Ray James Francis (March 8, 1893 – July 6, 1934) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played between 1922 and 1925 for the Washington Senators (1922), Detroit Tigers (1923), New York Yankees (1925) and Boston Red Sox (1925). Listed at 6 ft 1.5 in (1.87 m), 182 lb., Francis batted and threw left-handed. He was born in Sherman, Texas.
In a three-season career, Francis posted a 12–28 record with 96 strikeouts and a 4.65 ERA in 82 appearances, including 36 starts, 15 complete games, two shutouts, 25 games finished, 110 walks, and 337.0 innings of work.
Roy James Francis ran away from home in Oklahoma to play baseball after working for Wells Fargo. He changed his name to Ray after a local sportswriter made a typo in a local newspaper. Ray played in many cities, including 1917 Beaumont TX, 1920 Seattle in the PCL, 1921 Seattle in the PCL, 1924 Atlanta Crackers, 1925 Minneapolis Millers, 1926 Atlanta Crackers, 1926 Minneapolis Millers, 1927 Atlanta Crackers, 1928 Birmingham Barons, 1929 Birmingham Barons, 1930 Birmingham Barons, 1931 Raleigh, 1932 Raleigh. http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=franci001ray
A few career notes: His only baseball card is 1921 Zeenut for Seattle in the PCL. Ty Cobb warned Ray (then playing for Washington Senators) not to pitch inside and Ray hit Ty with a fastball. Ty Cobb and Ray fought during the game and then exchanged blows after the game outside the stadium. Ty later said he signed Ray to play for the Detroit Tigers because of that toughness. He was a hold out for the Yankees spring training camp because he said "he had more friends in Atlanta." He also showed up to the Yankees team hotel carrying a shoebox of mice. The hotel manager kicked him out. He gave up a home run to Babe Ruth and also gave up Lou Gehrig's first RBI.
Ray Francis gave away all of his baseball income to the needy. He was known to buy groceries, clothing, and pay bills for complete strangers and come home with no money after a payday.
After retirement, Ray Francis worked for the Atlanta police department and was shot on duty. He later died of a heart attack while breaking up a fight on duty. He is buried in Atlanta.
Francis died in Atlanta, Georgia, at age 42.
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“The gods are partial to no era, but steadily shines their light in the heavens, while the eye of the beholder is turned to stone. There was but the sun and the eye from the first. The ages have not added a new ray to the one, nor altered a fibre of the other.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“One cannot imagine St. Francis of Assisi talking about rights.”
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