Ray Francis

Ray James Francis (March 8, 1893 – July 6, 1934) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Washington Senators, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in parts of three seasons spanning 1922–1925. Listed at 6 ft 1.5 in (1.87 m), 182 lb., Francis batted and threw left-handed. He was born in Sherman, Texas.[1]

Ray Francis
Pitcher
Born: (1893-03-08)March 8, 1893
Sherman, Texas
Died: July 6, 1934(1934-07-06) (aged 41)
Atlanta, Georgia
Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
April 18, 1922, for the Washington Senators
Last MLB appearance
June 10, 1925, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
Win–loss record12–28
Earned run average4.65
Strikeouts96
Teams

Francis worked for the Wells Fargo in Oklahoma before deciding to play baseball. He changed his name from Roy to Ray after a local sportswriter made a typo in a local newspaper.

Besides his major league stint, Francis played for several minor league clubs in many cities and different leagues, including the Beaumont Oilers, San Antonio Bronchos (TL, 1917), Seattle Rainiers (PCL, 1920–1921), Atlanta Crackers (SOUA, 1924; 1926–1928; 1930) Minneapolis Millers (AA, 1925–1926), Birmingham Barons (SOUA, 1928–1930), and Raleigh Capitals (PIED, 1931–1932).[2]

Francis posted a 12–28 record and a 4.65 earned run average in 82 major league appearances (36 starts), including 15 complete games, two shutouts and 25 games finished, striking out 96 batters while walking 110 in 337.0 innings of work. In a 10-year minor league career, he went 109–87 with a 3.49 ERA in 298 games.

After retirement, Francis worked for the police department of Atlanta and was shot on duty. He died of a heart attack in 1934, at the age of 41, while breaking up a fight on duty. He is buried in Atlanta.

Facts
  • His only baseball card appeared in the 1921 Zeenut set when he was pitching for Seattle in the Pacific Coast League.
  • While pitching for the Senators in 1922, he was warned by Ty Cobb not to pitch inside and he hit Cobb with a fastball. Both men fought during the game and then exchanged blows after that outside the stadium.
  • When Francis joined Detroit in 1923, Cobb said that he had signed him to play for the Tigers because of that toughness.
  • Francis was a holdout for the Yankees spring training camp because he said "he had more friends in Atlanta." He also showed up to the Yankees team hotel carrying a shoebox of mice. The hotel manager kicked him out.
  • He gave up a home run to Babe Ruth and also gave up to Lou Gehrig his first RBI.
  • Francis gave away all of his baseball income to the needy. He was known to buy groceries and clothing, and pay bills for complete strangers and come home with no money after a payday.

References
  1. Baseball Reference - Major league profile
  2. Baseball Reference - Minor league career
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