TTM Stats
- Sent: 7/13/2022 | Received: 7/21/2022 | 8 Days
- ’83 Fleer, ’86 Fleer, ’86 Topps, ’88 Fleer, ’91 Fleer
- Address: Home (address from Sports Card Forum)
- Sent: 1/12/2023 | Received: 1/28/2023 | 16 Days
- ’84 Topps, ’86 Donruss, ’88 Fleer, ’91 Upper Deck (returned one card unsigned)
- Address: Home (address from Sports Card Forum)
- Sent: 10/31/2023 | Received: 11/17/2023 | 17 Days
- ’88 Topps, ’89 Donruss (2), ’89 Fleer Baseball’s Best, ’89 Score
- Address: Home (address from Sports Card Forum)
- Sent: 5/4/2024 | Received: 5/15/2024 | 11 Days
- ’82 Donruss, ’85 Topps, ’87 Topps, ’88 Score, ’90 Fleer
- Address: Home (address from Sports Card Forum)
- Sent: 12/4/2024 | Received: 12/17/2024 | 13 Days
- ’84 Topps, ’87 Donruss, ’87 Topps, ’88 Donruss, ’88 Topps
- Address: Home (address from Sports Card Forum)
The Story of the Autograph
Johnny Ray, born on March 1, 1957, in Chouteau, Oklahoma, carved out a notable career in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a reliable and consistent second baseman. Over a decade-long tenure in the majors, Ray’s disciplined approach at the plate and steady defensive play made him a valuable asset to his teams.
Ray’s athletic journey began at Chouteau High School, where he excelled in multiple sports. He continued his baseball development at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, earning NJCAA All-Region honors in 1975 and 1976. He then transferred to the University of Arkansas, contributing to the Razorbacks’ runner-up finish in the 1979 College World Series. That same year, the Houston Astros selected him in the 12th round of the MLB Draft.
Ray made his MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 2, 1981. In his first full season in 1982, he played all 162 games, batting .281 and earning votes in the Rookie of the Year honors, enough to finish second to Steve Sax.
During his time with the Pirates (1981–1987), Ray was known for his contact hitting and durability. He led the National League in doubles in both 1983 and 1984 and was among the league leaders in hits and batting average during those seasons.
In August 1987, Ray was traded to the California Angels. The following year, he was selected for the American League All-Star team, highlighting his continued offensive contributions. He remained with the Angels until 1990, concluding his MLB career with a .290 batting average, 1,502 hits, 53 home runs, and 594 RBIs over 1,353 games.
After his MLB tenure, Ray played two seasons (1991–1992) with the Yakult Swallows in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, where he continued to demonstrate his hitting prowess.
Post-retirement, Ray returned to his hometown of Chouteau, Oklahoma, where he remains a respected figure. His contributions to baseball were recognized with his induction into the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College Hall of Fame in 2014.
Johnny Ray’s career is a testament to consistency and professionalism. While he may not have garnered widespread acclaim, his steady performance and dedication left a lasting impression on teammates and fans alike.
The Score on Johnny Ray – 7.0
As you can see from all these, Johnny has become a good signer. I don’t know if I would say he is really reliable. I definitely looked through my return results and see a lot of returns that at this point are right offs, because these are new than those. As for his autograph, these came out great. I really like the black marker on the Pirates cards.
Thanks Mr. Ray! I’m giving these a 7.
I’ve gotten back another return from him prior to this. To see that one, check out my post from October 2019.
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Information gathered using Wikipedia and Baseball Reference.