Floyd Kinnard "Sugar Bear" Rayford (born July 27, 1957) is a retired professional baseball player who played for seven seasons in the Major leagues. He primarily played third base and catcher during his career, but was a utility man who played four different positions during his Major League career. He served as batting coach for two seasons with the Rochester Red Wings of the International League until his firing on September 9, 2011. He was known as "Sugar Bear" and a fan favorite for his roly-poly physique.[1]
Rayford's professional baseball career began in 1975, when he was drafted as a catcher out of Manual Arts High School in the fourth round of the amateur draft by the California Angels.[2] He spent the 1975 through 1979 seasons in the Angels' minor league system, spending the 1979 season at the Triple-A level playing for the Salt Lake City Gulls. In his first Triple-A season, he batted .294 with 13 home runs while playing third base.[3]
Baltimore Orioles (first stint)edit
After playing one season for the Gulls, Rayford was traded, along with an undisclosed amount of money, from the Angels organization to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Larry Harlow.[4] In 1980, Rayford made his major league debut for the Orioles; over the course of the season he played in 8 games for the Orioles[4] while spending most of the year with the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings. He spent the entire 1981 season with the Red Wings, during which he played on the losing side of the longest game in baseball history and caught the 31st inning of that game.[5] In 1982, he returned to the Major League with the Orioles, but he hit only .132 in 34 games.
When Cal Ripken Jr. began his streak of 2,632 consecutive games played in 1982, Rayford was the player who Ripken replaced in the lineup. Rayford had been given a day off in the second game of a doubleheader and Ripken started at third base in his place.[6]
He again returned to Rochester in 1983, and hit .371 in 42 games with the Red Wings.[3]
St. Louis Cardinalsedit
Rayford was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals on June 13, 1983, in a transaction that was completed 2+1⁄2 months later when Tito Landrum was sent to the Orioles on August 31.[7][8] He was the backup third baseman behind Ken Oberkfell that year and hit .212 in 56 games for the Cardinals.[4]
Baltimore Orioles (second stint)edit
Less than a year after trading Rayford, the Orioles purchased his contract from the Cardinals before the 1984 season.[4] He served primarily as a backup catcher in his first year back with the Orioles, and his hitting numbers improved, with his average reaching .256 in 1984.[4] Sharing time as the regular third baseman in 1985, he had a career year, hitting .306 with 18 home runs and 48 runs batted in, all career highs.[4] Entering the 1986 season, he was expected to replace Rick Dempsey as catcher with Jackie Gutiérrez becoming the starting third baseman,[9] but his numbers fell when he batted .176 and was sent back to Rochester.[3] He split the 1987 season between Baltimore and Rochester and batted .220 at the Major League level in what would prove to be his final major league season.[4]
Minor league careeredit
Before retiring as a player, Rayford played parts of three seasons, from 1989 to 1991, with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, playing in 81 games with the club over the three-year span.[3] During the latter two seasons, Rayford served as a player-coach, starting a long tenure as a minor league coach. Since 1990, he has coached eight separate minor league teams, and in 1996, he spent his only season to date as a minor league manager, doing so for the Batavia Clippers.[10] He has been a member of the Rock Cats' coaching staff since 2005.[10]
Referencesedit
^Klingaman, Mike (30 June 2009). "Catching Up With ... former Oriole Floyd Rayford". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
^"Baseball Draft: 4th Round of the 1975 June Draft". Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
^"Ripken Ties for 2d in Playing Streak". The New York Times. 1990-06-11. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
^"The Baltimore Orioles will acquire outfielder Tito Landrum from...," United Press International (UPI), Tuesday, August 30, 1983. Retrieved October 22, 2020
^"Baseball," The Washington Post, Saturday, March 31, 1984. Retrieved October 22, 2020
^Justice, Richard. "Orioles Ask League To Check Gutiérrez," The Washington Post, Tuesday, February 4, 1986. Retrieved October 29, 2020
Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
Klingaman, Mike. "Catching Up With...former Oriole Floyd Rayford", The Toy Department (The Baltimore Sun sports blog), Tuesday, June 30, 2009
January 01, 1970
