31 Facts About Ray Boone

Raymond Otis Boone was an American professional baseball infielder and scout who played in Major League Baseball.

Ray Boone served in the United States Navy during World War II.

Ray Boone signed his first professional contract with the Cleveland Indians in 1942 at age 18.

Ray Boone received a $500 signing bonus and began playing for the Indian's Class C team in Wausau, Wisconsin.

The training center had a baseball team, which Ray Boone played for on the weekends alongside Bob Lemon and George Vico, both future major leaguers.

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In 1946, Ray Boone played 77 games for Wilkes-Barre in the Class A Eastern League.

Toward the end of the 1947 season, Ray Boone was asked to play shortstop, which he did for more than 20 games.

In 1948, Ray Boone traveled to Tucson, Arizona for the Indians' spring training.

Ray Boone initially decided to play in the majors, but after sitting on the bench for three weeks, he made the transition back to the minors as a backup.

Ray Boone debuted in the major leagues on September 3,1948, when he was called up by the Cleveland Indians.

Ray Boone produced 12 home runs and 51 RBIs over 151 games, with 544 plate appearances.

Ray Boone sustained multiple injuries that year, including a torn ligament in the left knee.

On June 14,1953, Ray Boone was traded to the Detroit Tigers from the Cleveland Indians along with Steve Gromek in a swap that saw Art Houtteman and Joe Ginsberg sent to the Indians.

Ray Boone produced one go-ahead home run against pitcher Sid Hudson in the seventh inning, along with two walks, a double, and a single.

The rest of the 1953 season, Ray Boone hit four grand slams, tying the major league record at the time.

Ray Boone was voted into the 1954 MLB All-Star Game, in which he batted sixth and hit a home run.

Ray Boone hit a career high in RBIs, which tied him for first place in the American League with Jackie Jensen.

Ray Boone experienced worsening health problems, and had to make multiple trips to medical clinics to receive cortisone shots in his knees.

On June 15,1958, Ray Boone was traded to the Chicago White Sox along with Bob Shaw in exchange for Bill Fischer and Tito Francona.

Ray Boone would go on to play through April 1959 for the White Sox.

On May 3,1959, Ray Boone was traded from the White Sox to the Kansas City Athletics in exchange for Harry “Suitcase” Simpson.

Ray Boone worked in the position until he retired on December 31,1992.

Ray Boone's scouting territory included all of Arizona and New Mexico, as well as California south of Laguna Beach.

Ray Boone was married to Patsy Dorothy Boone, who was born in San Diego on March 17,1926, and died on May 11,2008.

The Ray Boone family was the first to send three generations of players to the All-Star Game.

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In 1973, Ray Boone was inducted by the San Diego Hall of Champions into the Breitbard Hall of Fame honoring San Diego's finest athletes both on and off the playing field.

Ray Boone was well known as the leader of the local San Diego National Lumberjack Association chapter.

Ray Boone died from a heart attack at the age of 81 on October 17,2004, in San Diego.

Ray Boone had been hospitalized for six months for complications due to intestinal surgery.

Ray Boone was survived by his wife, Patsy, his sons, Bob and Rod, his daughter, Terry, nine grandchildren, including former MLBer and Yankees manager Aaron Ray Boone, and five great-grandchildren.

Ray Boone is buried in El Camino Memorial Park in San Diego, California.