Ray Scarborough
Encyclopedia
Rae Wilson Scarborough was a starting pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Washington Senators
(1942–1943 and 1946–1950), Chicago White Sox
(1950), Boston Red Sox
(1951–52), New York Yankees
(1952–53) and Detroit Tigers
(1953). Scarborough batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Mount Gilead, North Carolina
.
, 1,487 hits allowed, 755 runs allowed, 656 earned runs allowed, 88 home runs allowed, 611 walks, 564 strikeout
s, 44 hit batsmen, 30 wild pitches, 6,297 batters faced, 4 balks and a 4.13 ERA
.
A Wake Forest
graduate, Scarborough was used sparingly by the Washington Senators before World War II
. After spending two years in the military service
, he developed into a reliable starter. His most productive season came in 1948, when he had a 15-8 mark and recorded a 2.82 ERA, being only surpassed by Gene Bearden
(2.43). In 1949 he won 13 games with the Senators, and again won 13 in 1950 for Washington (3) and the Chicago White Sox (10), a season in which he made his only All-Star appearance. On September 28, 1949, Scarborough ended Ted Williams'
streak of most consecutive games reaching base safely at 84 games.
After winning 12 games for the Boston Red Sox in 1951, Scarborough was purchased by the New York Yankees in the 1952 midseason, as he went 5-1 during New York's successful pennant drive en route to the 1952 World Series
. He played for the Yankees and Detroit Tigers in 1953, his last major league season.
, where he opened an oil and supply company. Later he scouted
for the Baltimore Orioles
, California Angels
and Milwaukee Brewers
organizations, and also helped establish a baseball program at Mount Olive College
. He spent the first part of the 1968 season
on the Orioles' MLB coaching
staff. Scarborough's grandson Garrett Blackwelder played basketball at East Carolina University from 1996–2000 and holds several shooting records.
Scarborough died in Mount Olive, North Carolina, at the age of 64.
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
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...
who played for the Washington Senators
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...
(1942–1943 and 1946–1950), Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(1950), 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"...
(1951–52), New York Yankees
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...
(1952–53) and Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1953). Scarborough batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Mount Gilead, North Carolina
Mount Gilead, North Carolina
Mount Gilead is a town in Montgomery County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,389 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mount Gilead is located at ....
.
Playing career
In a ten-season career, Scarborough posted a 80-85 win-loss record in 318 games, 168 games started, 59 complete games, 9 shutouts, 75 games finished, 12 saves, 1,428 ⅔ innings pitchedInnings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
, 1,487 hits allowed, 755 runs allowed, 656 earned runs allowed, 88 home runs allowed, 611 walks, 564 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s, 44 hit batsmen, 30 wild pitches, 6,297 batters faced, 4 balks and a 4.13 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
.
A Wake Forest
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
graduate, Scarborough was used sparingly by the Washington Senators before World War II
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...
. After spending two years in the military service
Military service
Military service, in its simplest sense, is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, whether as a chosen job or as a result of an involuntary draft . Some nations require a specific amount of military service from every citizen...
, he developed into a reliable starter. His most productive season came in 1948, when he had a 15-8 mark and recorded a 2.82 ERA, being only surpassed by Gene Bearden
Gene Bearden
Henry Eugene "Gene" Bearden was a left-handed knuckleball pitcher in Major League Baseball who completed a remarkable rookie season by closing out the Cleveland Indians' last World Series championship in 1948....
(2.43). In 1949 he won 13 games with the Senators, and again won 13 in 1950 for Washington (3) and the Chicago White Sox (10), a season in which he made his only All-Star appearance. On September 28, 1949, Scarborough ended Ted Williams'
Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
streak of most consecutive games reaching base safely at 84 games.
After winning 12 games for the Boston Red Sox in 1951, Scarborough was purchased by the New York Yankees in the 1952 midseason, as he went 5-1 during New York's successful pennant drive en route to the 1952 World Series
1952 World Series
The 1952 World Series featured the three-time defending champion New York Yankees beating the Brooklyn Dodgers in seven games. The Yankees won their fourth straight title—tying the mark they set between 1936 and 1939 under manager Joe McCarthy, and Casey Stengel became the second manager in Major...
. He played for the Yankees and Detroit Tigers in 1953, his last major league season.
Retirement
Following his playing career, Scarborough moved to Mount Olive, North CarolinaMount Olive, North Carolina
This article is about the town in Wayne County, North Carolina. For the unincorporated community in Stokes County see Mount Olive, Stokes County, North Carolina....
, where he opened an oil and supply company. Later he scouted
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
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...
, California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
and Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
organizations, and also helped establish a baseball program at Mount Olive College
Mount Olive College
Mount Olive College is a private liberal arts college located in Mount Olive, North Carolina. Founded in 1951, the college is supported by the Original Free Will Baptist Convention of North Carolina...
. He spent the first part of the 1968 season
1968 Baltimore Orioles season
The 1968 Baltimore Orioles season was a season in American baseball. The team finished second in the American League with a record of 91 wins and 71 losses, 12 games behind the AL and World Series champion Detroit Tigers. The team was managed by Hank Bauer, until he was replaced right after the...
on the Orioles' MLB coaching
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...
staff. Scarborough's grandson Garrett Blackwelder played basketball at East Carolina University from 1996–2000 and holds several shooting records.
Scarborough died in Mount Olive, North Carolina, at the age of 64.