Ray Ramsey
Birth dateJuly 18, 1921
Birth placeSpringfield, Illinois, U.S.
Death dateAugust 25, 2009 (aged 88)
Death placeSpringfield, Illinois, U.S.
Height6 ft
Height in2
Other namesRocket Ray Ramsey
Ray Ramsey
PositionDefensive back
Number87
Draftyear1947
Draftround10
Draftpick82
(By the Chicago Cardinals)
CollegeBradley
Teams
Highlights
  • IRFU All-Star – 1954
Statlabel 1Rushing att-yards
Statvalue 1124-524
Statlabel 2Receptions-yards
Statvalue 288-1729
Statlabel 3Touchdowns
Statvalue 318
Statlabel 4Interceptions
Statvalue 421
Ray Ramsey
High schoolLanphier
(Springfield, Illinois)
CollegeBradley (1941–1943, 1945–1947)
Career number14
Years 11947–1948
Team 1Tri-Cities Blackhawks
Years 21948–1949
Team 2Baltimore Bullets

"Rocket" Raymond LeRoy Ramsey (July 18, 1921 – August 25, 2009)[1] was an American multi-sport athlete. Following his college career at Bradley University, where he starred in basketball, football, and track and field,[2][3][4] he went on to play professionally in basketball and football. He was a defensive back for the Chicago Cardinals from 1950 to 1953 and remains the Cardinals all-time record holder for interception return yardage in a single season with 237 which he set in the 1953 season.[5] He also played in the All-America Football Conference[6][7] and in the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union, a forerunner of the Canadian Football League.

In addition, Ramsey had a brief professional basketball career, playing for the Tri-Cities Blackhawks in the National Basketball League[8][9][10] and the Baltimore Bullets in the Basketball Association of America.[11][12]

Statistics

Pro basketball statistics

Legend
  GPGames played
 FG% Field-goal percentage
 FT% Free-throw percentage
 APG Assists per game
 PPG Points per game

Regular season

YearTeamLeagueGPFG%FT%APGPPG
1947–48Tri-CitiesNBL2--.00.0
1948–49BaltimoreBAA2.0001.000.01.0
Career4.0001.000.00.5

References

  1. ^ Springfield Sports Hall of Famer Ramsey dies The State Journal-Register. Retrieved on August 25, 2009.
  2. ^ "Ray Ramsey in Bradley lineup saturday night". Democrat & Leader. 21 January 1947. p. 13. Retrieved 1 September 2022. – via Newspapers.com
  3. ^ Orrin Stribley (14 November 1946). "Coach Arboit works on ways and means to stop prize back of Bradley, "Rocket" Ramsey". Democrat & Leader. p. 22. Retrieved 1 September 2022. – via Newspapers.com
  4. ^ Thomas Ward (17 August 1947). "Peoria boasts of Fibber M'Gee and Ray Ramsey". Chicago Tribune. p. 39. Retrieved 1 September 2022. – via Newspapers.com
  5. ^ "Arizona Cardinals Single Season Defensive Leaders". The Football Database. footballdb.com. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Rockets sign 'Rocket Ramsey'". Tampa Bay Times. 22 April 1947. p. 13. Retrieved 23 August 2022. – via Newspapers.com
  7. ^ "Dodgers sign Ray Ramsey". Newsday. 13 September 1948. p. 33. Retrieved 23 August 2022. – via Newspapers.com
  8. ^ "VanHooreweghe, Ray Ramsey to play for Hawks". The Dispatch. 3 June 1947. p. 12. Retrieved 1 September 2022. – via Newspapers.com Ray Ramsey, one of the greatest athletes to ever play for Bradley university [..] have signed contracts to play with the Quad-City Blackhawks professional basketball team next winter, it was learned today.
  9. ^ "Ray Ramsey". The Rock Island Argus. 15 November 1947. p. 12. Retrieved 1 September 2022. – via Newspapers.com
  10. ^ "Ramsey to play with Hawks". Daily Dispatch. 21 February 1948. p. 14. Retrieved 1 September 2022. – via Newspapers.com
  11. ^ "Bullets dicker with Ray Ramsey". The Baltimore Sun. 7 December 1948. p. 19. Retrieved 1 September 2022. – via Newspapers.com
  12. ^ "Baltimore Bullets sign Ramsey, grid star". Democrat and Chronicle. 11 December 1948. p. 9. Retrieved 1 September 2022. – via Newspapers.com