Ray Katt
Encyclopedia
Raymond Frederick Katt was an American
catcher
and coach
in Major League Baseball
during the 1950s, and later the longtime and highly successful head baseball coach of Texas Lutheran University
. A lifelong resident of New Braunfels, Texas
, Katt stood 6'2" (183 cm) tall, weighed 200 pounds (91 kg), and threw and batted right-handed in his playing days. He attended Texas A&M University
.
Katt spent his entire major league playing career with two teams, the New York Giants
and the St. Louis Cardinals
, spending two separate terms with each club. Katt originally signed with the Giants and after two brief trials with them in 1952
-53
, he became the club's semi-regular backstop during its final championship season in New York in 1954
. Playing in 86 games, he split catching duties with veteran Wes Westrum
, hitting
.255 with nine home runs and 33 runs batted in. Westrum took over the catching during the 1954 World Series
, won by the Giants in four consecutive games, and Katt did not appear. However, in 1955
, he became the club's regular receiver, playing in 124 games and compiling a career-high 326 at bats
. But his batting average plummeted to .215 and he would spend the rest of his MLB career as a back-up.
He was first traded to the Cardinals on June 14, 1956, in a nine-player trade that included notables Alvin Dark
and Red Schoendienst
, and batted a creditable .259 in part-time duty for the Redbirds through the end of the 1956 season. But during the winter, St. Louis shipped him to the Chicago Cubs
, who in turn peddled him back to the Giants on eve of the 1957
regular season. Katt was a member of the final New York Giants club before it transferred to San Francisco
, batting 165 times in 72 games in 1957. He was traded back to the Cardinals in April 1958
, and closed out his active MLB career with them as a third-string catcher in 1958 and a playing coach in 1959
. In all or parts of eight major league seasons (1952-59), Katt appeared in 417 games, and batted .232 with 32 home runs and 120 RBI in 1,071 at bats.
He was a coach for Cardinals in 1959 and part of 1960 and the Cleveland Indians
in 1962, before returning to Texas — first as a high school baseball coach in New Braunfels, and then as head baseball coach at Texas Lutheran, where he served for 22 seasons (1971-92), the team compiling a record of 502-362-2.
Ray Katt died at age 72 from lymphoma
in New Braunfels.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
and coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
in Major League Baseball
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...
during the 1950s, and later the longtime and highly successful head baseball coach of Texas Lutheran University
Texas Lutheran University
Texas Lutheran University is an undergraduate, private, coeducational university affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The University was founded in 1891, and currently serves approximately 1,400 students each semester....
. A lifelong resident of New Braunfels, Texas
New Braunfels, Texas
New Braunfels is a city in Comal and Guadalupe counties in the U.S. state of Texas that is a principal city of the metropolitan area. Braunfels means "brown rock" in German; the city is named for Braunfels, in Germany. The city's population was 57,740 as of the 2010 census, up 58% from the 2000...
, Katt stood 6'2" (183 cm) tall, weighed 200 pounds (91 kg), and threw and batted right-handed in his playing days. He attended Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
.
Katt spent his entire major league playing career with two teams, the New York 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....
and the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, spending two separate terms with each club. Katt originally signed with the Giants and after two brief trials with them in 1952
1952 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers *All-Star Game, July 8 at Shibe Park: National League, 3-2 -Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: La Habana *College World Series: Holy Cross...
-53
1953 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers *All-Star Game, July 14 at Crosley Field: National League, 5-1-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Cangrejeros de Santurce *College World Series: Michigan...
, he became the club's semi-regular backstop during its final championship season in New York in 1954
1954 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:* World Series: New York Giants over Cleveland Indians * All-Star Game, July 13 at Municipal Stadium: American League, 11-9-Other champions:* Caribbean World Series: Caguas Creoles [Criollos de Caguas]...
. Playing in 86 games, he split catching duties with veteran Wes Westrum
Wes Westrum
Wesley Noreen Westrum was an American professional baseball player, coach, manager, and scout. He played for 11 seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the New York Giants from to . He was known as a superb defensive catcher...
, hitting
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.255 with nine home runs and 33 runs batted in. Westrum took over the catching during the 1954 World Series
1954 World Series
The 1954 World Series matched the National League champion New York Giants against the American League champion Cleveland Indians. The Giants swept the Series in four games to win their first championship since , defeating the heavily favored Indians, who had won an AL-record 111 games in the...
, won by the Giants in four consecutive games, and Katt did not appear. However, in 1955
1955 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Brooklyn Dodgers over New York Yankees ; Johnny Podres, MVP*All-Star Game, July 12 at County Stadium: National League, 6-5 -Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Cangrejeros de Santurce...
, he became the club's regular receiver, playing in 124 games and compiling a career-high 326 at bats
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
. But his batting average plummeted to .215 and he would spend the rest of his MLB career as a back-up.
He was first traded to the Cardinals on June 14, 1956, in a nine-player trade that included notables Alvin Dark
Alvin Dark
Alvin Ralph Dark , nicknamed "Blackie" and "The Swamp Fox", is a former shortstop and manager in Major League Baseball who played for five National League teams from 1946 to 1960. Named the major leagues' Rookie of the Year with the Boston Braves when he batted .322...
and 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...
, and batted a creditable .259 in part-time duty for the Redbirds through the end of the 1956 season. But during the winter, St. Louis shipped him to the 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...
, who in turn peddled him back to the Giants on eve of the 1957
1957 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Milwaukee Braves over New York Yankees ; Lew Burdette, MVP*All-Star Game, July 9 at Busch Stadium: American League, 6-5-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Marianao *College World Series: California...
regular season. Katt was a member of the final New York Giants club before it transferred to San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, batting 165 times in 72 games in 1957. He was traded back to the Cardinals in April 1958
1958 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Milwaukee Braves ; Bob Turley, MVP*All-Star Game, July 8 at Memorial Stadium: American League, 4-3-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Marianao *College World Series: USC...
, and closed out his active MLB career with them as a third-string catcher in 1958 and a playing coach in 1959
1959 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers over Chicago White Sox ; Larry Sherry, MVP*All-Star Game , July 7 at Forbes Field: National League, 5-4*All-Star Game , August 3 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum: American League, 5-3...
. In all or parts of eight major league seasons (1952-59), Katt appeared in 417 games, and batted .232 with 32 home runs and 120 RBI in 1,071 at bats.
He was a coach for Cardinals in 1959 and part of 1960 and the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
in 1962, before returning to Texas — first as a high school baseball coach in New Braunfels, and then as head baseball coach at Texas Lutheran, where he served for 22 seasons (1971-92), the team compiling a record of 502-362-2.
Ray Katt died at age 72 from lymphoma
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage...
in New Braunfels.