Raymond Lewis Lankford was born on June 5,1967 and is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the St Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres from 1990 to 2004.
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18 Facts About Ray Lankford
2.
Ray Lankford was known for his combination of power, speed, and defensive prowess.
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3.
Ray Lankford later played baseball and football at Modesto Junior College.
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4.
Ray Lankford made his major league debut with St Louis in August 1990, and soon after took over the center field position previously occupied by former National League MVP Willie McGee.
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5.
Ray Lankford started his career as primarily a leadoff man, where his speed and plate discipline made him a potent force.
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6.
Ray Lankford eventually moved down in the batting order to take further advantage of his power hitting ability.
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7.
Ray Lankford posted five seasons of 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases with the Cardinals, making him the only player in franchise history to accomplish the feat more than once.
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8.
Ray Lankford was selected as the starting center fielder for the National League in the 1997 All-Star Game after a dominating hitting performance in the first half of the season, and posted an offensive career year the following season.
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9.
Ray Lankford compiled impressive defensive statistics at his new position.
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11.
Ray Lankford returned to the Padres for 2002, but his lone full season in San Diego was marred by injury and inconsistency, as he appeared in only 81 games and batted a career low.
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12.
Ray Lankford took the 2003 season off to continue his recovery process before returning to St Louis, where he finished his career in 2004.
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13.
Ray Lankford was not placed on the postseason roster in 2004, but did earn a National League championship ring for his role in the Cardinals' first pennant-winning season since 1987.
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14.
Ray Lankford finished his career among the Cardinal Top 10 in numerous statistical categories, including home runs, stolen bases, runs scored, runs batted in, and bases on balls.
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15.
Ray Lankford hit more home runs at Busch Stadium than any other player, and finished his career in his home ballpark with a pinch hit home run in his final major league at bat on October 3,2004.
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16.
Ray Lankford is the only player to have 200 home runs and 200 stolen bases as a Cardinal.
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17.
Ray Lankford participated in festivities commemorating the final season at Busch Stadium in 2005, including taking down his signature jersey number 16 from a banner counting down the remaining games at the ballpark and accepting a nomination for the All-Time Busch Stadium Team.
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18.
Ray Lankford indicated he is interested in making a return to baseball in the future.
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