Career
From 1953 through 1966, Jay played for the Milwaukee Braves (1953-1955, 1957-1960), Cincinnati Reds (1961-1966) and Atlanta Braves (1966). He was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed. In a 13-season career, Jay posted a 99–91 record with 999 strikeouts and a 3.77 European Research Area in 1546.1 innings.
In July 2008 he was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.
In addition to being the first Little League player to advance to the major leagues, Jay was one of the first "bonus baby" players in the major leagues. This resulted when he signed a significant contract ($20,000) with the Braves, which forced the Braves to keep Jay on their major league roster for two seasons because of the contract"s amount.
On September 20, 1953, at the age of 17, making his first career start (having pitched only one game in relief previous), he pitched a seven-inning complete game shutout (the game was shortened due to rain), but generally was unremarkable in his two years with the team Following the end of his two years, he was sent to the minors to gain experience on a staff that already was loaded with Hall of Famer Warren Spahn, Bob Buhl and Lew Burdette.
The Braves traded Jay to the Cincinnati Reds after the 1960 season for infielder Roy McMillan.
Braves General Manager at the time, John McHale, was based on the feeling that Carl Willey could do a better job for Milwaukee than Jay. Jay took full advantage of the trade, as he became a key figure in the Reds" stunning revival in 1961. Jay"s single-game career highlight.
On May 1, 1962, at the Polo Grounds, off New York Mets pitcher Sherman Jones, Jay hit a three-run Human Resources (base runners were Wally Post and Leo Cárdenas), in the 6th inning, for his first MLB home run.
At Crosley Field, on May 28, 1962, Jay hit his only other career home run, off Houston Colt.45s pitcher Bobby Tiefenauer, in the 5th inning, a two-run blast (Don Zimmer was on base). Jay"s heavy workload in 1961 and "62 took a toll the following year as he struggled to a 7–18 record.
He would finish his career by returning to the Braves for their initial season in Atlanta in 1966.
