech to the S.E.C. Championship.

After leaving baseball there was a brief period in sales before beginning a 29 year career with the Federal Government. He was an investigator for the U.S. Department of Labor. Buddy passed away at the early age of 56.

Ray Blemker was inducted into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.