Ray Sanders
Born: 12/4/1916 in Bonne Terre, MO, USA
Died: 10/28/1983 in Washington, MO, USA
MLB Debut: 1942-04-14 | Final Game: 1949-09-21
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: Raymond Floyd Sanders
Biography
Ray Sanders was a professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1942 to 1949. Born in 1916, he made his mark in Major League Baseball as a position player during a time when the sport was deeply shaped by the effects of World War II and the subsequent rise of the post-war era. Over the course of his career, Sanders appeared in 630 games, where he solidified his reputation as a reliable hitter with a career batting average of .274. He recorded a total of 597 hits, 42 home runs, and 329 RBIs, showcasing his offensive capabilities during a period of competitive play.
Sanders was known for his consistent approach at the plate and his ability to contribute to his team's success. While he did not steal bases frequently, managing only 8 throughout his career, his overall offensive production and versatility made him a valuable asset. His contributions to the game during the late 1940s helped set the stage for the future of baseball, as the sport began to see the integration of players from diverse backgrounds and the evolution of playing styles. Ray Sanders retired on September 21, 1949, leaving behind a legacy that reflected the resilience and talent of players in a transformative era for baseball.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 630 | 2182 | 321 | 597 | 114 | 19 | 42 | 329 | 8 | 328 | 216 | 0.274 | 0.370 | 0.401 | 0.771 | 6563.1 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | STL | NL | 95 | 282 | 37 | 71 | 17 | 2 | 5 | 39 | 2 | 42 | 31 | 0.252 | 491.9 |
| 1943 | STL | NL | 144 | 478 | 69 | 134 | 21 | 5 | 11 | 73 | 1 | 77 | 33 | 0.280 | 1968.9 |
| 1944 | STL | NL | 154 | 601 | 87 | 177 | 34 | 9 | 12 | 102 | 2 | 71 | 50 | 0.295 | 2260.4 |
| 1945 | STL | NL | 143 | 537 | 85 | 148 | 29 | 3 | 8 | 78 | 3 | 83 | 55 | 0.276 | 1409.6 |
| 1946 | BSN | NL | 80 | 259 | 43 | 63 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 35 | 0 | 50 | 38 | 0.243 | 432.4 |
| 1948 | BSN | NL | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.250 | 0.0 |
| 1949 | BSN | NL | 9 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 0.143 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 40 | 9 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 0.275 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | WS | BSN | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 1944 | WS | SLN | 6 | 21 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 0.286 |
| 1943 | WS | SLN | 5 | 17 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0.294 |
| 1942 | WS | SLN | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 596 | 0 | 5268 | 330 | 50 | 510 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | SLN | 1B | 77 | 0 | 626 | 35 | 6 | 54 |
| 1943 | SLN | 1B | 141 | 0 | 1302 | 71 | 7 | 142 |
| 1944 | SLN | 1B | 152 | 0 | 1370 | 64 | 8 | 142 |
| 1945 | SLN | 1B | 142 | 0 | 1259 | 90 | 19 | 113 |
| 1946 | BSN | 1B | 77 | 0 | 659 | 61 | 9 | 57 |
| 1949 | BSN | 1B | 7 | 0 | 52 | 9 | 1 | 2 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 596 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1944 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 1B |
| 1944 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 15th | 25.0 | 336 | 0 |