Jay Ritchie
Encyclopedia
Jay Seay Ritchie is a former right-handed Major League Baseball
pitcher who played from 1964 to 1968 for the Boston Red Sox
, Atlanta Braves
and Cincinnati Reds
. He was 6'4" tall and he weighed 190 pounds.
He was originally signed by the Red Sox as a free-agent in 1955. He spent a few years in the minors before making his big league debut with the Red Sox on August 4, 1968 against the Minnesota Twins
with the first batter he faced being Hall of Fame slugger Harmon Killebrew
. In four innings pitched that game, he allowed two hits and three walks, but did not allow a single earned run.
His rookie season overall was perhaps the best season of his career - in 21 games, he posted a solid 2.74 ERA in 46 innings of work. 1965 was also a successful season for Ritchie, as he posted a 3.17 ERA in 44 relief appearances.
On January 11, 1966, Ritchie was sent to the Braves as the player to be named later
in a deal that was made on December 15, 1965. The deal went as such: The Red Sox sent Lee Thomas
, Arnold Earley
and a player to be named later (Ritchie) to the Braves for Bob Sadowski and Dan Osinski
.
He spent two seasons with the Braves, appearing in 22 games and posting a 4.08 ERA in 1966 and appearing in 52 games in 1967, posting a 3.17 ERA. In 1967, he tied for 10th in the league with Bob Miller in pitching appearances. While with the Braves in 1967, he pitched the equivalent of a perfect and then some, retiring 28 batters in a row over a span of four consecutive outings.
Following the 1967 season, Ritchie was traded to the Reds with Jim Beauchamp
and Mack Jones
for Deron Johnson
.
He played his final season in 1968, appearing in 28 games for the Reds, starting two of them. Overall, he posted a 4.61 ERA that year, which was nearly a point and a half higher than the league average.
Overall in his career, Ritchie posted a 8-13 record in 167 games. In 291 1/3 innings of work, he struck out 212 batters, walked 94 and had a 3.49 ERA. As a batter, he hit .200 in 35 at-bats, with the highlight of his hitting career being a triple he hit off a Don Cardwell
of the New York Mets
on May 16, 1967. It was the only extra base hit of his career. He had a .940 career fielding percentage.
At last check, he lived in Kannapolis, North Carolina.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher who played from 1964 to 1968 for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, 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....
and Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. He was 6'4" tall and he weighed 190 pounds.
He was originally signed by the Red Sox as a free-agent in 1955. He spent a few years in the minors before making his big league debut with the Red Sox on August 4, 1968 against the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
with the first batter he faced being Hall of Fame slugger Harmon Killebrew
Harmon Killebrew
Harmon Clayton Killebrew , nicknamed "Killer" and "Hammerin' Harmon", was an American professional baseball first baseman, third baseman, and left fielder. During his 22-year career in Major League Baseball , he played for the Washington Senators, a team which later became the Minnesota Twins, and...
. In four innings pitched that game, he allowed two hits and three walks, but did not allow a single earned run.
His rookie season overall was perhaps the best season of his career - in 21 games, he posted a solid 2.74 ERA in 46 innings of work. 1965 was also a successful season for Ritchie, as he posted a 3.17 ERA in 44 relief appearances.
On January 11, 1966, Ritchie was sent to the Braves as the player to be named later
Player to be named later
The concept of the "player to be named later" is most often associated with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trades.-Description:...
in a deal that was made on December 15, 1965. The deal went as such: The Red Sox sent Lee Thomas
Lee Thomas (baseball)
James Leroy "Lee" Thomas is a former player and front-office executive in American Major League Baseball...
, Arnold Earley
Arnold Earley
Arnold Carl Earley was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball.-Career:Born in Lincoln Park, Michigan, Earley played eight seasons in the major leagues with the Boston Red Sox , Chicago Cubs , and Houston Astros...
and a player to be named later (Ritchie) to the Braves for Bob Sadowski and Dan Osinski
Dan Osinski
Daniel Osinski is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. The 6'2", 195 lb. right-hander was signed by the Cleveland Indians as an amateur free agent before the 1952 season...
.
He spent two seasons with the Braves, appearing in 22 games and posting a 4.08 ERA in 1966 and appearing in 52 games in 1967, posting a 3.17 ERA. In 1967, he tied for 10th in the league with Bob Miller in pitching appearances. While with the Braves in 1967, he pitched the equivalent of a perfect and then some, retiring 28 batters in a row over a span of four consecutive outings.
Following the 1967 season, Ritchie was traded to the Reds with Jim Beauchamp
Jim Beauchamp
James Edward Beauchamp was a Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder who played from to for the St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Colt .45s/Astros, Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, and New York Mets. He attended Grove High School in Grove, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University...
and Mack Jones
Mack Jones
Mack F. Jones , nicknamed "Mack The Knife", was a Major League Baseball left fielder who played for the Milwaukee & Atlanta Braves , Cincinnati Reds and Montreal Expos . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed.A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Jones was signed by the Milwaukee Braves as a...
for Deron Johnson
Deron Johnson
Deron Roger Johnson was an American professional baseball player. Born in San Diego, California, he played seventeen seasons in Major League Baseball as an infielder, outfielder, and designated hitter for the New York Yankees, Kansas City & Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox,...
.
He played his final season in 1968, appearing in 28 games for the Reds, starting two of them. Overall, he posted a 4.61 ERA that year, which was nearly a point and a half higher than the league average.
Overall in his career, Ritchie posted a 8-13 record in 167 games. In 291 1/3 innings of work, he struck out 212 batters, walked 94 and had a 3.49 ERA. As a batter, he hit .200 in 35 at-bats, with the highlight of his hitting career being a triple he hit off a Don Cardwell
Don Cardwell
Donald Eugene Cardwell was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for five National League teams from 1957 to 1970...
of the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
on May 16, 1967. It was the only extra base hit of his career. He had a .940 career fielding percentage.
At last check, he lived in Kannapolis, North Carolina.