Claude Raymond

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Claude Raymond CM
Pitcher
Born: (1937-05-07) May 7, 1937 (age 86)
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 15, 1959, for the Chicago White Sox
Last MLB appearance
September 25, 1971, for the Montreal Expos
MLB statistics
Win–loss record46–53
Earned run average3.66
Strikeouts497
Saves82
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Member of the Canadian
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction1984

Jean Claude Marc Raymond CM (born May 7, 1937), nicknamed "Frenchy", is a former Canadian professional baseball relief pitcher, coach, and broadcaster. During his 12-year career in Major League Baseball, he played for the Chicago White Sox (1959), Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves (1961–63, 1967–69), Houston Colt .45s/Astros (1964–67) and Montreal Expos (1969–71).[1]

Playing career

Raymond pitched in three games for Chicago in early 1959. Although he was traded from the National League West-leading Atlanta Braves to the expansion Montreal Expos in 1969, Raymond remarked this was one of the happiest moments of his life as he was able to play for his home province.[1]

In 12 seasons, he compiled a 46–53 record, appeared in 449 games, started 7 games, recorded 2 complete games, 270 games finished, 82 saves, 721 innings pitched, 711 hits allowed, 338 runs allowed, 293 earned runs allowed, 75 home runs allowed, 225 walks allowed, 497 strikeouts, 28 hit batsmen, 32 wild pitches, 3,048 batters faced, 54 intentional walks, 4 balks and a 3.66 ERA.[2]

Post-playing career

After his playing career, Raymond worked as a French-language broadcaster with the Expos from 1972 to 2001. He was also an Expos English-language broadcaster in 2004, their last season in Montreal.[1]

During the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Raymond was the public address announcer for baseball. The International Olympic Committee required that announcements at Olympic venues must also be made in French, which made Raymond, who had previously pitched in Atlanta, well-suited for the job.

Raymond joined the Expos staff as a roving coach in 2002 and served until the team left Montreal after the 2004 campaign to become the Washington Nationals.[3][4]

Honours and awards

Raymond was named to the 1966 National League All-Star Team. Raymond was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, located in St. Marys, Ontario, with the Class of 1984 in its second year of operation.

In June 2019 Raymond was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Claude Raymond (SABR BioProject)". Society for American Baseball Research.
  2. ^ "Claude Raymond Career Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. ^ "Expos unveil coaching staff". CBC Sports. February 17, 2002. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  4. ^ Stevenson, Chris (September 29, 2004). "Montreal fans left with sadness, anger". ESPN.
  5. ^ Dunlevy, T'Cha (June 27, 2019). "Alanis Obomsawin, 15 other Quebecers to receive Order of Canada". Montreal Gazette.

External links