Claude Raymond (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Jean Claude Marc Raymond (born May 7, 1937 in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
, Canada) was a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox
(1959), Milwaukee Braves/Atlanta Braves
(1961–63 and 1967–69), Houston Colt .45's/Houston Astros
(1964–67) and Montreal Expos
(1969–71). He was one of the few baseball players to wear glasses, and as he came from Quebec
, he was nicknamed "Frenchy".
Although the White Sox won the 1959 American League
pennant
and the Braves won the 1969 National League Western Division
, Raymond pitched only in three games for Chicago in early 1959 and was released by the Braves to Montréal in August 1969.
He was named to the 1966 National League All-Star Team.
In 12 seasons he had a 46-53 Win-Loss record, 449 Games, 7 Games Started, 2 Complete Games, 270 Games Finished, 83 Saves, 721 Innings Pitched, 711 Hits Allowed, 338 Runs Allowed, 293 Earned Runs Allowed, 75 Home Runs Allowed, 225 Walks Allowed, 497 Strikeouts, 28 Hit Batsmen, 32 Wild Pitches, 3,048 Batters Faced, 54 Intentional Walks, 4 Balks and a 3.66 ERA.
Although he was traded from the division-leading Braves to the upstart Expos, Raymond remarked that it was one of the happiest moments of his life, as he was able to play for his home province.
After his playing career, Raymond worked as a French language
broadcaster with the Expos from 1972 to 2001. During the 1996 Summer Olympics
in Atlanta, Raymond was the public address announcer for baseball, as the International Olympic Committee
specified that announcements at Olympic venues must also be made in French, making Raymond, who had previously pitched in Atlanta, uniquely well-suited for the job. He was also an Expos' English language
broadcaster in 2004, their last season in Montreal.
Raymond joined the Expos staff as their Roving Coach in 2002 and served for three seasons.
According to The Baseball Hall of Shame 2, Raymond's picture on his baseball card (Topps
) in 1966 and 1967 both showed him with his fly
unzipped.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada) was a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(1959), Milwaukee Braves/Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
(1961–63 and 1967–69), Houston Colt .45's/Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
(1964–67) and Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
(1969–71). He was one of the few baseball players to wear glasses, and as he came from Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, he was nicknamed "Frenchy".
Although the White Sox won the 1959 American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
and the Braves won the 1969 National League Western Division
National League West
The National League Western Division, or NL West, is one of the three divisions of Major League Baseball's National League. It was created in 1969 when the previously undivided National League expanded its membership to twelve teams, positioning half of them in an Eastern division and the other...
, Raymond pitched only in three games for Chicago in early 1959 and was released by the Braves to Montréal in August 1969.
He was named to the 1966 National League All-Star Team.
In 12 seasons he had a 46-53 Win-Loss record, 449 Games, 7 Games Started, 2 Complete Games, 270 Games Finished, 83 Saves, 721 Innings Pitched, 711 Hits Allowed, 338 Runs Allowed, 293 Earned Runs Allowed, 75 Home Runs Allowed, 225 Walks Allowed, 497 Strikeouts, 28 Hit Batsmen, 32 Wild Pitches, 3,048 Batters Faced, 54 Intentional Walks, 4 Balks and a 3.66 ERA.
Although he was traded from the division-leading Braves to the upstart Expos, Raymond remarked that it was one of the happiest moments of his life, as he was able to play for his home province.
After his playing career, Raymond worked as a French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
broadcaster with the Expos from 1972 to 2001. During the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta, Raymond was the public address announcer for baseball, as the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
specified that announcements at Olympic venues must also be made in French, making Raymond, who had previously pitched in Atlanta, uniquely well-suited for the job. He was also an Expos' English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
broadcaster in 2004, their last season in Montreal.
Raymond joined the Expos staff as their Roving Coach in 2002 and served for three seasons.
According to The Baseball Hall of Shame 2, Raymond's picture on his baseball card (Topps
Topps
The Topps Company, Inc., manufactures chewing gum, candy and collectibles. Based in New York, New York, Topps is best known as a leading producer of baseball cards, football cards, basketball cards, hockey cards and other sports and non-sports themed trading cards.-Company history:Topps itself was...
) in 1966 and 1967 both showed him with his fly
Trousers
Trousers are an item of clothing worn on the lower part of the body from the waist to the ankles, covering both legs separately...
unzipped.