Ray Culp

Raymond Leonard Culp

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 200 lb.
• High School Stephen F. Austin High School (Austin)
• Debut April 10, 1963
• Final Game September 3, 1973
• Born August 6, 1941 in Elgin, TX USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Ray Culp pitched 11 years in the big leagues, going 122-101. He broke in with a successful year with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1963, and was 22 years old and a second-year player in 1964 when Dick Allen broke in with the Phillies. That year, he was one of the pitchers skipped over by manager Gene Mauch as he shortened his starting rotation to three men in the season's last ten days in order to clinch the National League pennant; the strategy backfired as the Phillies collapsed and were passed by the St. Louis Cardinals, who went on to win the World Series. Culp was with the Phils for four years, the Chicago Cubs for one year, and the Boston Red Sox for the rest of his career. He was two years younger than Carl Yastrzemski.

Culp had his best year in 1968, going 16-6 for Boston.

Ray Culp had one career save. It came on April 13, 1966 as a member of the Phillies against the Cardinals. He pitched the bottom of the 12th inning, striking out all 3 batters he faced.

Since leaving baseball, Culp has become successful in real estate in Austin, TX. He named his company after his major league batting average (123, Inc.).

Notable Achievements

• 1963 Topps All-Star Rookie Team
• 2-time All-Star (1963 & 1969)
• 15 Wins Seasons: 3 (1968-1970)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 6 (1963, 1965 & 1968-1971)

Further Reading

• Mark Armour: "Ray Culp", in Mel Marmer and Bill Nowlin, eds.: The Year of Blue Snow: The 1964 Philadelphia Phillies, SABR, Phoenix, AZ, 2013, pp. 84-87. ISBN 978-1-933599-51-9

Related Sites

• Ray Culp at the SABR Bio Project