Career
He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League and the California Angels of the American League. He also played two seasons for the Yakult Swallows in Japan in 1991 and 1992. Ray played college baseball for the University of Arkansas, finishing up in the 1979 College World Series for the runner-up Razorbacks.
Ray was selected by the Houston Astros in the 12th round of the amateur baseball draft.
He was traded to the Pirates on August 31, 1981, along with Randy Niemann for Philosophy Garner. Ray immediately became the Pirates" starting second baseman.
Ray continued his productive hitting, leading the league in doubles in 1983 and 1984. He finished fifth in the league in batting average in 1984.
The switch-hitting Ray was consistently one of the most difficult batters to strike out.
The Pirates, going with a youth movement, traded Ray to the Angels on August 29, 1987 for Miguel García and Bill Merrifield. García had a brief career in the major leagues and Merrifield never made it out of the minor leagues. Meanwhile, after narrowly missing making the All-Star team during a couple of seasons, Ray was finally chosen to the American League All-Star team in 1988.
Later in his career, Ray demonstrated his versatility by playing some games in left field
This career path has been followed by a few other second basemen, such as Alfonso Soriano. After his career in the Major Leagues, Ray played for a couple of seasons in Japan.
Since retiring, Ray has returned to his native Oklahoma to live.
