:Ray Mack

{{Short description|American baseball player (1916–1969)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Ray Mack

|image=Ray Mack 1940.jpeg

|caption=Mack, circa 1940

|position=Second Baseman

|birth_date={{Birth date|1916|8|31}}

|birth_place=Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.

|death_date={{death date and age|1969|5|7|1916|8|31}}

|death_place=Bucyrus, Ohio, U.S.

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=September 9

|debutyear=1938

|debutteam=Cleveland Indians

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=September 28

|finalyear=1947

|finalteam=Chicago Cubs

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.232

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=34

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=278

|teams=

• Cleveland Indians ({{baseball year|1938}}–{{baseball year|1946}})
• New York Yankees ({{baseball year|1947}})
• Chicago Cubs ({{baseball year|1947}})

|highlights=

• All-Star (1940)

}}

Raymond James Mack (born Raymond James Mlckovsky, August 31, 1916 – May 7, 1969) was a second baseman in Major League Baseball from 1938 to 1946 with the Cleveland Indians and in 1947 with the New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs. In a nine-season career, he had a batting average of .232 with 34 home runs and 278 RBIs. He stole 35 bases, scored 273 runs, and accumulated 113 doubles and 24 triples. He had 629 career hits in 2,707 at-bats.

Mack attended Case School of Applied Science, now known as Case Western Reserve University, where he was known as an outstanding football player, earning the nickname the "Case Ace."{{Cite web |last=Wancho |first=Joseph |title=Ray Mack |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Ray-Mack/ |access-date=2017-10-27 |website=Society for American Baseball Research |language=en}} In fact, he was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 1938 NFL draft, but declined professional football to play his passion of baseball.{{Cite web |title=1938 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1938/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} After playing semipro baseball, we was eventually scouted and signed by the Cleveland Indians in 1938.

Mack was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Listed as {{convert|6|ft}} tall and {{convert|200|lb}}, he was known more for his fielding than his hitting, teaming up with Cleveland shortstop Lou Boudreau for a great double play combination in the early 1940s.{{cite news |date=November 7, 1962 |title=Ray Mack Nominated For Sporting Award |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51020698/feature-article-on-former-cleveland/ |work=Telegraph-Forum |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com}} Mack was selected to the 1940 American League All-Star team and pinch hit for starting second baseman Joe Gordon in the eighth inning. Mack struck out against Larry French of the Cubs and handled no chances in the field as the AL bowed, 4–0, at Sportsman's Park. Ironically, Gordon would succeed Mack as the Indians' regular second baseman in {{baseball year|1947}}.

Mack ended with a .966 career fielding percentage and helped complete 597 double plays. He saved Bob Feller's 1940 opening day no-hitter with a diving stop on the final out. After the {{baseball year|1946}} season, Mack was traded to the Yankees by new Indians' owner Bill Veeck.{{Cite news |last=Petersen |first=Leo H. |date=1946-12-06 |title=Yanks Trade Three Men for Mack, Lollar |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-yanks-trade-three-men-for/165993318/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |work=The Miami News |page=5-B |via=Newspapers.com |agency=United Press}} It was one of many deals orchestrated by Veeck, but in it Cleveland obtained pitcher Gene Bearden, who would pitch the Tribe to the 1948 pennant as a rookie.

Mack died in Bucyrus, Ohio. His son, Tom played for the Los Angeles Rams in the National Football League and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.