:Ray Ramsey

{{Short description|American gridiron football player (1921–2009)}}

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

{{Use American English|date=August 2022}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Ray Ramsey

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_date = July 18, 1921

| birth_place = Springfield, Illinois, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2009|8|25|1921|7|18}}

| death_place = Springfield, Illinois, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| nickname = Rocket Ray Ramsey

| occupation =

| years_active =

| known_for =

| notable_works =

| module =

{{Infobox NFL biography

| embed = yes

| name =

| image =

| position = Defensive back

| number = 87

| draftyear = 1947

| draftround = 10

| draftpick = 82
(By the Chicago Cardinals)

| college = Bradley

| teams = * Chicago Rockets (1947–1948)

• Brooklyn Dodgers (1948)
• Chicago Hornets (1949)
• Chicago Cardinals (1950–1953)
• Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1954–1956)

| highlights = * IRFU All-Star – 1954

| statlabel1 = Rushing att-yards

| statvalue1 = 124-524

| statlabel2 = Receptions-yards

| statvalue2 = 88-1729

| statlabel3 = Touchdowns

| statvalue3 = 18

| statlabel4 = Interceptions

| statvalue4 = 21

| pfr =

}}

|module2=

{{Infobox basketball biography

| embed = yes

| high_school = Lanphier
(Springfield, Illinois)

| college = Bradley (1941–1943, 1945–1947)

| career_start =

| career_end =

| career_position = Guard-Forward

| career_number = 14

| years1 = 1947–1948

| team1 = Tri-Cities Blackhawks

| years2 = 1948–1949

| team2 = Baltimore Bullets

| highlights =

| bbr =

| bbr_wnba =

}}

}}

"Rocket" Raymond LeRoy Ramsey (July 18, 1921 – August 25, 2009)[http://www.sj-r.com/sports/x1528811722/Ray-Ramsey-noted-Springfield-athlete-dead-at-88 Springfield Sports Hall of Famer Ramsey dies] The State Journal-Register. Retrieved on August 25, 2009. was an American multi-sport athlete. Following his college career at Bradley University, where he starred in basketball, football and track & field,{{cite news |title=Ray Ramsey in Bradley lineup saturday night |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108753169/ray-ramsey-in-bradley-lineup-saturday/ |access-date=1 September 2022 |work=Democrat & Leader |date=21 January 1947 |page=13 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}{{cite news |author1=Orrin Stribley |title=Coach Arboit works on ways and means to stop prize back of Bradley, "Rocket" Ramsey |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108753613/quad-city-times/ |access-date=1 September 2022 |work=Democrat & Leader |date=14 November 1946 |page=22 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}{{cite news |author1=Thomas Ward |title=Peoria boasts of Fibber M'Gee and Ray Ramsey |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108756264/peoria-boasts-of-fibber-mgee-and-ray/ |access-date=1 September 2022 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=17 August 1947 |page=39 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} 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.{{cite web |title=Arizona Cardinals Single Season Defensive Leaders |url=https://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/arizona-cardinals/leaders/season-defense-intyards |website=The Football Database |publisher=footballdb.com |access-date=2 September 2022}} He also played in the All-America Football Conference{{cite news |title=Rockets sign 'Rocket Ramsey' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108175902/rockets-sign-rocket-ramsey/ |access-date=23 August 2022 |work=Tampa Bay Times |date=22 April 1947 |page=13 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}{{cite news |title=Dodgers sign Ray Ramsey |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108176339/dodgers-sign-ray-ramsey/ |access-date=23 August 2022 |work=Newsday |date=13 September 1948 |page=33 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} 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{{cite news |title=VanHooreweghe, Ray Ramsey to play for Hawks |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108754961/vanhooreweghe-ray-ramsey-to-play-for/ |access-date=1 September 2022 |work=The Dispatch |date=3 June 1947 |page=12 |quote=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. | via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}{{cite news |title=Ray Ramsey |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108754693/ray-ramsey/ |access-date=1 September 2022 |work=The Rock Island Argus |date=15 November 1947 |page=12 | via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}{{cite news |title=Ramsey to play with Hawks |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108753021/ramsey-to-play-with-hawks/ |access-date=1 September 2022 |work=Daily Dispatch |date=21 February 1948 |page=14 | via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} and the Baltimore Bullets in the Basketball Association of America.{{cite news |title=Bullets dicker with Ray Ramsey |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108756047/bullets-dicker-with-ray-ramsey/ |access-date=1 September 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=7 December 1948 |page=19 | via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}{{cite news |title=Baltimore Bullets sign Ramsey, grid star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108755438/baltimore-bullets-sign-ramsey-grid-star/ |access-date=1 September 2022 |work=Democrat and Chronicle |date=11 December 1948 |page=9 | via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}