Ron Cey

From BR Bullpen

Ronald Charles Cey (Penguin)

Bats Right, Throws Right
School Western Washington University, Washington State University
Debut September 3, 1971
Final Game July 12, 1987
Born February 15, 1948 in Tacoma, WA USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Ron Cey was part of the Dodger infield of the 1970's and early 1980's that played together longer than any other major league infield - approximately ten years. Baseball guru Bill James said that Cey was actually a bit better than the other infielders - Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, and Bill Russell - all of whom combined to give the Dodgers a solid core of four players year after year.

Cey was a good home run hitter, with over 300 dingers in his career, even though Dodger Stadium was not considered a good hitter's park. He came up after Steve Garvey had been tried at third base. He was part of the World Series teams in 1974, 1977, 1978, and 1981, and if the Cincinnati Reds of 1975 and 1976 had not been invincible, the Dodgers might well have gone to the Series in those years, too. He joined the Chicago Cubs in 1983, and was the clean-up hitter and top RBI man for the division-winning Cubs in 1984.

He finished his career with the Athletics in 1987, a year in which Reggie Jackson also finished his career with the A's and in which Mark McGwire won the Rookie of the Year Award for his play with the A's.

"The Penguin" always had a walk that looked like he couldn't possibly be a decent fielder, but his range factors at third base proved otherwise. He also had a good on-base percentage at a time when walks were not much appreciated by fans.

Based on similarity scores, the most similar player by far to Cey is Robin Ventura. There are distinct similarities, but Ventura played in an era when hitting was easier.

Cey has appeared five times on television shows, including once on "Columbo" and once on "Murder, She Wrote".

As of the year 2000, Cey worked for the Dodgers' Marketing and Community Affairs department.