Ted Gray

[majicmg]

It is with regret that I report the passing of Detroit Tigers pitcher Ted Gray, who died in his sleep last week at 86. We had become friends while dining in the same breakfast establishment near his home in South Florida almost daily for the past 15 years.

A fireballing lefthander, he was a WWII vet who played under manager Mickey Cochrane while stationed at Great Lakes Naval Training Station. He continued pitching for military teams when transferred to the Pacific theater, and once struck out 19 batters in a loss to the Army's all-star team.

He made his MLB debut in 1946, and earned his place in baseball history for one event that most folks are aware of and another that's escaped attention. He was a member of the Tigers' starting rotation from 1949-53, winning 10 games for a miserable Bengals team in '49 and his first 10 decisions in the '50 campaign. That effort earned him a spot in the '50 All Star game, during which he was the losing pitcher after giving up a home run to Red Schoendienst in the 14th inning in what is still the longest mid-season classic game ever played.

Gray ended his career in 1955 with a record of 59-74. During his final campaign he equaled a MLB record by playing for four teams -- the White Sox, Indians, Yankees and Orioles.

He left the game at age 30 and eventually launched a business career. Even though he never told me so directly, I'm pretty sure the reason he left the game so young was the fact that he served as player representative for the Tigers for the first-ever meeting of what would become the MLB Players Association.

R.I.P., Ted. I'll miss you and your memories of baseball when it truly WAS a game, not the big business it's become today.

[Salty]

Thanks for posting!

Im sorry to hear of his passing; this is a nice snapshot of his baseball life.