Raymond Keith King (Ray)...makes his off-season home in Litchfield Park, AZ with his wife, Cherie, and son Tyrell and
daughter Brookelynn...graduated from Ripley (TN) High in 1992...played baseball, basketball and football...played 3
years of college ball at Lambuth University in Jackson, TN...served as STL's union player representative in 2004...along
with his wife Cherie, runs a high-end women's and children's clothing store in Scottsdale, AZ called Oh So Couture.
2007
Was traded for 7th time in career, but pitched for 2 teams in same season for first time, going a combined 1-1 with
11 holds and a 4.76 ERA in 67 appearances with Washington and MIL...made 5 appearances in April before being
placed on the 15-Day DL on April 12 with left-shoulder tendinitis...left the April 10 contest at ATL with the shoulder
issue and missed 15 games before being activated on April...batting average against was .161 when facing opposing
left-handed hitters while with the Nationals...was traded to MIL on September 4...when appearing, MIL went 6-6...held
PHI's Ryan Howard (0-for-3) and Chase Utley (0-for-3) hitless in 6 at-bats against in 2007...38 of his 55 appearances
(69%) were less than an inning...allowed only one run in a 17-game, 10.2-inning span, June 22-August 5.
Game-By-Game Highlights: Worked out of 7th-inning jam on April 30 at SDP to pocket first hold as a National...June
9-10 at MIN, retired only batter faced, Justin Morneau both times, to squelch rallies...in best appearance of '07, fanned
2 batters faced-Russell Branyan & Jimmy Rollins-in a 4-2 win vs. PHI...needed only one pitch to retire Luke Scott
and earn 9th hold, August 23 in a 7-6 victory at HOU...picked up lone win August 5 vs. STL.
2006
Served as COL's primary left-handed set-up man...posted 15 holds, but batting average against of .327 was the 3rd-highest
average among qualifying NL relievers (5th in MLB among qualifying relievers)...posted a 5.21 ERA in 32 appearances at
Coors Field and a 3.86 ERA in 35 games on the road...ranked 2nd among Rockies in holds...surrendered career-high 6
home runs...posted a 2.45 ERA in 26 games through June 15...for 2nd time in 3 years, participated in MLB's annual All-Star
Tour of Japan, which took place in Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka from November 3-8.
Game-By-Game Highlights: Recorded 2nd career save, July 2 at SEA...made 500th career appearance, August 29 vs.
NYM...was ejected 3 times: April 23 vs. SFG, June 7 vs. PIT and August 10 at LAD.
2005
Led Cardinals pitchers and ranked T8th in the National League with 77 appearances...went 4-4 with a 3.38 ERA...recorded 16 holds and allowed just 18 of 66 (27.3%) inherited runners to score, a percentage that ranked 13th in the league...appeared in 7th inning or later in 74 of his 77 outings...first batters were 17-for-68 (.250) with 5 walks and 3 hit by pitches...posted lowest number of innings and strikeouts since 2000...each of his blown saves came after late July...allowed runs in just 12 of 77 appearances, permitting multiple earned runs on just 4 occasions...gave up runs in consecutive games just 4 times...tossed at least 1.0 inning 19 times, posting 0.93 ERA (19.1 ip, 2 er) in those outings, including season-high 1.1 frames on July 2 vs. Colorado...went 4-1, 2.08 in 40 home games, 0-3, 4.91 in 37 road appearances...did not allow a run over 12 games and 7.1 innings in April...over first 51 appearances though July 30, recorded a 2.22 ERA (28.1 ip, 7 er)...had a 1.08 ERA (16.2 ip, 2 er) from May 23-July 30...did not allow a home run until June 8 vs. Boston (Edgar Renteria)...gave up walk-off homer to Luis Gonzalez on July 7 at Arizona, his first long ball allowed to a left-handed batter in his 2 seasons with St. Louis...over final 26 outings beginning July 31, had a 6.17 ERA (11.2 ip, 8 er) with 6 blown saves to raise season-ending figure from 2.22 to 3.38...permitted homers in consecutive outings, July 31 at Los Angeles and Aug. 3 vs. Florida...did not allow a homer in final 24 games and 11.0 innings beginning Aug. 6...was on St. Louis roster for both NLDS and NLCS, but did not appear in any playoff games.
