Ray Prim

Raymond Lee Prim (December 30, 1906 – April 29, 1995), nicknamed "Pop", was an American pitcher who played Major League Baseball during the 1930s and 1940s. During his professional career, he also pitched for the Los Angeles Angels of the AAA-Class Pacific Coast League (PCL). In 2005, the PCL Hall of Fame elected Prim as a member.

Throughout the years 1933 and 1946 he appeared, during six the prior mentioned years, in at least one Major League game. He played for the Washington Senators, for the Philadelphia Phillies, and for the Chicago Cubs while at the Major League level. While with the Cubs, Prim won the 1945 National League ERA title. Prim started one game in the 1945 World Series, appeared in another, and lost his only decision.

In 116 Major League games, he won 22 games and lost 21 games and recorded 161 strikeouts. As a minor league player, Prim won 150 games and posted a career ERA of 3.00 in over 2,000 games.

Early life Prim was born in Salitpa, Alabama, to Scots-Irish parents. As a youth, he burned his right hand. As result, though naturally right-handed, he threw with his left-hand, though he batted from the right side of the home plate.

He was educated in Jackson, Alabama, and attended college at Alabama Polytechnic Institute, where he lettered in baseball and football.

After 1943 he returned to the Angels for the 1944 season. A year later, he returned to the Cubs. Prim helped the Cubs to make the 1945 World Series with a 13–8 record, an ERA of 2.40 and two shutouts. His earned run average was the lowest in the National League that year. Prim was the last Cub to lead the league in ERA until Kyle Hendricks in 2016. During the World Series versus the Detroit Tigers, Prim pitched in two games. He lost his only decision. Prim pitched for the Cubs in 1946, it was his last season in the majors.

Prim's last year in professional baseball was 1947. At the age of 41, he helped the Angels win another. Because of his outstanding performance while with the Angels, Prim joined the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame in 2005.

Death Prim died on April 29, 1995, in Monte Rio, California, and was buried at the Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles.