Ray Mueller
Born: 3/8/1912 in Pittsburg, KS, USA
Died: 6/29/1994 in Lower Paxton Township, PA, USA
MLB Debut: 1935-05-11 | Final Game: 1951-09-09
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 175 lbs
Full name: Ray Coleman Mueller
Biography
Ray Mueller, born in 1912, was a notable position player whose Major League Baseball career spanned from 1935 until 1951. Primarily known for his versatility on the field, Mueller played a total of 985 games, during which he recorded 733 hits and 56 home runs. His career batting average stood at .252, complemented by 373 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. Notably, he was selected as an All-Star once during his career, marking a highlight in an era characterized by fierce competition and the development of the modern game.
Throughout his playing years, Mueller established himself as a reliable contributor to his teams. His ability to excel in various positions showcased his adaptability, a valuable trait during a time when players often needed to fill multiple roles due to roster limitations. As baseball evolved through the mid-20th century, Mueller's performances remained consistent, reflecting the transitional phase of the sport as it moved away from the deadball era and embraced the increasing emphasis on power and athleticism. His contributions to the game continue to be remembered by baseball historians and fans alike.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.0 | 8.0 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.500 | 0.500 | 0.875 | 1.375 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.750 | 0.750 | 1.500 | 2.250 |
| 1946 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.250 | 0.250 | 0.250 | 0.500 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 985 | 2911 | 281 | 733 | 123 | 23 | 56 | 373 | 14 | 250 | 322 | 0.252 | 0.314 | 0.368 | 0.681 | -1749.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | BSN | NL | 42 | 97 | 10 | 22 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 0.227 | -301.0 |
| 1936 | BSN | NL | 24 | 71 | 5 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 17 | 0.197 | -414.5 |
| 1937 | BSN | NL | 64 | 187 | 21 | 47 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 26 | 1 | 18 | 36 | 0.251 | -340.8 |
| 1938 | BSN | NL | 83 | 274 | 23 | 65 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 35 | 3 | 16 | 28 | 0.237 | -808.2 |
| 1939 | PIT | NL | 86 | 180 | 14 | 42 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 14 | 22 | 0.233 | -618.6 |
| 1940 | PIT | NL | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.333 | 0.0 |
| 1943 | CIN | NL | 141 | 427 | 50 | 111 | 19 | 4 | 8 | 52 | 1 | 56 | 42 | 0.260 | 791.0 |
| 1944 | CIN | NL | 155 | 555 | 54 | 159 | 24 | 4 | 10 | 73 | 4 | 53 | 47 | 0.286 | 1126.9 |
| 1946 | CIN | NL | 114 | 378 | 35 | 96 | 18 | 4 | 8 | 48 | 0 | 27 | 37 | 0.254 | -34.6 |
| 1947 | CIN | NL | 71 | 192 | 17 | 48 | 11 | 0 | 6 | 33 | 1 | 16 | 25 | 0.250 | -45.9 |
| 1948 | CIN | NL | 14 | 34 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0.206 | 0.0 |
| 1949 | CIN | NL | 32 | 106 | 7 | 29 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 0.274 | -179.5 |
| 1949 | NY1 | NL | 56 | 170 | 17 | 38 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 23 | 1 | 13 | 14 | 0.224 | -179.5 |
| 1950 | NY1 | NL | 4 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.091 | 0.0 |
| 1950 | PIT | NL | 67 | 156 | 17 | 42 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 24 | 2 | 11 | 14 | 0.269 | 0.0 |
| 1951 | BSN | NL | 28 | 70 | 8 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 11 | 0.157 | -429.4 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 917 | 0 | 3095 | 503 | 43 | 66 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | BSN | C | 40 | 0 | 64 | 27 | 2 | 6 |
| 1936 | BSN | C | 23 | 0 | 66 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
| 1937 | BSN | C | 57 | 0 | 169 | 44 | 1 | 6 |
| 1938 | BSN | C | 75 | 0 | 239 | 47 | 2 | 4 |
| 1939 | PIT | C | 81 | 0 | 203 | 32 | 7 | 5 |
| 1940 | PIT | C | 4 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1943 | CIN | C | 140 | 0 | 579 | 100 | 8 | 17 |
| 1944 | CIN | C | 155 | 0 | 471 | 65 | 9 | 5 |
| 1946 | CIN | C | 100 | 0 | 405 | 65 | 3 | 12 |
| 1947 | CIN | C | 55 | 0 | 221 | 28 | 4 | 2 |
| 1948 | CIN | C | 10 | 0 | 51 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 1949 | CIN | C | 31 | 0 | 110 | 15 | 0 | 1 |
| 1949 | NY1 | C | 56 | 0 | 197 | 21 | 4 | 1 |
| 1950 | NY1 | C | 4 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1950 | PIT | C | 63 | 0 | 204 | 30 | 1 | 3 |
| 1951 | BSN | C | 23 | 0 | 85 | 15 | 0 | 2 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 920 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 30th | 3.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1944 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 7th | 85.0 | 336 | 2 |
| 1943 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 17th | 12.0 | 336 | 0 |