2004
Durable lefty enjoyed successful first season with the Cardinals. Was 5-2 with 32 holds - 32 holds ranked 2nd in NL.
Stranded 34 of 44 inherited runners (6th in N.L.) and retired 63 of the 86 first batters faced. Had one blown save during
the season, 4/30 vs. CHI.
Had a career-high 21.0 scoreless inning streak that spanned 30 games. The 21.0 IP streak was the longest by a St.
Louis reliever since S. Kline had 28.2 shutout IP in '01.
Was team leader in games pitched with 86, a career high (ranked 2nd in NL).
Lefthanded batter's hit just .150 (17-113) with no home runs against Ray.
Allowed a run on two walks on 4/5 vs. MIL -- had just three multi-walk outings in '03.
Came in with two on and one out in the 8th 4/13 vs. HOU and ended inning with a double play. Stranded two inherited
runners in 1.2 IP to close out 4/21 win at HOU.
Threw a wild pitch and walked a batter before getting a double play on 4/30 vs. CHI. The wild pitch tied the game and
gave him his first and only blown save of the year.
Was charged with run on 5/3 vs. CHI, his first in nine games (8.0 IP) dating to 4/11.
Allowed hit to only batter faced 5/14 vs. FLA. Was ejected by 1B umpire Jerry Crawford after coming out of game.
Retired three batters faced in 5/27 outing vs. PIT and three straight in the 8th 5/29 at HOU, including two K's.
Fanned C. Patterson for the 2nd out in the ninth on 6/7 at CHI and earned his 10th Hold.
Picked up first STL win on 6/17 vs. OAK. Got GIDP to end the Reds' 8th on 6/18 and retired three straight 6/20 vs. CIN.
Ended a 30-game scoreless streak (21.0 IP) on 7/11 vs. CHI, allowing a run on three hits in 0.2 IP.
Was credited with 3rd win on 7/20 in 11-8 comeback win at CHI.
Allowed first home run of season (Alfonzo) on 7/24 vs. SF and suffered first loss. It was his first home run allowed since
8/19/03 at SF (Bonds), a span of 47.2 IP.
In 1.1 IP on 8/10,Ray stranded three runners. His two runs allowed 8/14 were the first runs allowed since 7/28 at CIN.
Recorded a hold in all three games vs. PIT, 8/27-29. Collected 24th hold on 9/1 vs. SD, recording the final two outs in
the eighth with tying run on base.
Gained his fifth win of the season 9/5 vs. LA, working a scoreless 11th inning.
Posted a pair of outs on 9/24 at COL for 29th hold, but allowed one run. Recorded 31st hold on 10/1 vs. MIL.
2003
Spent the season as the main lefthanded reliever for the Braves.
Led the Braves staff and tied for third in the NL with 80 appearances, one game shy of the Braves' franchise record of 81 (Brad Clontz, 1996).
Over his last 24 games of the season, beginning on 7/29, he posted a 2.29 ERA (19.2 IP/5 ER) and a .147 opponents' batting average (10-68).
Allowed just three HRs in 59.0 IP over entire campaign.
First batters hit just .169 (12-71) off him.
In September had a 3.38 ERA (8.0 IP/3 ER) with seven strikeouts.
2002
- While with Milwaukee, equaled career mark in victories (3) while setting career standard in innings pitched (65.0) and strikeouts (50).
- Tied with Luis Vizcaino for Brewers lead in appearances (76).
- Equaled career best working two innings four times: June 27 at St. Louis, August 27 vs Chicago Cubs, September 4 at Chicago Cubs and September 6 vs. Cincinnati.
- Struck out career best three batters -- June 27 at St. Louis, July 14 vs Pittsburgh and September 4 at Chicago Cubs.
