Ray Lankford
Born: 6/5/1967 in Los Angeles, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1990-08-21 | Final Game: 2004-10-03
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Raymond Lewis Lankford
Biography
Ray Lankford was a prominent American baseball player born in 1967, who enjoyed a successful Major League Baseball career from 1990 to 2004. Primarily recognized as a position player, Lankford played in a total of 1,701 games, accumulating 1,561 hits and demonstrating considerable power with 238 home runs. His offensive contributions also included 874 RBIs and a batting average of .272, showcasing his ability to both drive in runs and maintain consistent contact at the plate. Lankford was known for his speed on the base paths, as evidenced by his 258 stolen bases throughout his career, which added a dynamic element to his playing style.
Lankford's career spanned a transformative era in baseball, characterized by a growing emphasis on power hitting and athleticism. He was selected as an All-Star once, highlighting his recognition among peers and fans during his time in the league. His contributions to the game extended beyond statistics, as he influenced a generation of players with his combination of speed, power, and defensive capabilities. Lankford's legacy is remembered by fans and analysts alike as a skilled athlete who left a significant mark on the teams he played for during his tenure in the Major Leagues.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1701 | 5747 | 968 | 1561 | 356 | 54 | 238 | 874 | 258 | 828 | 1550 | 0.272 | 0.364 | 0.477 | 0.840 | 15118.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | STL | NL | 39 | 126 | 12 | 36 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 8 | 13 | 27 | 0.286 | 278.3 |
| 1991 | STL | NL | 151 | 566 | 83 | 142 | 23 | 15 | 9 | 69 | 44 | 41 | 114 | 0.251 | -432.4 |
| 1992 | STL | NL | 153 | 598 | 87 | 175 | 40 | 6 | 20 | 86 | 42 | 72 | 147 | 0.293 | 2597.7 |
| 1993 | STL | NL | 127 | 407 | 64 | 97 | 17 | 3 | 7 | 45 | 14 | 81 | 111 | 0.238 | 58.6 |
| 1994 | STL | NL | 109 | 416 | 89 | 111 | 25 | 5 | 19 | 57 | 11 | 58 | 113 | 0.267 | 931.4 |
| 1995 | STL | NL | 132 | 483 | 81 | 134 | 35 | 2 | 25 | 82 | 24 | 63 | 110 | 0.277 | 1515.0 |
| 1996 | STL | NL | 149 | 545 | 100 | 150 | 36 | 8 | 21 | 86 | 35 | 79 | 133 | 0.275 | 1289.2 |
| 1997 | STL | NL | 133 | 465 | 94 | 137 | 36 | 3 | 31 | 98 | 21 | 95 | 125 | 0.295 | 3232.0 |
| 1998 | STL | NL | 154 | 533 | 94 | 156 | 37 | 1 | 31 | 105 | 26 | 86 | 151 | 0.293 | 2807.4 |
| 1999 | STL | NL | 122 | 422 | 77 | 129 | 32 | 1 | 15 | 63 | 14 | 49 | 110 | 0.306 | 1119.2 |
| 2000 | STL | NL | 128 | 392 | 73 | 99 | 16 | 3 | 26 | 65 | 5 | 70 | 148 | 0.253 | 1026.9 |
| 2001 | SDP | NL | 40 | 125 | 20 | 36 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 19 | 6 | 18 | 40 | 0.288 | 360.8 |
| 2001 | STL | NL | 91 | 264 | 38 | 62 | 18 | 3 | 15 | 39 | 4 | 44 | 105 | 0.235 | 360.8 |
| 2002 | SDP | NL | 81 | 205 | 20 | 46 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 26 | 2 | 30 | 61 | 0.224 | -286.9 |
| 2004 | STL | NL | 92 | 200 | 36 | 51 | 14 | 1 | 6 | 22 | 2 | 29 | 55 | 0.255 | 68.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 37 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 0.189 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | NLCS | SLN | 5 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0.333 |
| 2000 | NLDS1 | SLN | 3 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0.200 |
| 1996 | NLDS2 | SLN | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.500 |
| 1996 | NLCS | SLN | 5 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 1586 | 1485 | 3530 | 72 | 63 | 11 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | SLN | OF | 35 | 30 | 92 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 | SLN | OF | 149 | 135 | 367 | 7 | 6 | 2 |
| 1992 | SLN | OF | 153 | 151 | 438 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| 1993 | SLN | OF | 121 | 112 | 312 | 6 | 7 | 0 |
| 1994 | SLN | OF | 104 | 103 | 260 | 5 | 6 | 1 |
| 1995 | SLN | OF | 129 | 128 | 300 | 7 | 3 | 2 |
| 1996 | SLN | OF | 144 | 142 | 356 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 | SLN | OF | 131 | 130 | 293 | 4 | 9 | 2 |
| 1998 | SLN | OF | 145 | 137 | 338 | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| 1999 | SLN | OF | 106 | 103 | 214 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| 2000 | SLN | OF | 117 | 106 | 179 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| 2001 | SDN | OF | 38 | 33 | 63 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 | SLN | OF | 85 | 76 | 135 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| 2002 | SDN | OF | 59 | 54 | 98 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
| 2004 | SLN | OF | 70 | 45 | 85 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 452 |
| Center Field | 1138 |
| Right Field | 2 |
| Designated Hitter | 4 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Player of the Week | Week of 1996-07-20 |
| 1995 | Player of the Week | Week of 1995-09-09 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | SLN | NL | $650,000 |
| 2002 | SDN | NL | $8,100,000 |
| 2001 | SLN | NL | $8,100,000 |
| 2000 | SLN | NL | $7,600,000 |
| 1999 | SLN | NL | $6,600,000 |
| 1998 | SLN | NL | $4,666,667 |
| 1997 | SLN | NL | $4,466,667 |
| 1996 | SLN | NL | $2,416,667 |
| 1995 | SLN | NL | $2,800,000 |
| 1994 | SLN | NL | $1,650,000 |
| 1993 | SLN | NL | $290,000 |
| 1992 | SLN | NL | $230,000 |
| 1991 | SLN | NL | $125,000 |
| 1990 | SLN | NL | $100,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $47,795,001 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto Junior College | Modesto | CA | 1986, 1987 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 16th | 6.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1992 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 18th | 5.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1991 | Rookie of the Year | NL | 3rd | 28.0 | 120 | 0 |