Dolly Gray | |||
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Pitcher | |||
Born: Houghton, Michigan |
December 4, 1878|||
Died: April 4, 1956 Yuba City, California |
(aged 77)|||
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MLB debut | |||
April 13, 1909, for the Washington Senators | |||
Last MLB appearance | |||
September 29, 1911, for the Washington Senators | |||
MLB statistics | |||
Earned run average | 3.52 | ||
Win–loss record | 15-51 | ||
Strikeouts | 213 | ||
Teams | |||
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William Denton "Dolly" Gray (December 4, 1878 in Houghton, Michigan – April 4, 1956 in Yuba City, California) was a left-handed professional baseball pitcher who played from 1909 to 1911 for the Washington Senators. One source says he was born in Ishpeming, Michigan.
Dolly Gray began his professional career during or before the 1902 season. In 1902, he pitched for the Los Angeles Angels of the old California League. Following the 1902 season, the Angels joined to the Pacific Coast League, and in 1903 they had one of the greatest seasons in minor league baseball history. Gray went 23–20 with a 3.55 ERA that season. In 1904, Gray went 24–26, in 1905, he went 30–16, in 1906, he went 7–2 (during the 1906 season, Gray and many other West Coast players left to play on the East Coast after the great 1906 San Francisco earthquake), in 1907 he went 32–14 and in 1908 he went 26–11. He played in one game in 1909, winning it. In 1905 and 1907, he led the league in winning percentage.
For his success in the minors, Gray is a member of the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame.
A 30-year-old rookie, Gray made his major league debut on April 13, 1909. He made 36 appearances in his rookie season, starting 26 of those games. He we 5–19 with 19 complete games. That year, he led the league in earned runs allowed (87), was third in losses, seventh in walks allowed (77) and eighth in appearances. Gray gave up Tris Speaker's first big league home run on May 3 of that year, and on August 28 of that year, he set the major league record for most walks allowed in an inning, when he walked eight batters in the second inning. He also set the record for most consecutive walks in an inning, when he walked seven batters in a row. In total, Gray allowed 11 walks that game, giving up six runs and earning the loss in the process. Had he had better control, he may very well have won the game – he threw a one-hitter.