Ray Katt – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Ray Katt built a solid eight-season career in Major League Baseball before he retired in 1959. This Texas-born catcher spent his best years with the New York Giants and St. Louis Cardinals, and folks around the league knew him as a dependable defensive player during one of baseball’s most storied decades.

Katt’s career really peaked in 1954 when he helped the New York Giants win the World Series championship, sweeping the heavily favored Cleveland Indians in four games. He didn’t actually play in the World Series, but his efforts during the regular season helped push the Giants to their first championship since 1933.

The 6-foot-2 backstop from New Braunfels finished his career with a .232 batting average, 32 home runs, and 120 RBIs over 417 games.

From his early days learning the game in small-town Texas to his later years coaching college ball, Katt’s journey through pro baseball shows both the grind and the rewards of mid-20th century baseball.

His story is about the grit it took to reach the majors, the fight to keep a roster spot, and the influence a player can have by mentoring the next generation.

Early Life and Background

Ray Katt was born on May 9, 1927, in New Braunfels, Texas. He eventually returned there after his baseball days to spend his final years.

Growing up in that small Texas town gave him the foundation for what became a notable baseball career, both as a player and a coach.

Family and Education

Raymond Frederick Katt grew up in New Braunfels, a tight-knit community in south-central Texas. The town’s German roots and close community shaped his early years as a student and an athlete.

His family backed his athletic pursuits from the start. In Texas during the 1930s and 1940s, baseball was just a part of life.

Katt attended local schools in New Braunfels. That education later helped when he moved into coaching.

He showed athletic promise early on. His size and coordination made him stand out from the other kids.

High School Baseball Achievements

Katt’s high school baseball days in New Braunfels put him on the map as a talented catcher. Scouts and coaches throughout the region started to take notice.

He displayed strong defensive abilities and leadership on the field. These traits stuck with him through his pro career.

His high school performance set him up for more competitive baseball. That experience prepared him for what lay ahead.

By graduation, Katt was a well-rounded player. His catching skills and baseball smarts made him a solid prospect for pro teams.

Major League Baseball Career

Ray Katt played eight seasons in the majors from 1952 to 1959, mostly as a catcher for the New York Giants and St. Louis Cardinals. He notched a World Series ring in 1954 and was part of several big trades between the two National League teams.

Debut and Early Years with the New York Giants

Ray Katt debuted in MLB on September 16, 1952, with the New York Giants at age 25. He only appeared in two games that season and didn’t get a hit in his two at-bats.

In 1953, he didn’t see much more action. The Giants gave him only brief looks, so he kept working to prove he belonged.

1954 was his breakout year. Katt played in 86 games and became the Giants’ semi-regular catcher. He split time with veteran Wes Westrum during their championship run.

Katt hit .255 with nine homers and 33 RBIs in the 1954 regular season. He played a part in helping the Giants secure their last championship in New York.

1954 World Series and Key Moments

The 1954 World Series was a milestone for Katt, though not for his on-field play. Wes Westrum took over catching duties for the series.

The Giants swept the Indians in four straight to win it all. Katt didn’t get into any of the World Series games, but he still got a championship ring as part of the squad.

Earlier that year, Katt set an odd Major League record. He allowed four passed balls in one inning while catching knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm. Gino Petralli and Ryan Lavarnway would later tie that record.

In 1955, Katt became the Giants’ main catcher. He played 124 games and got a career-high 326 at-bats, but his batting average dipped to .215, which hurt his future role.

Transition to the St. Louis Cardinals

On June 14, 1956, the Giants traded Katt to the St. Louis Cardinals. That nine-player trade also included Alvin Dark and Red Schoendienst.

Katt did better with the Cardinals, batting .259 in part-time duty for the rest of 1956. He showed he could adjust to a new team and league.

The winter of 1956-57 brought more changes. St. Louis traded him to the Cubs, who quickly sent him back to the Giants before the 1957 season.

Katt became part of the last New York Giants team before they moved to San Francisco. He batted 165 times in 72 games during 1957, New York’s final year with the franchise.

Final Season and Retirement in 1959

In April 1958, Katt returned to the Cardinals for his last MLB seasons. He became their third-string catcher in 1958 and didn’t play much.

The 1959 season was his final year as a player. He juggled duties as a playing coach and backup catcher for the Cardinals.

His last big league appearance was on July 21, 1959.

Katt’s career stats show he was a reliable backup catcher. He played 417 games over eight seasons, hitting .232 with 32 home runs and 120 RBIs.

After he retired as a player, Katt stayed with the Cardinals as a bullpen coach until June 1960.

Playing Style and On-Field Performance

Ray Katt made his mark as a steady catcher with some pop in his bat during his eight MLB seasons. His defensive work behind the plate and ability to chip in with home runs made him a valuable piece for both the Giants and Cardinals.

Offensive Strengths: Runs and Home Runs

Katt showed decent power at the plate throughout his career. He wrapped up his time in the majors with 32 home runs and 120 RBIs in 417 games.

His best offensive season came in 1956. That year, he hit .247 with 13 home runs and 34 RBIs in just 259 at-bats.

That season, he drove in runs efficiently. He hit more than 40% of his career home runs in that single year.

Katt’s career batting average stood at .232 with 248 hits in 1,071 at-bats. He also crossed the plate 92 times during his major league run.

His numbers showed he could add some offense from the catcher spot—something teams didn’t always expect from catchers in that era.

Defensive Skills as a Catcher

Katt stuck to catching throughout his big league career. He showed he could handle different pitching staffs and adjust to their needs.

His defensive chops faced a real test in 1954 when he caught knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm. Those knuckleballs are unpredictable, and catching them isn’t for the faint of heart.

Katt served as the backup catcher on the 1954 Giants championship team. He caught 82 games that season while Wes Westrum handled 98.

His reliable defense kept him in the majors for eight seasons. Teams liked his ability to manage pitching staffs and call a good game.

Notable Game Records and Milestones

Katt set a quirky record in 1954, showing just how tough it is to catch knuckleballers. He allowed four passed balls in one inning with Hoyt Wilhelm on the mound.

Geno Petralli and Ryan Lavarnway later tied that record, both while catching knuckleballers too.

That record really highlights the unique challenges catchers face. Knuckleballs dart all over the place, making them tough to snag.

Katt was part of the Giants team that swept the Cleveland Indians in the 1954 World Series. That remains his biggest team achievement as a player.

Trades and Team Transfers

Ray Katt’s career included several big trades, especially involving the Cubs, Giants, and Cardinals. These moves changed both his playing chances and the make-up of those teams in the late 1950s.

Trades Between Giants, Cardinals, and Cubs

The biggest trade in Katt’s career happened just before the 1957 season, when the Cubs traded him to the Giants. That deal also sent pitcher Sam Jones to New York.

Katt never played a game for the Cubs. The timing of the trade meant he was shipped out before the season even started.

In April 1958, Katt landed back with the Cardinals, where he’d played before. That move marked the last stop in his playing career.

The Cardinals used Katt as their third-string catcher in 1958. By 1959, his final season, he also took on a playing coach role.

Impact on Team Dynamics and League Position

The trade involving Sam Jones and Ray Katt worked out differently for each team. The Cubs picked up several players, but those guys didn’t really help the team.

For the Giants, getting Sam Jones turned out to be a better deal than keeping Katt. Jones was a skilled pitcher who fit their needs.

The Cardinals brought Katt back in 1958 to add experienced depth at catcher. In 1959, he served as a playing coach, mentoring younger teammates and providing leadership.

Katt played his last major league game on July 21, 1959, with the Cardinals. He finished his career with 417 games, a .232 batting average, 32 homers, and 120 RBIs over eight seasons.