floyd, rayford, floyd, kinnard, sugar, bear, rayford, born, july, 1957, retired, professional, baseball, player, played, seven, seasons, major, leagues, primarily, played, third, base, catcher, during, career, utility, played, four, different, positions, durin. Floyd Kinnard Sugar Bear Rayford born July 27 1957 is a retired professional baseball player who played for seven seasons in the Major leagues He primarily played third base and catcher during his career but was a utility man who played four different positions during his Major League career He served as batting coach for two seasons with the Rochester Red Wings of the International League until his firing on September 9 2011 He was known as Sugar Bear and a fan favorite for his roly poly physique 1 Floyd RayfordThird baseman CatcherBorn 1957 07 27 July 27 1957 age 66 Memphis Tennessee U S Batted RightThrew RightMLB debutApril 17 1980 for the Baltimore OriolesLast MLB appearanceSeptember 16 1987 for the Baltimore OriolesMLB statisticsBatting average 244Home runs38Runs batted in117TeamsBaltimore Orioles 1980 1982 St Louis Cardinals 1983 Baltimore Orioles 1984 1987 Contents 1 Early career 2 Baltimore Orioles first stint 3 St Louis Cardinals 4 Baltimore Orioles second stint 5 Minor league career 6 References 7 External linksEarly career editRayford s professional baseball career began in 1975 when he was drafted as a catcher out of Manual Arts High School in the fourth round of the amateur draft by the California Angels 2 He spent the 1975 through 1979 seasons in the Angels minor league system spending the 1979 season at the Triple A level playing for the Salt Lake City Gulls In his first Triple A season he batted 294 with 13 home runs while playing third base 3 Baltimore Orioles first stint editAfter playing one season for the Gulls Rayford was traded along with an undisclosed amount of money from the Angels organization to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Larry Harlow 4 In 1980 Rayford made his major league debut for the Orioles over the course of the season he played in 8 games for the Orioles 4 while spending most of the year with the Triple A Rochester Red Wings He spent the entire 1981 season with the Red Wings during which he played on the losing side of the longest game in baseball history and caught the 31st inning of that game 5 In 1982 he returned to the Major League with the Orioles but he hit only 132 in 34 games When Cal Ripken Jr began his streak of 2 632 consecutive games played in 1982 Rayford was the player who Ripken replaced in the lineup Rayford had been given a day off in the second game of a doubleheader and Ripken started at third base in his place 6 He again returned to Rochester in 1983 and hit 371 in 42 games with the Red Wings 3 St Louis Cardinals editRayford was traded to the St Louis Cardinals on June 13 1983 in a transaction that was completed 2 1 2 months later when Tito Landrum was sent to the Orioles on August 31 7 8 He was the backup third baseman behind Ken Oberkfell that year and hit 212 in 56 games for the Cardinals 4 Baltimore Orioles second stint editLess than a year after trading Rayford the Orioles purchased his contract from the Cardinals before the 1984 season 4 He served primarily as a backup catcher in his first year back with the Orioles and his hitting numbers improved with his average reaching 256 in 1984 4 Sharing time as the regular third baseman in 1985 he had a career year hitting 306 with 18 home runs and 48 runs batted in all career highs 4 Entering the 1986 season he was expected to replace Rick Dempsey as catcher with Jackie Gutierrez becoming the starting third baseman 9 but his numbers fell when he batted 176 and was sent back to Rochester 3 He split the 1987 season between Baltimore and Rochester and batted 220 at the Major League level in what would prove to be his final major league season 4 Minor league career editBefore retiring as a player Rayford played parts of three seasons from 1989 to 1991 with the Triple A Scranton Wilkes Barre Red Barons playing in 81 games with the club over the three year span 3 During the latter two seasons Rayford served as a player coach starting a long tenure as a minor league coach Since 1990 he has coached eight separate minor league teams and in 1996 he spent his only season to date as a minor league manager doing so for the Batavia Clippers 10 He has been a member of the Rock Cats coaching staff since 2005 10 References edit Klingaman Mike 30 June 2009 Catching Up With former Oriole Floyd Rayford baltimoresun com Retrieved 2020 07 12 Baseball Draft 4th Round of the 1975 June Draft Sports Reference LLC Retrieved 2008 10 29 a b c d SABR Minor Leagues Database Floyd Rayford Society for American Baseball Research Retrieved 2008 10 29 permanent dead link a b c d e f g Floyd Rayford Statistics Baseball Reference com Retrieved 2008 10 29 The Longest Game Pawtucket Red Sox Retrieved 2008 10 29 Ripken Ties for 2d in Playing Streak The New York Times 1990 06 11 Retrieved 2008 10 29 The Baltimore Orioles will acquire outfielder Tito Landrum from United Press International UPI Tuesday August 30 1983 Retrieved October 22 2020 Baseball The Washington Post Saturday March 31 1984 Retrieved October 22 2020 Justice Richard Orioles Ask League To Check Gutierrez The Washington Post Tuesday February 4 1986 Retrieved October 29 2020 a b Floyd Rayford Coach New Britain Rock Cats Retrieved 2008 10 29 External links editCareer statistics and player information from Baseball Reference or Baseball Reference Minors Klingaman Mike Catching Up With former Oriole Floyd Rayford The Toy Department The Baltimore Sun sports blog Tuesday June 30 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Floyd Rayford amp oldid 1186843570, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
