Ray Fosse

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Raymond Earl Fosse (born April 4, 1947) is an American professional baseball player and current television sports color commentator.

He competed in Major League Baseball from 1967 to 1979, most notably as an All-Star for the Cleveland Indians and then as a two-time World Series champion in the Oakland Athletics dynasty of the 1970s.

He has appeared for both the Seattle Mariners and the Milwaukee Brewers.

Fosse became a television and radio color commentator for the Oakland Athletics after his playing career. When Major League Baseball introduced its first amateur draft in 1965, Fosse was selected by the Indians to be the team's first-ever draft pick.

Fosse received two Gold Glove Awards in a playing career marred by numerous injuries as well as being a two-time All-Star.

In 2001, Fosse was voted one of the 100 best players in Cleveland Indians history.

He was elected to the Oakland Athletics' 50th Anniversary Team in 2018 and inducted into the St. Louis Hall of Fame on February 11, 2019.

Personal life and death

In April 1970, Fosse married Carol. They owned residences in Oakland, California, and Scottsdale, Arizona.

Fosse revealed on August 5, 2021, that he had been fighting with cancer for the past 16 years and needed to step away from his career as an announcer to concentrate on his recovery. Fosse died of cancer on October 13, 2021, at the age of 74.

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Early life and career

Fosse was born in Marion, Illinois, where he grew up listening to the St. Louis Cardinals on the radio. Stan Musial was his favorite player, according to him. Fosse served as a catcher for the Marion High School baseball team and was named team's Most Valuable Player three years. In high school, he played football and basketball. Fosse attended Southern Illinois University after high school. In 1974, Batted had a career high of 301.

Professional career

In the first round of the 1965 MLB draft, the Cleveland Indians selected Fosse. Fosse appeared in three seasons in the minor leagues before making his major-league debut with the Indians on September 8, 1967, at the age of 20. In 103 games for the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League, he returned to the minor leagues for the 1968 season, where he had a.301 batting average.

He platooned with Duke Sims while returning to the Indians in 1970. With 16 home runs and 45 runs batted in, he posted a.313 batting average in the first half of 1970. He appeared in 23 games since June 9, the longest American League (AL) streak since 1961, and he was selected as a reserve for Earl Weaver's 1970 All-Star Game as a reserve.

In the final play of the 1970 All-Star Game, Fosse was injured in a collision with Pete Rose at home plate. Initial X-rays revealed no fractures or other injuries, but a re-examination the following year discovered Fosse had fractured and separated his shoulder, which caused chronic pain that was never fully resolved. Rose said he was just trying to win the game, and that Fosse — who had stepped a few feet up the third-base line to get the throw from Amos Otis — was blocking the plate, but Rose had been chastised for over-aggressive participation in an exhibition game. Fosse continued to play 42 games in the second half of the season, hitting.297 and winning the AL Gold Glove Award.

Fosse was still suffering from injuries in 1971 when he was kicked in his right hand during a brawl against the Detroit Tigers on June 18, sustaining a gash that required five stitches and sidelined him for more than a week. During an at-bat against Denny McLain, he tore a ligament in his left hand, causing him to miss the 1971 All-Star Game. Despite these injuries, Fosse played in 133 games and led the league's catchers in assists and in double plays to earn his second straight Gold Glove Award. In addition, he had a.276 batting average and played 12 home runs and a career-high 62 runs batted in for the last place Indians.

When Indians pitcher Gaylord Perry won the American League Cy Young Award in 1972, Fosse's contribution to calling pitches was evident. Perry praised Fosse for his work: "I've got to break it up and give credit to my catcher, Ray Fosse." When I didn't have good stuff, he kept me engaged in games. "If I wasn't bearing down the way he did," he'd come out and show me the big fist of his when I wasn't bearing down the way he should."

On March 24, 1973, Fosse was acquired by the Oakland Athletics from the Indians alongside Jack Heidemann. He appeared in 143 games during his time as a professional, including Ken Holtzman, Vida Blue, and Catfish Hunter, the most notable of his career. With the success of the Kansas City Royals, Fosse guided the Athletics to the second highest earned run average as well as the second most shutouts in the American League. The Baltimore Orioles were then defeated by the Athletics in the AL Championship Series. Fosse made his name by throwing out five would-be base stealers. The Athletics went on to win the World Series against the New York Mets.

In 1974, the Athletics became world champions, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, but injuries once more plagued Fosse. He suffered a crushed disc in his neck when trying to crack up a locker room brawl between Reggie Jackson and Billy North on June 5, and spent three months on the disabled list. In 1975, the Athletics captured their fifth straight division championship, but Gene Tenace had to replace Fosse as the starting catcher by then. In the final game of the season, Fosse was involved in a combined no-hitter, catching for Paul Lindblad and Rollie Fingers in the final three innings.

When Fosse's contract was terminated by the Athletics at the Winter Meetings on December 9, 1975, he returned to the Indians. After a home-plate collision with Jim Rice, he became the starting catcher again, but he had to return to the disabled list. When he returned, he was platooned with Alan Ashby. Fosse finished the year with a.301 batting average. Dennis Eckersley's no-hitter against the California Angels was caught on May 30, 1977. Eckersley acknowledged Fosse's contribution to the no-hitter: "Give Fosse a lot of credit, too," Eckersley said. "He called it a helluva game." I believe I only shook him off three times." Jeff Torborg brought Frank Robinson back to the Indians in June 1977 as the team's chief, he named him in a platoon role with Fred Kendall. In September, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners.

He signed a year with the Mariners in January, but he tripped in a hole while running down the first base line and sustained right leg pains. The most significant injury required the reconstruction of a knee ligament, requiring him to miss the entire season. In 1979, he returned to football in 1979 but only 19 games; in 1980, he was released at the end of spring training.

Career statistics

Fosse played in 924 games over his career, accumulating 758 hits in 2,957 at bats for a.256 batting average, 324 runs batted in, and a.301 on-base percentage. He had a.986 fielding percentage at the start of his career. In 1970, Fosse led AL catchers with 854 putouts and 48 base runners caught stealing, as well as a range factor (7.81). He led the league with 73 assists in 1971 and 1973, and he was one of the few AL catchers in baserunners caught stealing and in caught theft percentages.

Fosse was a member of two World Series Champion clubs, 1973 and 1974, as well as a 1977 Seattle Mariners team member. In 1970 and 1971, he received Gold Glove Awards. In 2001, Fosse was named to the 100 Greatest Cleveland Indians.

Television and radio career

Fosse appeared on NBC Sports California and occasionally on Athletics radio broadcasts, when a game was not on local television from 1986 to 2021. In 2004, he was nominated for the Ford C. Frick Award.

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