- Ray Cunningham
Raymond Lee Cunningham (
January 17 1905 –July 30 2005 ) was an Americanthird baseman inMajor League Baseball who played for theSt. Louis Cardinals in 1931 and 1932. He batted and threw right-handed.A native of
Mesquite, Texas , Cunningham played briefly for the Cardinals at third base before an injury cut short his career. He injured himself, whipping a sidearm throw tofirst base on a swinging bunt.Cunningham was a 26-year-old rookie when he joined the Cardinals for the final weeks of the 1931 season. His salary was $500 a year. During his time with St. Louis, Cunningham roomed with two Cardinal legends,
Dizzy Dean andPepper Martin .In a two-season career, Cunningham was a .154 hitter with one RBI and no
home run s in 14 games.Following his retirement as a player, Cunningham worked as a salesman and for an oil company. In 2004, he was recognized as the oldest living former Major League Baseball player. He gained this distinction when a former
pitcher for the old Washington Senators and St. Louis Browns,Paul Hopkins , died in 2003 at 99 of age. Cunningham was honored at the "Texas Baseball Hall of Fame" with a special plaque celebrating his life in baseball. He remained a baseball fan and kept a daily watch on theHouston Astros .Cunningham died in
Pearland, Texas at 100 years of age. With his death, the distinction of oldest living former major league player moved toHowdy Groskloss .ee also
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List of oldest living Major League Baseball players Links
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/cunnira01.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://story.scout.com/a.z?s=228&p=2&c=417242 Story Scout]
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