Hall of Fame
After graduating from
Chouteau High School, Johnny
Ray played second base for
Coach Bob Maxwell’s Golden
Norse Baseball team in 1975 and
1976. He had a career batting
average of .439 and was named
to the NJCAA All-Region Team in
1975 and 1976.
After NEO, Ray attended the
University of Arkansas and was
All-Southwest Conference two
consecutive years, helping the Razorbacks to a second place finish
in the 1979 College World Series.
Johnny Ray was drafted in the tenth round by Houston
but was soon traded to the Pittsburg Pirates. In his rookie season
of 1982, he played in all 162 games for the Pirates, hit .281 and
was the Sporting News Rookie of the Year. Johnny was traded
to California in 1987. Ray was selected as an American League
All-Star in 1988. Johnny Ray retired after ten years in the major
leagues with a career batting average of .290 with 1,502 hits and a
career fielding average of .982.
Johnny and his family currently live in Chouteau,
Oklahoma.
