The game will be played at Doubleday Field near the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. (Courtesy National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has made a local draft pick for its Hall of Fame Classic game next month. Though it might be more appropriate to refer to Chris Ray as a “draught” pick.
Ray, who was a Major League pitcher for seven seasons, mostly with the Baltimore Orioles and also on the 2010 World Series champion San Francisco Giants until retiring in 2011, these days is owner of Center of the Universe Brewing Co. in Ashland.
On May 27, the right-hander will put down his brewer’s cap for the day and return to the mound for the Classic, held each year in Cooperstown, New York.
Ray said his baseball comeback started with an email this spring from the Orioles’ alumni relations department, asking if he’d be interested in representing the O’s in the annual game.
Chris Ray pitching with the Orioles. (Courtesy Chris Ray)
Played Memorial Day weekend at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, the Classic features Hall of Fame inductees in the dugouts as coaches and managers, and former players representing each team on the field. Ray said the first thing he asked was: how competitive is the game?
“It’s for fun but once these guys get up there, it’s second nature. They’re playing to win,” Ray said. “I watched some of last year’s game and some guys were diving into fences.”
As he pondered whether to play, he ran the idea by his family. They immediately told him to go for it.
“That’s really the only reason why I’m doing it,” Ray said. “I don’t need to go and put on a show anymore, but this is to show my kids, ‘Before you knew me, this is what I was doing.’”
Outside of an occasional autograph signing event with the Orioles, Ray said, he’s been mostly removed from baseball since retiring. The only action his arm had seen was throwing to kids when his son played coach-pitch Little League.
So this spring he started training again in preparation for the game. After some soreness in the early going, Ray said he and his shoulder, which had bothered him for the latter half of his career, are feeling good.
“Prior to last month, I hadn’t let a ball go like I’m throwing to an adult in probably 11 years,” he said. “I threw my first bullpen (last) week and it felt really good, the ball was coming out of my hand really good.”
Ray said he’s thinking he’ll be able to throw in the 80-mile-per-hour range for the game, but that he’s more concerned about throwing strikes.
“I’m mainly trying to not embarrass myself,” he said, laughing. “I still have a bit of concern about a comebacker or a line-drive. I’m not sure if I own fast-twitch muscles anymore, so being able to get out of the way might be an issue.”
Phil and Chris Ray (BizSense file photo)
In Cooperstown he’ll get a chance to see former teammates Jeremy Guthrie, who pitched with him for the Orioles, and Jeremy Affeldt, who also played the 2010 World Series with the Giants. Ray said he’s looking forward to being back in the baseball world again, even if only for a day.
“When things like this pop up, or even the autograph sessions in Baltimore, it’s good to reminisce and you’re drawn back into the game again,” Ray said.
He said he feels lucky that he got to leave the game on his own terms and that he had a secondary passion in making beer that he’s been able to pursue since hanging up his glove.
Ray started Center of the Universe with his brother Phil a year after retiring and has run it ever since.
“I didn’t want to retire and get into coaching. I think on the professional side, baseball ran its course,” Ray said. “I did everything I could and hoped to achieve. It’s one of those careers where the overwhelming majority of people don’t get to decide when they retire – they’re basically told you’re retired now because no one’s interested in having you play for them. You absorb it and enjoy it while it’s happening.”
The Hall of Fame Classic will be played on Saturday, May 27, and will be streamed live on the Baseball Hall of Fame’s website.
This is the latest installment in our Downtime series, which focuses on businesspeople’s pursuits outside the office. If you, a co-worker or someone you know around town has a unique way of passing time off the clock, submit suggestions to [email protected]. For previous installments of Downtime, click here.
The game will be played at Doubleday Field near the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. (Courtesy National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has made a local draft pick for its Hall of Fame Classic game next month. Though it might be more appropriate to refer to Chris Ray as a “draught” pick.
Ray, who was a Major League pitcher for seven seasons, mostly with the Baltimore Orioles and also on the 2010 World Series champion San Francisco Giants until retiring in 2011, these days is owner of Center of the Universe Brewing Co. in Ashland.
On May 27, the right-hander will put down his brewer’s cap for the day and return to the mound for the Classic, held each year in Cooperstown, New York.
Ray said his baseball comeback started with an email this spring from the Orioles’ alumni relations department, asking if he’d be interested in representing the O’s in the annual game.
Chris Ray pitching with the Orioles. (Courtesy Chris Ray)
Played Memorial Day weekend at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, the Classic features Hall of Fame inductees in the dugouts as coaches and managers, and former players representing each team on the field. Ray said the first thing he asked was: how competitive is the game?
“It’s for fun but once these guys get up there, it’s second nature. They’re playing to win,” Ray said. “I watched some of last year’s game and some guys were diving into fences.”
As he pondered whether to play, he ran the idea by his family. They immediately told him to go for it.
“That’s really the only reason why I’m doing it,” Ray said. “I don’t need to go and put on a show anymore, but this is to show my kids, ‘Before you knew me, this is what I was doing.’”
Outside of an occasional autograph signing event with the Orioles, Ray said, he’s been mostly removed from baseball since retiring. The only action his arm had seen was throwing to kids when his son played coach-pitch Little League.
So this spring he started training again in preparation for the game. After some soreness in the early going, Ray said he and his shoulder, which had bothered him for the latter half of his career, are feeling good.
“Prior to last month, I hadn’t let a ball go like I’m throwing to an adult in probably 11 years,” he said. “I threw my first bullpen (last) week and it felt really good, the ball was coming out of my hand really good.”
Ray said he’s thinking he’ll be able to throw in the 80-mile-per-hour range for the game, but that he’s more concerned about throwing strikes.
“I’m mainly trying to not embarrass myself,” he said, laughing. “I still have a bit of concern about a comebacker or a line-drive. I’m not sure if I own fast-twitch muscles anymore, so being able to get out of the way might be an issue.”
Phil and Chris Ray (BizSense file photo)
In Cooperstown he’ll get a chance to see former teammates Jeremy Guthrie, who pitched with him for the Orioles, and Jeremy Affeldt, who also played the 2010 World Series with the Giants. Ray said he’s looking forward to being back in the baseball world again, even if only for a day.
“When things like this pop up, or even the autograph sessions in Baltimore, it’s good to reminisce and you’re drawn back into the game again,” Ray said.
He said he feels lucky that he got to leave the game on his own terms and that he had a secondary passion in making beer that he’s been able to pursue since hanging up his glove.
Ray started Center of the Universe with his brother Phil a year after retiring and has run it ever since.
“I didn’t want to retire and get into coaching. I think on the professional side, baseball ran its course,” Ray said. “I did everything I could and hoped to achieve. It’s one of those careers where the overwhelming majority of people don’t get to decide when they retire – they’re basically told you’re retired now because no one’s interested in having you play for them. You absorb it and enjoy it while it’s happening.”
The Hall of Fame Classic will be played on Saturday, May 27, and will be streamed live on the Baseball Hall of Fame’s website.
This is the latest installment in our Downtime series, which focuses on businesspeople’s pursuits outside the office. If you, a co-worker or someone you know around town has a unique way of passing time off the clock, submit suggestions to [email protected]. For previous installments of Downtime, click here.
What a great feel good story to kick off a weekend. Good luck Chris, and have fun!
This is awesome – congrats to Chris on the invitation! COTU is one of the best breweries RVA has to offer. If you haven’t been out there, go check it out!
This is awesome! Center of the Universe brewery is an awesome place to have a beer. Chris was great to work with to schedule our Atlee High School 20-year high school reunion we had this year at COTU and our class was very appreciative.
COTU put Ashland on the map.