Ribs Raney

Frank Robert Donald Raney
born Frank Robert Donald Raniszewski

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 4", Weight 190 lb.
• School Western Michigan College
• Debut September 18, 1949
• Final Game April 23, 1950
• Born February 16, 1923 in Detroit, MI USA
• Died July 7, 2003 in Warren, MI USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Ribs Raney was a tall and thin 6' 4" righthander who was born Frank Robert Donald Raniszewski in Detroit, MI, on February 16, 1923. "Ribs" was signed as an amateur free agent by the St. Louis Browns before the 1941 season. Raney spent his first three seasons in organized ball having his only season above the .500 mark when he went 17-7 for the Huntington Jewels of the class C Mountain State League in 1942. Ribs had a league-leading 146 strikeouts and tied for the league lead with his 17 wins while helping his team to the pennant.

Raney was inducted into the military and spent two years (1944-1945) in the United States Navy during World War II. After three seasons with the Toledo Mud Hens (1946-1948) and one with the Elmira Pioneers of the Eastern League with just average success, he was given late-season looks by the Browns in 1949 and 1950. He came away with a record of 1-3, with his only victory a complete game outing in 1949.

Raney wound up spending two more years in baseball (1951-1952), after his final look-see by the Browns in 1950, with the Birmingham, Toronto and Oklahoma City clubs, managing 18 wins and 18 losses over the two-year span. This ended his ten-year run in the minor leagues with a 78-92 record and a 4.59 ERA while pitching 1,440 innings.

After baseball he made his home in his native Michigan and was retired from General Motors before his death on July 7, 2003, at the age of 80, in Warren, MI.

Sources

Baseball Players of the 1950s

Related Sites

• BR Minors page