Ray Narleski

Raymond Edmond Narleski (November 25, 1928 – March 29, 2012) was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played with the Cleveland Indians (1954–58) and Detroit Tigers (1959). He batted and threw right-handed. His father, Bill Narleski, was a shortstop for the Boston Red Sox from 1929 to 1930.

Ray Narleski
Narleski in 1959
Pitcher
Born: (1928-11-25)November 25, 1928
Camden, New Jersey
Died: March 29, 2012(2012-03-29) (aged 83)
Gloucester Township, New Jersey
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 17, 1954, for the Cleveland Indians
Last MLB appearance
September 13, 1959, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record43–33
Earned run average3.60
Strikeouts454
Saves58
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Born in Camden, New Jersey, Narleski pitched for Collingswood High School.[1][2]

In a six-season career, Narleski posted a 43–33 record with 454 strikeouts, a 3.60 ERA, and 58 saves in 702 innings. He made the American League All-Star team in 1956 and 1958.

Narleski was an overpowering pitcher with a blazing fastball which he mixed with a sharp-breaking curve and a change-up that can kept hitters guessing. Unfortunately, Narleski had a simple problem: he was overshadowed by one of the greatest pitching staffs in major league history, the Indians Big Four Bob Feller, Bob Lemon, Early Wynn and Mike Garcia. Nevertheless, in his rookie season Narleski posted 13 saves for the 1954 AL Champions. In 1955 he went 9–1 and led the league with 19 saves and 60 appearances, and in 1957 he finished 11–5 with 16 saves. At this time, he gradually joined the starting rotation.

In 1958 Narleski went 13–10 in 44 games, 24 as a starter. At the end of the season he was sent to Detroit along with bullpen teammate Don Mossi, in the same trade that brought Billy Martin to the Indians. Hampered by shoulder problems in 1959, Narleski finished 4–12 with a 5.78 ERA and five saves in 42 games. Narleski missed[3] the entire 1960 season due to a ruptured disc that required surgery.[4] Narleski went to Tigers spring training camp in 1961 but quit the club when Detroit wouldn't tell him whether he would make the roster or not.[5] Narlesi saying "I won't go back to the minors", because it "means another year out of my arm and I'm too old for that."[6]

Narleski was selected to the Top 100 Greatest Indians Roster[7] as part of the club's 100th Anniversary Celebration in 2001.

After his retirement, Narleski lived in Laurel Springs, New Jersey.[8] A resident of Gloucester Township, New Jersey at the time of his death, Narleski died at the age of 83 on March 29, 2012. He is buried in Eglington Cemetery, Clarksboro, New Jersey[9]

See also

References
  1. Staff. "Chronicling local legends", The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 4, 2004. Accessed November 22, 2013. "Narleski, who was born in Camden and played at Collingswood High, is the relief pitcher, and Burlington's Eddie Miksis is the utility player."
  2. Duhart, Bill. "Glimpse into the major league career of South Jersey's Ray Narleski", Courier-Post, April 13, 2000. Accessed November 22, 2013. "Ray Narleski, a pitcher, was playing in a South Jersey high schoolbaseball game, but something wasn't right. ... Narleski's Collingswood High School squad still won, 2- 1."
  3. Tiger special camp opens here
  4. Narleski placed on disabled list
  5. Narleski quits Tigers in huff
  6. Won't go to minors- Narleski
  7. "Top 100 Greatest Cleveland Indians Players". Cleveland State University Library. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  8. Staff. "Glimpse into the major league career of South Jersey's Ray Narleski" Archived 2017-02-09 at the Wayback Machine, Courier-Post, April 13, 2000. Accessed June 1, 2015. "'When you're there in the major leagues, you're on top of the world,' said Narleski, 71, now retired and living in Laurel Springs."
  9. Peticca, Mike. "Ray Narleski, 2-time all-star and part of Indians' great bullpen in historic 1954 season, dies at age 83", The Plain Dealer, April 2, 2012. Accessed November 22, 2013. "Narleski died of natural causes, his wife of 63 years, Ruth, said through the funeral home near the Narleski home in Gloucester Township, New Jersey."
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