Ray Crone
Encyclopedia
Raymond Hayes Crone was a right-handed Major League Baseball
pitcher who played for the Milwaukee Braves from 1954 to 1957 and the New York/San Francisco Giants
from 1957 to 1958.
in Memphis, Tennessee.
He signed a professional contract with the Boston Braves in 1949 at the age of 17 and began his professional career that season. He was used primarily as a starting pitcher in his early minor league career, reaching win totals as high as 19, accomplishing that in 1953 with the Jacksonville Braves
.
's 1.86). He also spent 14 games in the minor leagues that season.
With the Braves in 1955, Crone went 10-9 with a 3.46 ERA in 33 games (15 starts). In 140 innings, he allowed only 117 hits. Though he spent time in the minors in 1955, it was a short stint - only four games.
He went 11-10 with a 3.87 ERA in 35 games in 1956. Crone began the 1957 season with the Braves, going 3-1 with a 4.46 ERA in 11 games (five starts). On June 15, he was traded with Danny O'Connell
and Bobby Thomson
to the New York Giants for Hall of Famer Red Schoendienst
. He went 4-8 with a 4.33 ERA with the Giants that year, and went a combined 7-9 with a 4.36 ERA.
Crone played his final major league season in 1958, going 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA in 14 games (one start). On July 15 of that year, he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Don Johnson. He finished the season in the minor leagues, playing his final big league game on July 14.
over .444.
He later became a scout, working for the Baltimore Orioles
, Boston Red Sox
and currently the San Diego Padres
. He is responsible for the signings of Don Welchel
and Paxton Crawford
.
He spent 11 seasons in the minors, going 90-77 in 244 games.
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 for the Milwaukee Braves from 1954 to 1957 and the New York/San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
from 1957 to 1958.
Early life and career
Prior to playing professionally, Crone attended Christian Brothers High SchoolChristian Brothers High School (Memphis, Tennessee)
Christian Brothers High School ' is located in Memphis, Tennessee, at 5900 Walnut Grove Rd. It is an all-male college preparatory school and Catholic school that has a strong Lasallian tradition that can be traced back to John Baptist de La Salle...
in Memphis, Tennessee.
He signed a professional contract with the Boston Braves in 1949 at the age of 17 and began his professional career that season. He was used primarily as a starting pitcher in his early minor league career, reaching win totals as high as 19, accomplishing that in 1953 with the Jacksonville Braves
Jacksonville Braves
The Jacksonville Braves were a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They played in the South Atlantic League for eight seasons, from 1953 to 1960, and were the Class A affiliate of the Milwaukee Braves Major League Baseball team during that time...
.
Major league career
Crone made his major league debut on April 13, 1954 at age 22. He spent 19 games with the big league club, starting two of them and going 1-0 with a 2.02 ERA in 49 innings of work. Of all pitchers on the team that season, he had the second-lowest ERA (trailing only Charlie GorinCharlie Gorin
Charles Perry Gorin , was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played in and with the Milwaukee Braves. He batted and threw left-handed....
's 1.86). He also spent 14 games in the minor leagues that season.
With the Braves in 1955, Crone went 10-9 with a 3.46 ERA in 33 games (15 starts). In 140 innings, he allowed only 117 hits. Though he spent time in the minors in 1955, it was a short stint - only four games.
He went 11-10 with a 3.87 ERA in 35 games in 1956. Crone began the 1957 season with the Braves, going 3-1 with a 4.46 ERA in 11 games (five starts). On June 15, he was traded with Danny O'Connell
Danny O'Connell
Daniel Francis O'Connell was an American infielder in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Milwaukee Braves , New York/San Francisco Giants andWashington Senators...
and Bobby Thomson
Bobby Thomson
Robert Brown "Bobby" Thomson was a Scottish-born American professional baseball player. Nicknamed "The Staten Island Scot", he was an outfielder and right-handed batter for the New York Giants , Milwaukee Braves , Chicago Cubs , Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles .His season-ending three-run...
to the New York Giants for Hall of Famer Red Schoendienst
Red Schoendienst
Albert Fred "Red" Schoendienst is an American Major League Baseball coach, former player and manager, and 10-time All-star. After a 19-year playing career with the St...
. He went 4-8 with a 4.33 ERA with the Giants that year, and went a combined 7-9 with a 4.36 ERA.
Crone played his final major league season in 1958, going 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA in 14 games (one start). On July 15 of that year, he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Don Johnson. He finished the season in the minor leagues, playing his final big league game on July 14.
Later career
Crone pitched in the minors until 1961, when he was 29 years old. In each of the final three seasons of his minor league career, Crone did not post a winning percentageWinning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
over .444.
He later became a scout, working for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, 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"...
and currently the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. He is responsible for the signings of Don Welchel
Don Welchel
Donald Ray Welchel is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Baltimore Orioles in 1982 and 1983....
and Paxton Crawford
Paxton Crawford
Paxton Keith Crawford is a former player in Major League Baseball who played from 2000 to 2001.-Professional career:...
.
Career totals
Over the course of his five-year major league career, Crone went 30-30 with a 3.87 ERA in 137 games (61 starts). In 546 innings, he struck out 260 batters and walked 173.He spent 11 seasons in the minors, going 90-77 in 244 games.