Post-Playing Career and Coaching

After hanging up his spikes in 1959, Ray Katt moved into coaching in both pro and college baseball. His coaching jobs included stints with MLB teams and a long run at Texas Lutheran University, where he built one of the most successful programs in the school’s history.

Coaching with the St. Louis Cardinals and Cleveland Indians

Katt started coaching while he was still playing, taking on a playing coach role with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1959. He mentored younger players while wrapping up his own playing days as a third-string catcher.

After retiring, Katt stayed in professional baseball as a coach. He joined the Cleveland Indians staff, using his catching experience to help develop the team’s pitchers and catchers.

His background as a major league catcher made him a valuable asset to both organizations. Katt knew the technical side of catching and could teach throwing mechanics and pitch-calling. His eight years of big league experience gave him credibility with both players and coaches.

College Baseball at Texas Lutheran University

In 1971, Katt took on his biggest coaching job as head baseball coach at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, Texas. He stayed in that role for 21 years, retiring in 1992.

Over those years, Katt really turned the Bulldogs into a tough, competitive team. He leaned on his own pro playing experience, teaching fundamentals and good technique to his players.

People around Texas started to respect the program under his watch. Katt’s approach just worked.

Texas Lutheran University showed their gratitude by naming their baseball facility Katt-Isbel Field. On February 27, 1999, the university rededicated the field in his honor, acknowledging how much he gave to the program and how many student-athletes he influenced.

High School Coaching and Legacy

Before he joined Texas Lutheran University, Katt went back to his hometown area to coach high school baseball. He worked with younger players, sharing his knowledge and teaching the basics.

Katt liked to focus on technical skills and baseball strategy. He made sure players learned proper catching techniques, especially since he’d struggled with throwing accuracy himself early in his career.

His mix of major league experience and coaching wins at different levels made Katt a respected name in Texas baseball. He didn’t just care about wins—he helped shape a lot of players who moved up to higher levels.

Personal Life and Legacy

Ray Katt’s legacy stretches far beyond his days as a player, thanks to years of coaching and mentoring young athletes. The way Texas Lutheran University recognized him says a lot about the impact he made after leaving pro baseball.

Life After Baseball

After retiring in 1959, Katt moved smoothly from player to educator. He coached for the Cardinals in 1959-60, then the Cleveland Indians in 1962, before heading back to Texas.

He started out coaching high school baseball in his hometown of New Braunfels. In 1971, he took over as head baseball coach at Texas Lutheran University and spent the next 22 seasons there.

While at Texas Lutheran, Katt racked up a record of 502-362-2. He always put player development and baseball smarts at the center of his coaching.

Katt and Melba Kreitz married in 1947 and stayed together for 52 years. They raised two children, Bruce and Sandra, and built their lives in the Texas community where Ray first played the game.

Honors and Remembrances

Texas Lutheran University honored Katt by rededicating their baseball facility as Katt-Isbel Field on February 27, 1999. Sadly, that happened just months before he died from lymphoma on October 19, 1999, at age 72.

The field dedication felt like the right way to celebrate a coach who shaped the program for over twenty years. Katt’s 22 seasons at Texas Lutheran made him one of the university’s most successful coaches.

Back in his playing days, New Braunfels also showed their pride. After the Giants’ World Series win in October 1954, Katt got a plaque at a New Braunfels High School football game.

Influence on Future Catchers

Katt built his coaching career by sharing what he learned as a major league catcher. He handled knuckleball pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm and worked with managers like Leo Durocher, which gave him some pretty unique insights for young players.

At Texas Lutheran, Katt really drilled in the fundamentals of catching. He leaned on the lessons from his pro days. Some former players even said, “he coached for all the right reasons, for the players.”

His way of teaching catching mirrored his own path, starting from a Texas high school to becoming a World Series champ. Katt truly got how much proper technique and game management matter for a catcher’s success.

You can still see his legacy in the players he mentored and the baseball program he shaped at Texas Lutheran University.