Ray Mack

Raymond James Mack (born Raymond James Mlckovsky on August 31, 1916 – May 7, 1969) was a second baseman in Major League Baseball from 1938 to 1946 with the Cleveland Indians (with 2,629 at bats) and in 1947 with the New York Yankees (0 AB's) and the Chicago Cubs (78 AB's). He attended Case School of Applied Science, now known as Case Western Reserve University, where he was known as an outstanding football player, earning the nickname the "Case Ace.^[1]"

Mack was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Listed as 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and 200 pounds (91 kg), he was known more for his fielding than his hitting, teaming up with Cleveland shortstop Lou Boudreau for a great double play combination in the early 1940s. Mack was selected to the 1940 American League All-Star team and pinch hit for starting second baseman Joe Gordon in the eighth inning. Mack struck out against Larry French of the Cubs and handled no chances in the field as the AL bowed, 4–0, at Sportsman's Park. Ironically, Gordon would succeed Mack as the Indians' regular second baseman in 1947.

Mack ended with a .966 career fielding percentage and helped complete 597 double plays. He saved Bob Feller's 1940 opening day no-hitter with a diving stop on the final out. After the 1946 season, Mack was traded to the Yankees by new Indians' owner Bill Veeck. It was one of many deals orchestrated by Veeck, but in it Cleveland obtained pitcher Gene Bearden, who would pitch the Tribe to the 1948 pennant as a rookie.

In a nine-season career, he had a batting average of .232 with 34 home runs and 278 RBIs. He stole 35 bases, scored 273 runs, and accumulated 113 doubles and 24 triples. He had 629 career hits in 2707 at-bats.

Mack died in Bucyrus, Ohio. His son, Tom played for the Los Angeles Rams in the National Football League and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1999. Ray, too, had the option of playing football, but passed it up for baseball.

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference