Ray Herbert

Raymond Ernest Herbert (December 15, 1929 – December 20, 2022) was an American professional baseball pitcher. He appeared in 407 Major League Baseball (MLB) games over 14 seasons (–; –; –) with the Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Athletics, Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies. After his retirement, he would throw batting practice for the Tigers for over three decades.

Early life First noticed by baseball scout Wish Egan at a local sandlot in Detroit, Herbert signed with his hometown Tigers after attending Detroit Catholic Central High School. Herbert won two high school league championships, eventually being inducted in 2008 to the school's hall of fame. He was a father to five children. In , he made the Tigers out of spring training and appeared in five early-season games, all in relief; he was the winning pitcher in four of those contests, and compiled a low 1.42 earned run average in 12 innings pitched. Herbert then joined the military for Korean War service, missing the rest of 1951 and all of 1952.

When Herbert returned to the Tigers in –54, he got into 85 games, mostly in relief, winning seven of 19 decisions and posting a 5.55 ERA in 172 innings pitched.

Kansas City Athletics and minor leagues 1955–1961

On May 11, 1955, Herbert's contract was purchased by the Athletics during their first season in Kansas City. Herbert continued to struggle, however, winning one game and losing eight in 23 games split almost evenly between starting and relieving. He then spent and back in Triple-A. Finally, in , at age 28, Herbert returned to the Major Leagues. He won 36 games while losing 40 for Kansas City (for a winning percentage of .474) before being traded to the first-division White Sox on June 10, 1961.

Chicago White Sox 1961–1964

Herbert's 3 years with the ChiSox were his most successful. He went 48–32 (.600) in 109 games (all but two as a starter) and 710 innings pitched. In , he had his best campaign, winning 20 games (losing nine) and making the American League All-Star Team.