Ray Fontenot
Encyclopedia
Silton Ray Fontenot is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for four seasons between 1983 and 1986. He played for three teams in those four years – the New York Yankees
, Chicago Cubs
and Minnesota Twins
.
Fontenot, a 6'0", 175 pound left-hander, was drafted by the Texas Rangers
in the 34th round (815th overall) of the 1979 amateur entry draft
. He had great success in the minors, with an ERA of 3.16, striking out 377 batters in more than 399 innings pitched. He was used mostly as a starter, although he pitched in relief in 1983.
at the age of 25, filling in for the injured Ron Guidry
. In that game, he gave up only one earned run in 5 innings, but still got only a no-decision. In his rookie year, he started 15 games and went 8-2 with a 3.33 ERA; he threw three complete games and one shutout. Even though he got a lot strikeouts in the minors, he struck out only 27 in more than 93 innings in his rookie season. His career high was seven strikeouts in a game, which he accomplished twice.
Oft-injured, he was used as a starter/reliever in 1984 and 1985; he pitched a total of 73 games in those years, starting 47 of them. He gave up 23 home runs in 1985, 5th most in the league. In 1986 he was used entirely as a reliever, appearing in 57 games for an ERA of 5.23. He threw 6 wild pitches that year, about one every 12 innings.
Overall in his Major League career, he went 25-26 with a 4.03 ERA. He struck out 216 and walked 153 in just over 493 innings pitched, while collecting only 3 hits in 48 career at-bats, for a .062 career batting average. He had a .919 career fielding percentage. He played his final game on October 1, 1986.
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
and 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...
.
Fontenot, a 6'0", 175 pound left-hander, was drafted by the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
in the 34th round (815th overall) of the 1979 amateur entry draft
1979 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1979 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held on June 5-7, 1979, via conference call.-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1979 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :...
. He had great success in the minors, with an ERA of 3.16, striking out 377 batters in more than 399 innings pitched. He was used mostly as a starter, although he pitched in relief in 1983.
Major League career
He made his Major League debut on June 30, 1983 against the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore 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...
at the age of 25, filling in for the injured Ron Guidry
Ron Guidry
Ronald Ames Guidry , nicknamed "Louisiana Lightning" and "Gator", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He played his entire 14-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
. In that game, he gave up only one earned run in 5 innings, but still got only a no-decision. In his rookie year, he started 15 games and went 8-2 with a 3.33 ERA; he threw three complete games and one shutout. Even though he got a lot strikeouts in the minors, he struck out only 27 in more than 93 innings in his rookie season. His career high was seven strikeouts in a game, which he accomplished twice.
Oft-injured, he was used as a starter/reliever in 1984 and 1985; he pitched a total of 73 games in those years, starting 47 of them. He gave up 23 home runs in 1985, 5th most in the league. In 1986 he was used entirely as a reliever, appearing in 57 games for an ERA of 5.23. He threw 6 wild pitches that year, about one every 12 innings.
Overall in his Major League career, he went 25-26 with a 4.03 ERA. He struck out 216 and walked 153 in just over 493 innings pitched, while collecting only 3 hits in 48 career at-bats, for a .062 career batting average. He had a .919 career fielding percentage. He played his final game on October 1, 1986.
Major transactions
- As one of the players to be named later, Fontenot was sent by the Rangers to the Yankees on October 8, 1979 to complete a deal made on August 1, 1979. In the end, the Rangers ended up sending Fontenot, Oscar GambleOscar GambleOscar Charles Gamble is a former outfielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball. He played for 17 seasons, from 1969 to 1985, on seven different teams: the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees on two separate occasions, as well as the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland...
, Gene NelsonGene Nelson (baseball)Wayland Eugene Nelson , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1981 to 1993. After beginning his career as a starting pitcher with the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners, Nelson gradually converted to a relief role starting in 1983...
and minor leaguer Amos Lewis for Mickey RiversMickey RiversJohn Milton "Mickey" Rivers is a former Major League Baseball player from 1970-1984 for the California Angels, New York Yankees, and Texas Rangers...
and minor leaguers Bob Polinsky, Neal Mersch and Mark Softy. - With Brian Dayett, Fontenot was sent by the Yankees to the Cubs for Porfi AltamiranoPorfi AltamiranoPorfirio Altamirano Ramírez , nicknamed "El Guajiro" is a former Major League Baseball right-handed middle relief pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs ....
, Rich BordiRich BordiRichard Albert Bordi is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played from -. He played for the Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles. Bordi threw and batted right-handed, was 6'7" tall, and weighed 220 pounds. He attended Fresno State...
, Henry CottoHenry CottoHenry Cotto is a former professional baseball outfielder. He played all or part of ten seasons in Major League Baseball, from until . He also played one season in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants in , winning a world championship...
, and Ron HasseyRon HasseyRonald William Hassey is a retired Major League Baseball catcher. Hassey began his career with the Cleveland Indians after the Indians drafted him in the 18th round of the 1976 MLB amateur draft...
on December 4, 1984. - On August 13, 1986, the Cubs sent Fontenot, George Frazier and minor leaguer Julius McDougal to the Twins for Ron Davis and minor leaguer Dewayne Coleman.