Ray Keating

Raymond Herbert Keating

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 185 lb.
• School Niagara University
• Debut September 12, 1912
• Final Game September 9, 1919
• Born July 21, 1891 in Bridgeport, CT USA
• Died December 28, 1963 in Sacramento, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

"RAY KEATING MAKES GOOD FOR YANKEES" - title of a New York Times article, April 13, 1913

Ray Keating pitched seven years in the big leagues, appearing in six seasons with the New York Yankees, who were called the Highlanders when he first appeared with them in 1912. He also played for many years in the minors, of which nine seasons were in the Pacific Coast League and parts of six of these were with the Sacramento Senators. With Sacramento in 1928, he went 27-10.

Ray's time at Niagara University overlapped with that of Earle Mack. Ray left Niagara in 1912 and after going 26-11 for the Lawrence Barristers of the New England League, came to the majors that September. His best season with the Yankees came in 1914, when he went 8-11, 2.96 in 34 games, pitching 210 innings and striking out 109 batters. Keating was caught red-handed throwing the emery ball in his September 12, 1914 start against the Philadelphia Athletics. The American League responded by banning the emery ball before Keating's next start.

His final major league season, in 1919 with the Boston Braves, was also a decent one as he put up an ERA of 2.98 in 136 innings. However, as this was the Deadball Era, those ERA's were below average: in his 7 major league seasons, he never had an ERA+ of 100 or more, and never had a winning record either.

He settled down in Sacramento, CA after his playing career and died there in 1963, aged 70.

Notable Achievements

• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 1 (1914)

Further Reading

• Gary Belleville: "September 12, 1914: Yankees hurler Ray Keating caught red-handed; American League bans emery ball," SABR Baseball Games Project.