Ray Knight
Born: 12/28/1952 in Albany, GA, USA
MLB Debut: 1974-09-10 | Final Game: 1988-10-02
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: Charles Ray Knight
Biography
Ray Knight, born in 1952, was a notable position player in Major League Baseball who had a career spanning from 1974 to 1988. Over his 15-year tenure, Knight played in 1,495 games, compiling 1,311 hits, 84 home runs, and 595 RBIs, while maintaining a batting average of .271. Known for his gritty style of play, Knight was particularly recognized for his contributions during pivotal moments, exemplified by his performance in the 1986 World Series, where he earned the World Series MVP award. His ability to deliver in clutch situations made him a valuable asset to his teams.
Knight's versatility and skill were on full display during his time with the Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets, among others. He was selected as an All-Star twice, reflecting his status as one of the prominent players of his era. Throughout his career, Knight demonstrated not only offensive prowess but also a strong defensive presence, making him a well-rounded player who left a lasting impact on the game. His journey through the late 1970s and 1980s placed him amidst a transformative period in baseball, as the sport began to embrace new strategies and approaches to player development.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1495 | 4829 | 490 | 1311 | 266 | 27 | 84 | 595 | 14 | 343 | 579 | 0.271 | 0.321 | 0.390 | 0.711 | -1101.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | CIN | NL | 14 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.182 | 0.0 |
| 1977 | CIN | NL | 80 | 92 | 8 | 24 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 9 | 16 | 0.261 | -89.9 |
| 1978 | CIN | NL | 83 | 65 | 7 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 0.200 | -299.8 |
| 1979 | CIN | NL | 150 | 551 | 64 | 175 | 37 | 4 | 10 | 79 | 4 | 38 | 57 | 0.318 | 1240.8 |
| 1980 | CIN | NL | 162 | 618 | 71 | 163 | 39 | 7 | 14 | 78 | 1 | 36 | 62 | 0.264 | -28.8 |
| 1981 | CIN | NL | 106 | 386 | 43 | 100 | 23 | 1 | 6 | 34 | 2 | 33 | 51 | 0.259 | 35.5 |
| 1982 | HOU | NL | 158 | 609 | 72 | 179 | 36 | 6 | 6 | 70 | 2 | 48 | 58 | 0.294 | 491.2 |
| 1983 | HOU | NL | 145 | 507 | 43 | 154 | 36 | 4 | 9 | 70 | 0 | 42 | 62 | 0.304 | 1097.3 |
| 1984 | HOU | NL | 88 | 278 | 15 | 62 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 29 | 0 | 14 | 30 | 0.223 | -1235.3 |
| 1984 | NYN | NL | 27 | 93 | 13 | 26 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 0.280 | -1235.3 |
| 1985 | NYN | NL | 90 | 271 | 22 | 59 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 36 | 1 | 13 | 32 | 0.218 | -1030.8 |
| 1986 | NYN | NL | 137 | 486 | 51 | 145 | 24 | 2 | 11 | 76 | 2 | 40 | 63 | 0.298 | 704.1 |
| 1987 | BAL | AL | 150 | 563 | 46 | 144 | 24 | 0 | 14 | 65 | 0 | 39 | 90 | 0.256 | -963.8 |
| 1988 | DET | AL | 105 | 299 | 34 | 65 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 33 | 1 | 20 | 30 | 0.217 | -1007.7 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 61 | 5 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 0.279 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | NLCS | NYN | 6 | 24 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0.167 |
| 1986 | WS | NYN | 6 | 23 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0.391 |
| 1979 | NLCS | CIN | 3 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.286 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 339 | 313 | 2936 | 174 | 24 | 271 |
| 2B | 23 | 9 | 31 | 28 | 2 | 5 |
| 3B | 1021 | 894 | 694 | 1653 | 105 | 144 |
| OF | 10 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | CIN | 3B | 14 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977 | CIN | 2B | 17 | 8 | 28 | 23 | 2 | 5 |
| 1977 | CIN | 3B | 37 | 1 | 11 | 21 | 2 | 2 |
| 1977 | CIN | SS | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1977 | CIN | OF | 5 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1978 | CIN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1978 | CIN | 2B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1978 | CIN | 3B | 60 | 7 | 8 | 38 | 7 | 1 |
| 1978 | CIN | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1978 | CIN | OF | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979 | CIN | 3B | 149 | 149 | 120 | 262 | 15 | 26 |
| 1980 | CIN | 3B | 162 | 161 | 120 | 291 | 13 | 19 |
| 1981 | CIN | 3B | 105 | 104 | 69 | 176 | 11 | 18 |
| 1982 | HOU | 1B | 96 | 93 | 945 | 55 | 10 | 76 |
| 1982 | HOU | 3B | 67 | 65 | 57 | 131 | 7 | 18 |
| 1983 | HOU | 1B | 143 | 141 | 1285 | 73 | 9 | 131 |
| 1984 | HOU | 1B | 24 | 21 | 199 | 9 | 0 | 16 |
| 1984 | HOU | 3B | 54 | 48 | 37 | 86 | 7 | 6 |
| 1984 | NYN | 1B | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1984 | NYN | 3B | 27 | 27 | 14 | 36 | 2 | 4 |
| 1985 | NYN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1985 | NYN | 2B | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1985 | NYN | 3B | 73 | 67 | 52 | 109 | 7 | 5 |
| 1986 | NYN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | NYN | 3B | 132 | 130 | 88 | 204 | 16 | 17 |
| 1987 | BAL | 1B | 6 | 5 | 59 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| 1987 | BAL | 3B | 130 | 128 | 110 | 282 | 18 | 28 |
| 1988 | DET | 1B | 64 | 53 | 432 | 33 | 4 | 40 |
| 1988 | DET | 3B | 11 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | DET | OF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 339 |
| Second Base | 23 |
| Third Base | 1021 |
| Shortstop | 4 |
| Left Field | 9 |
| Right Field | 1 |
| Designated Hitter | 39 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Player of the Week | Week of 1987-04-11 |
| 1986 | Babe Ruth Award | 3B |
| 1986 | TSN Comeback Player of the Year | |
| 1986 | World Series MVP | |
| 1983 | Hutch Award |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | DET | AL | $525,000 |
| 1987 | BAL | AL | $600,000 |
| 1986 | NYN | NL | $645,000 |
| 1985 | NYN | NL | $560,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $2,330,000 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 14th | 9.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1982 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 25th | 1.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1979 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 5th | 82.0 | 336 | 2 |