Ray Yochim

From BR Bullpen

Raymond Austin Aloysius Yochim

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 170 lb.
• Debut May 2, 1948
• Final Game May 22, 1949
• Born July 19, 1922 in New Orleans, LA USA
• Died January 26, 2002

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[edit] Biographical Information

Louisiana native Ray Yochim was the brother of Len Yochim. Ray Yochim spent thirteen years in professional baseball from 1941 to 1958. After two so-so seasons in the minors (1941-1942), Ray served with the United States Marine Corps from 1943 through 1945 during World War II. After his three-year tour in the Military, he spent two more seasons in the minors, earning two short stints in the major leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1948 and 1949.

Ray appeared in one game for the Cardinals in 1948, walked the bases loaded in his one inning on the mound, but had no decisions and was on his way back to the minors very shortly. Yochim was back in St. Louis in '49, appearing in three games this trip and finished up his major league career on May 2, 1949 with no wins or losses but a hefty 15.43 ERA.

Up until this time Ray had built a 40-48 record in the minors. The Cardinals moved him to the Boston Braves in an unknown transaction and he spent the 1950 season with the Birmingham Barons of the Southern Association. Ray had his career year in '50, winning 15 and losing 10 with a 3.78 ERA in 28 games and 188 innings. The world turned around in 1951 and he appeared with four teams and went 2-15 in 28 appearances.

Yochim spent five more active seasons in the minors with little success and called it a career in 1958 at the age of 35, after appearing in seven games with the New Orleans Pelicans. He ended his minor league run with a 80-97 record in 282 games.

He had managed in two seasons, the first in 1954 with the Panama City Fliers of the class D Alabama-Florida League where he was one of three in charge. The second year came in 1958 with the New Orleans Pelicans, where he was one of two at the helm.

After baseball, Yochim returned to Louisiana, where he resided until his retirement. Ray was inducted into the Diamond Club of Greater New Orleans Hall of Fame in 1972 before his death from heart failure on January 26, 2002 in New Orleans, LA at the age of 79.

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