Ray Durham
From BR Bullpen
Ray Durham
- Bats Both, Throws Right
- Height 5' 8", Weight 170 lb.
- Debut April 26, 1995
- Born November 30, 1971 in Charlotte, NC USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Ray Durham is a second baseman who has played 14 seasons in the major leagues. He had one of his best seasons in 2006, with career highs in home runs and slugging. Although he had a good year with the bat in 2008, he received no major league offers over the 2008-09 winter and so is presumably retired.
Durham spent his first 7 2/3 years with the Chicago White Sox, who had signed him in 1990 as a 15th round draft pick. He spent five years in the minors, not showing that he had clear major league ability until 1994 when he played for the Triple A division-winning Nashville Sounds, hitting .296, slugging .495, and stealing 34 bases in 45 attempts.
He came up to the Chicago White Sox in 1995 and became a regular that year, showing above-average range at second base. He collected his first Major League hit in his first Major League at bat. It was a bunt on Opening Day. His hitting was below league average at first but very good for a middle infielder, but moved to above average (in terms of Adjusted OPS) in 1998, and each year since then has been above average or average.
He has never come close to leading the league in any offensive category, except in 1998 when he was 2nd in the league in Runs Scored. However, he is often in the top ten in categories such as triples and stolen bases. He has won no Gold Gloves, but was on the All Star team in 1998 and 2000. When he went deep twice on July 24, 2003 against the Diamondbacks, it was his fourth multi-homer game, and his first since October 5, 2001.
He has played on three division winners, with the 2000 Chicago White Sox, the 2002 Oakland Athletics, and the 2003 San Francisco Giants. Through most of his career he has been a lead-off hitter.
His brother, Chad Durham, played in the minors for a time.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 1995 Topps All-Star Rookie Team
- 2-time AL All-Star (1998 & 2000)
- 20-Home Run Seasons: 2 (2001 & 2006)
- 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 6 (1997-2002)
