Ray Mueller
Encyclopedia
Ray Coleman Mueller was an American
professional baseball
player, a catcher
in the Major Leagues
from 1935–1944 and 1946–1951. Nicknamed "Iron Man," Mueller appeared as a catcher in every game the Cincinnati Reds
played — 155 — during the wartime
season. Mueller caught a Major League-record 233 consecutive games in 1943–1944 and 1946.
The native of Pittsburg, Kansas
, was a first cousin of MLB infielder
Don Gutteridge
. He threw and batted right-handed, stood 5 in 9 in (1.75 m) tall and weighed 175 pounds (79.4 kg). During a 14-year Major League career, Mueller played for the Reds, Boston Braves
, Pittsburgh Pirates
and New York Giants
. He appeared in 985 games played
, and collected 733 hits
. After his playing career, Mueller managed
in minor league baseball
and coached
in the Majors for the Giants (1956), Chicago Cubs
(1957) and Cleveland Indians
(1966).
But he became best known as the everyday catcher of the 1944 Reds
. In , Mueller had warmed up for his iron-man role by catching in 141 games for Cincinnati, including every game from July 31 through the end of the campaign. Then, in 1944, he caught in every Red game — 155, including an official contest that was ruled a tie. He did not catch every inning for the 1944 Reds (backups Len Rice
, Joe Just
and Johnny Riddle
handled 17 total chances) but Mueller handled 545 chances, threw out
39 percent of would-be base-stealers, and batted
a career-high .286 with ten home runs and 73 runs batted in. He was named to the National League
All-Star team
and caught Clyde Shoun
's no-hitter
against Boston on May 15, 1944.
The following season, , Mueller was called to military service — putting his consecutive game streak on hold until . He would extend it to 233 games through May 6, 1946, before finally taking a game off. The 1943, 1944 and 1946 seasons would be the only years in which Mueller would appear in more than 100 games.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player, a 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...
in the Major Leagues
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...
from 1935–1944 and 1946–1951. Nicknamed "Iron Man," Mueller appeared as a catcher in every game the 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....
played — 155 — during the wartime
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
season. Mueller caught a Major League-record 233 consecutive games in 1943–1944 and 1946.
The native of Pittsburg, Kansas
Pittsburg, Kansas
Pittsburg is a city in Crawford County, in southeastern Kansas, United States. It is the most populous city in Crawford County and in southeastern Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 20,233.-History:...
, was a first cousin of MLB infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
Don Gutteridge
Don Gutteridge
Donald Joseph Gutteridge was an American second and third baseman, coach and manager in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Browns, Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates, and later managed the Chicago White Sox in 1969-1970...
. He threw and batted right-handed, stood 5 in 9 in (1.75 m) tall and weighed 175 pounds (79.4 kg). During a 14-year Major League career, Mueller played for the Reds, Boston 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....
, Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
and 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....
. He appeared in 985 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, and collected 733 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
. After his playing career, Mueller managed
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
in minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
and coached
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 the Majors for the Giants (1956), 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...
(1957) and 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...
(1966).
But he became best known as the everyday catcher of the 1944 Reds
1944 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season was a season in American baseball. It consisted of the Cincinnati Reds attempting to win the National League, although finishing in third place...
. In , Mueller had warmed up for his iron-man role by catching in 141 games for Cincinnati, including every game from July 31 through the end of the campaign. Then, in 1944, he caught in every Red game — 155, including an official contest that was ruled a tie. He did not catch every inning for the 1944 Reds (backups Len Rice
Len Rice
Leonard Oliver Rice was an American Major League Baseball catcher who played for the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs . A native of Lead, South Dakota, he stood tall and weighed ....
, Joe Just
Joe Just
Joseph Erwin Just was a Major League Baseball player. He played for the Cincinnati Reds of the National League. Just only played in 25 games over two years with the Reds. Just was 28 years old when he broke into the Major Leagues on May 13, 1944, with the Cincinnati Reds...
and Johnny Riddle
Johnny Riddle
John Ludy Riddle was an American Major League Baseball catcher who played for the Chicago White Sox , Washington Senators , Boston Bees , Cincinnati Reds , and Pittsburgh Pirates . At the age of 42 in 1948 , he was the oldest player to appear in a National League game that season...
handled 17 total chances) but Mueller handled 545 chances, threw out
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
39 percent of would-be base-stealers, and batted
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 :...
a career-high .286 with ten home runs and 73 runs batted in. He was named to the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
All-Star team
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
and caught Clyde Shoun
Clyde Shoun
Clyde Mitchell Shoun was an American professional baseball player. A left-handed pitcher, he was born in Mountain City, Tennessee, and known as "Hardrock", due to his fastball....
's no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
against Boston on May 15, 1944.
The following season, , Mueller was called to military service — putting his consecutive game streak on hold until . He would extend it to 233 games through May 6, 1946, before finally taking a game off. The 1943, 1944 and 1946 seasons would be the only years in which Mueller would appear in more than 100 games.