Ray Oyler

Raymond Francis Oyler (August 4, 1938 - January 26, 1981) was a former baseball player who played for the Detroit Tigers for the majority of his career.

Related Topics:
August 4 - 1938 - January 26 - 1981 - Baseball - Detroit Tigers

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Oyler was a slick fielding, no hitting shortstop for the 1968 World Series champion Detroit Tigers. He also served honorably in the U.S. Marine Corps despite his small stature (5'11" 165 lbs.).

Related Topics:
Indianapolis, Indiana - Shortstop - 1968 - World Series

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Oyler made his MLB debut with Detroit on April 18, 1965 and would go on to be their sometimes regular, sometimes defensive replacement shortstop until 1968. He spent a year in the same capacity with the expansion Seattle Pilots in their only year of play in 1969 and finished his baseball career with the California Angels in 1970, compiling a lifetime major league batting average of .175.

Related Topics:
MLB - April 18 - 1965 - Seattle Pilots - 1969 - California Angels - 1970 - Batting average

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However, the 1968 season is the best remembered in his career. Even though he was the regular Tigers shortstop, appeared in 111 games, and was perhaps the best defensive shortstop in baseball, his .135 batting average and 12 RBI's posed a major concern for Manager Mayo Smith once it became clear Detroit would make their first World Series appearance since 1945.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Smith had four great outfielders in Willie Horton (lf), Mickey Stanley (cf), Jim Northrup (rf) and Al Kaline (platoon of and 1b), but only three spots to play them. With less than three weeks left until the World Series, Smith moved Stanley to shortstop for the first time in his career and played him in 9 games that September. While Stanley's performance at the new position was only adequate, Smith felt the added offense was necessary against the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals. The gamble paid off. Oyler did not swing a bat in the series but appeared in all four Tiger wins as a defensive replacement. Stanley would go on to play 59 games at shortstop for the Tigers the following year as Oyler was left unprotected in the expansion draft for Seattle to claim. Pilot fans organized the "Ray Oyler Fan Club" in spring training and were rewarded when Oyler homered to win the Pilots' first home game at Sick's Stadium. Oyler loved Seattle, hitting seven homers for the Pilot and upping his batting average by 30 points to a robust .165, just 10 points below his lifetime average.

Related Topics:
Willie Horton - Mickey Stanley - Jim Northrup - Al Kaline - St. Louis Cardinals - Spring training - Sick's Stadium

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After Oyler retired from baseball he settled in the Seattle area, managing a bowling alley in Bellevue and working for Boeing.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

But as irony would have it, Detroit would be unable to compensate for the loss of Oyler's defensive skills. They slumped badly the following year and finished 19 games out of first in 1969, from 12 ahead in 1968. They would not make another postseason appearance until 1984 when Alan Trammell, another great shortstop also brought a potent bat to snare another World Series championship for the Motor City.

Related Topics:
1984 - Alan Trammell

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Things would never be the same again for Oyler either. By 1970, Seattle has lost their franchise and Oyler played his final 24 games with the Angels, managing a perfect fielding average but only .083 at the plate.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He died in Seattle, Washington on January 26, 1981, from a heart attack at the age of 42. Few fans remember his wizzardry with the glove due to his inadequacies at the plate. Thanks mainly to the 1968 World Series, however, there are a few who do.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~