- Roughed up in his season debut allowing five earned runs in 1.0 innings April 3 at Houston; posted a 2.39 ERA followed his season debut.
- Lost career-high 5th consecutive decision dating back to June 26, 2001 on April 28 at New York Mets.
- Snapped losing streak May 10 at Chicago Cubs, picking up his1st win of the season.
- Posted a 1.61 ERA in 32 appearances from May 1 to the All-Star break.
- Equaled career high winning his final two decisions June 14 vs Minnesota and August 30 at Chicago Cubs.
- Allowed just seven of 21 inherited runners to score.
2001
Earned the Brewers Manager's Award, as well as the Michael Harrison Award for Community Service...Established career-highs in several categories: losses, innings pitched, hits allowed, runs/earned runs allowed, walks, strikeouts, home runs allowed, wild pitches and appearances...Set the NL Brewers record for appearances and relief appearances with 82...Was one appearance shy of equaling Ken Sanders' Milwaukee record with 83 relief appearances (1971)...Finished the season ranked 3rd in the National League in appearances, trailing St. Louis' Steve Kline (89) and Montreal's Graeme Lloyd (84)...Snapped a career-high two game winning streak with his 1st loss of the season on June 26 at Pittsburgh...Struggled in April before settling down in May compiling a 1.69 ERA in 15 appearances spanning 10.2 innings...Was scoreless in 13 straight outings from May 2-24 spanning 8.2 innings...Surrendered his only home run of the season to a lefthander on June 13 at Cleveland to Indians' slugger Jim Thome...Earned his first Major League save on June 19 at Cincinnati...Equaled a career-high tossing two innings of relief on August 23 at Chicago Cubs...Tied a career-high striking out two batters on 12 occasions this season most recenly occurring on October 5 at Arizona...Allowed just one earned run in 12 September appearances spanning 8.0 innings.
2000
Opened the season with the Chicago Cubs organization at Triple A Iowa...Made one appearance for the Iowa Cubs before being acquired by the Brewers in exchange for minor league pitcher Doug Johnston on April 14...Was assigned to AAA Indianapolis...Had his contract purchased by the Brewers on April 30...Made two relief appearances for the Brewers before being optioned back to Indianapolis on May 3...Was recalled again on May 17...Did not make an appearance before being optioned back to Indy on May 19...Posted a 0-3 record with a 3.51 ERA and one save in 29 relief appearances for the Indianapolis...Held left-handed Triple A batters to a .184 (7-38) batting average...Was recalled again on July 6...Allowed just one run and five hits in his first 10 appearances after the recall...Threw a career-best 12.2 consecutive scoreless innings from August 6-September 3...Earned his first Major League victory on August 30 vs. Los Angeles...Did not allow an earned run over his last 22 appearances...Allowed just three of 21 (14%) inherited runners to score...Held left-handed batters to a .204 batting average (10-49)...Shackled right-handed hitters allowing a team-low .157 batting average (8-51)...Allowed just one home run on the season, a solo shot to Arizona's Steve Finley on May 2 at County Stadium...Did not allow a homer in his last 27.2 innings...Suffered one blown save on September 4 at San Diego as he allowed an inherited runner to score and also gave up an unearned run.
1999
Posted a 5.91 ERA in 10 games for the Chicago Cubs during his first two stints in the Majors...Was on the Cubs 25-man roster May 18-21 and July 2- August 6...Spent the remainder of the season at AAA Iowa going 4-4 with a 1.88 ERA in 37 relief appearances...Made his big league debut on May 21, pitching 0.2 innings in Atlanta...Did not allow an earned run over his final six appearances with the Cubs spanning 8.2 innings...Was one of the Pacific Coast League's top left-handed setup men at Iowa striking out 41 batters in 43.0 innings (8.58 per 9.0 innings) while allowing only 31 hits and one home run...Opponents hit just .200 against him (31-155), the second-lowest average among league relievers.