Irv Ray
Shortstop · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1888-1891)
Irv Ray was a shortstop who played in Major League Baseball from 1888 to 1891 for the Boston Braves, the Baltimore Orioles, and the Baltimore Orioles, a span of 4 seasons. In 226 career games, he hit .292 with 263 hits, 3 home runs, and 123 RBI. His career PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of offensive impact — is 1,348.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- Shortstop
- Bats / Throws
- L / R
- Height / Weight
- 5'6" / 165 lb
- Died
- 2/21/1948 in Harrington, ME, USA
- MLB Debut
- 1888-07-07
- Last Game
- 1891-09-02
Full name: Irving Burton Ray
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 226 | 902 | 154 | 263 | 30 | 11 | 3 | 123 | 59 | 86 | 35 | .292 | .360 | .359 | .720 | 1,348 |
Career AVG .292 vs. league average .255 across their career seasons — +14.4% above league average.
Career OBP .360 vs. league average .325 across their career seasons — +10.8% above league average.
Career SLG .359 vs. league average .344 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career OPS .720 vs. league average .669 across their career seasons — +7.5% above league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1888 | BSN | NL | 50 | 206 | 26 | 51 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 26 | 7 | 6 | 11 | .248 | .238 (+4%) | .290 (-6%) | .319 (-1%) | .610 (-4%) | -137.3 |
| 1889 | BSN | NL | 9 | 33 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | .303 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1889 | BL2 | AA | 26 | 106 | 20 | 36 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 12 | 7 | 6 | .340 | .263 (+29%) | .334 (+19%) | .357 (+11%) | .691 (+15%) | 0.0 |
| 1890 | BL3 | AA | 38 | 139 | 28 | 50 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 11 | 15 | 0 | .360 | .260 (+38%) | .336 (+29%) | .351 (+29%) | .687 (+29%) | 708.9 |
| 1891 | BL3 | AA | 103 | 418 | 72 | 116 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 58 | 28 | 54 | 18 | .278 | .254 (+9%) | .331 (+10%) | .343 (avg) | .675 (+5%) | 503.6 |
| Career · 5 seasons | 226 | 902 | 154 | 263 | 30 | 11 | 3 | 123 | 59 | 86 | 35 | .292 | — | — | — | — | 1,075 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 3B | 4 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| OF | 70 | 0 | 109 | 12 | 16 | 1 |
| SS | 151 | 0 | 196 | 404 | 95 | 31 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1888 | BSN | 2B | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 1888 | BSN | SS | 48 | 0 | 58 | 130 | 26 | 6 |
| 1889 | BSN | 3B | 4 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 1889 | BSN | SS | 5 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 1 |
| 1889 | BL2 | OF | 6 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1889 | BL2 | SS | 20 | 0 | 24 | 56 | 22 | 8 |
| 1890 | BL3 | SS | 38 | 0 | 40 | 104 | 17 | 7 |
| 1891 | BL3 | OF | 64 | 0 | 97 | 11 | 14 | 1 |
| 1891 | BL3 | SS | 40 | 0 | 71 | 103 | 28 | 9 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 3 |
| Third Base | 4 |
| Shortstop | 151 |
| Right Field | 70 |
Irv Ray: the record in brief
Irv Ray played a first major league game on July 7, 1888 and a last one on September 2, 1891. The team column moves through the Boston Beaneaters (1888 through 1889) and the Baltimore Orioles (1889 through 1891). Ray, born on January 22, 1864, in Harrington, ME, USA, is listed as a shortstop and hit left-handed while throwing right-handed. The bio gives 5-foot-6 and 165 pounds. Ray's death is recorded on February 21, 1948, in Harrington, ME, USA. Ray's full given name, per the bio, is Irving Burton Ray.
In 226 games and 902 at bats, Ray batted .292 with 263 hits, adding 3 home runs, 123 runs batted in, and 59 stolen bases. Reaching base at a .360 clip and slugging .359, Ray finished with a .720 OPS. Over the seasons Ray played, league hitters batted .255; the .292 career figure is 14.4% above that. In OPS terms, Ray's .720 stands 7.5% above the league's .669. The highest hit total in a season was 116, in 1891.
Frequently Asked Questions about Irv Ray
- What years did Irv Ray play?
- Irv Ray played in Major League Baseball from 1888 to 1891.
- Was Irv Ray a pitcher?
- No. Irv Ray was a position player (Shortstop).
- How many home runs did Irv Ray hit?
- Irv Ray hit 3 career home runs with 263 hits.
- What was Irv Ray's career batting average?
- Irv Ray batted .292 over his career, with 263 hits in 902 at bats.
- How many RBI did Irv Ray have?
- Irv Ray drove in 123 runs in his career.
- Is Irv Ray in the Hall of Fame?
- No. Irv Ray has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.