Ray Webster (second baseman)

Raymond George Webster (November 15, 1937 – June 3, 2020) was a backup second baseman in Major League Baseball who played in part of two seasons for the Cleveland Indians (1959) and Boston Red Sox (1960). Listed at 6' 0", 175 lb., he batted and threw right-handed. In a two-season career, Webster had a .195 batting average (15-for-77) with two home runs and 11 runs batted in in 47 games.

For the first baseman, see Ray Webster (first baseman).
Ray Webster
Webster, circa 1956
Second baseman
Born: (1937-09-15)September 15, 1937
Grass Valley, California
Died: June 3, 2020(2020-06-03) (aged 82)
Browns Valley, California
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 17, 1959, for the Cleveland Indians
Last MLB appearance
May 15, 1960, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
Batting average.195
Home runs2
Runs batted in11
Teams

Webster began his professional career with the Salem Senators, who he played for from 1955 to 1956. The following season he played for the Amarillo Gold Sox, and had a .284 batting average and 19 home runs in 154 games. In 1958, Webster played for the Sacramento Solons of the Pacific Coast League, and ended the year with a .244 batting average and 10 home runs.[1] After finishing the season, Cleveland Indians manager Joe Gordon recommended that they acquire him for their major league roster, and as a result they selected Webster in the rule 5 draft.[2]

During the 1959 offseason, Webster worked as a surveyor for the Yuma County, Arizona Public Works Department before Indians spring training began.[3] After spring training ended, he made the major league roster as the backup to Billy Martin, though Gordon felt Webster had the superior exhibition season.[4] He played in 40 games for the Indians in 1959, and had a .203 batting average. In January 1960, the Indians traded Webster to the Boston Red Sox for Leo Kiely. He played in seven games early in the season, but was sent to the minors after May 15.[5]

Webster finished 1960 with the Montreal Royals and Indianapolis Indians. He spent the next two seasons with the Vancouver Mounties and Hawaii Islanders, then ended his career with the Charlotte Hornets, hitting .225 in 104 games.[1]

Webster died of liver cancer on June 3, 2020, at Browns Valley, California.[6]

References
  1. "Ray Webster Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  2. Jones, Harry (December 2, 1958). "2 Players Selected By Tribe". The Plain Dealer. p. 29.
  3. "Webster, Shortstop With Big Bat, Eyes Tribe Job". The Plain Dealer. January 12, 1959. p. 29.
  4. Jones, Harry (March 29, 1959). "Handsome Webster Looks Good To Tribe Chiefs, Too". The Plain Dealer. p. 5C.
  5. "Ray Webster Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  6. "Raymond George Webster". Appeal Democrat. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
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