# Ray Cunningham

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ray_Cunningham.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Cunningham
> Source revision: 1266361599
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|American baseball player (1905–2005)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| name       = Ray Cunningham
| image      = Ray Cunningham.jpg
| position   = [Third baseman](/source/Third_baseman)
| birth_date  = January 17, 1905
| birth_place = [Mesquite, Texas](/source/Mesquite%2C_Texas), U.S.
| death_date  = {{death date and age|2005|7|30|1905|1|17}}
| death_place = [Pearland, Texas](/source/Pearland%2C_Texas), U.S.
| bats       = Right
| throws     = Right
|debutleague = MLB
| debutdate  = September 16
| debutyear  = 1931
| debutteam  = St. Louis Cardinals
|finalleague = MLB
| finaldate  = June 18
| finalyear  = 1932
| finalteam  = St. Louis Cardinals
|statleague = MLB
| stat1label = [Batting average](/source/Batting_average_(baseball))
| stat1value = .154
| stat2label = [Hits](/source/Hit_(baseball))
| stat2value = 4
| teams      =
* [St. Louis Cardinals](/source/St._Louis_Cardinals) (1931–1932)
}}
'''Raymond Lee Cunningham''' (January 17, 1905 – July 30, 2005) was an American professional [baseball](/source/baseball) [third baseman](/source/third_baseman) in [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) who played for the [St. Louis Cardinals](/source/St._Louis_Cardinals) in [1931](/source/1931_in_baseball) and [1932](/source/1932_in_baseball). He batted and threw right-handed. A native of [Mesquite, Texas](/source/Mesquite%2C_Texas), Cunningham played briefly for the Cardinals at third base before an injury cut short his career. He injured himself, whipping a sidearm throw to [first base](/source/first_base) on a swinging [bunt](/source/Bunt_(baseball)).

==Life==
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](/source/Dizzy_Dean) and [Pepper Martin](/source/Pepper_Martin). In a two-season career, Cunningham was a .154 [hitter](/source/batting_average_(baseball)) with one [RBI](/source/run_batted_in) and no [home run](/source/home_run)s in 14 [games](/source/games_played).

Following his retirement as a player, Cunningham worked as a salesman and for an oil company. In [2004](/source/2004_in_baseball), he was recognized as the oldest living former Major League Baseball player. He gained this distinction when a former [pitcher](/source/pitcher) for the old [Washington Senators](/source/Washington_Senators_(1901%E2%80%9360)) and [St. Louis Browns](/source/St._Louis_Browns), [Paul Hopkins](/source/Paul_Hopkins_(baseball)), died in 2004 at 99 years 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 the [Houston Astros](/source/Houston_Astros).

Cunningham died in [Pearland, Texas](/source/Pearland%2C_Texas) at 100 years of age. With his death, the distinction of oldest living former major league player moved to [Howdy Groskloss](/source/Howdy_Groskloss).

==See also==
*[List of centenarians (Major League Baseball players)](/source/List_of_centenarians_(Major_League_Baseball_players))
*[List of centenarians (sportspeople)](/source/List_of_centenarians_(sportspeople))

==External links==
{{Baseballstats|br=c/cunnira01}}
*[http://story.scout.com/a.z?s=228&p=2&c=417242 Story Scout]
*{{Find a Grave}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-ach|rec}}
{{Succession box| before = [Paul Hopkins](/source/Paul_Hopkins_(baseball)) | title =Oldest recognized verified living baseball player| years = January 2, 2004 – July 30, 2005 | after = [Howdy Groskloss](/source/Howdy_Groskloss)}}
{{S-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cunningham, Ray}}
Category:1905 births
Category:2005 deaths
Category:Major League Baseball third basemen
Category:St. Louis Cardinals players
Category:Baseball players from Houston
Category:American men centenarians
Category:Sportspeople from Mesquite, Texas
Category:Baseball players from Dallas County, Texas
Category:Dayton Aviators players
Category:Baseball players from Kaufman County, Texas
Category:20th-century American sportsmen

{{US-baseball-third-baseman-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ray Cunningham](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Cunningham) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Cunningham?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.