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

Ray Noble’s baseball career stands out as a unique journey through several levels of professional baseball in the mid-20th century. The Cuban-born catcher played three seasons with the New York Giants from 1951 to 1953, which wrapped up a career that had already taken him through the Negro Leagues, Major League Baseball, and a bunch of minor league teams.

Noble retired from Major League Baseball in 1953. He played his last game on September 22 against the Philadelphia Phillies, closing out a short but memorable MLB run that started when he was already 32.

His path to the majors wasn’t exactly typical. He’d already made a name for himself in the Negro Leagues before debuting with the Giants on April 18, 1951.

Let’s take a closer look at Noble’s early life in Cuba, his growth in the Negro Leagues, his time with the Giants, and the impact he left on baseball. His story shows the challenges and opportunities Cuban players faced during a time of big changes in pro baseball. You get a sense of both his own achievements and the bigger picture of baseball’s integration in the 1950s.

Early Life and Background

Rafael Miguel Noble Magee was born on March 15, 1919, in Central Hatillo, Cuba. His Jamaican immigrant parents worked in the sugar industry.

The family eventually settled in Palma Soriano. Rafael grew up there, working hard and playing on local sugar mill teams, which set him on his path to professional baseball.

Family Origins and Place of Birth

Rafael’s family had deep Caribbean roots. Both of his parents came from Jamaica, part of a larger migration wave between 1902 and 1933.

During those years, about 115,000 Jamaicans moved to Cuba to work in the sugar fields. Rafael’s mother’s English last name made her British West Indies heritage, specifically Jamaican, pretty clear.

The family pronounced “Noble” in the English way at first. Rafael’s dad liked to call him “My Son” instead of his real name, and the nickname “Son” stuck. Sometimes folks wrote it as “San” by mistake, not knowing the story.

People still debate exactly where Rafael was born in Cuba. Most baseball records say Central Hatillo, but local historian Aldo Betancourt Hernández claims it was Central Santa Ana de Auza in San Luis.

Growing Up in Palma Soriano

The Nobles settled in Palma Soriano, way out in Cuba’s eastern Oriente province. The area was famous for sugar production and a strong baseball culture.

Rafael wasn’t an only child. He had siblings both in Jamaica and Cuba, including his brother Juan Noble, who later joined him in the Negro Leagues. Juan played for the New York Cubans in 1949 and 1950, after Rafael’s stint with the team.

Three of the Noble siblings—Rafael, Juan, and their sister María—eventually made it to the United States. That move turned out to be huge for Rafael’s baseball career, opening doors that Cuba just couldn’t.

Even after all these changes, the family kept close ties to their Jamaican roots and their life in Cuba.

Early Work and Introduction to Baseball

As a young man, Rafael worked as a stevedore at Central Santa Ana, a sugar mill complex about 35 kilometers from Santiago, Cuba’s second-largest city. He hauled sacks of sugar weighing 13 arrobas—325 pounds each. That’s no joke.

All that heavy lifting built up Noble’s already strong frame, which definitely helped him as a catcher. He made six Cuban pesos a day, not bad for that time and place.

Noble started playing baseball in the late 1930s with Central Santa Ana’s team. He kept at it, playing for other teams tied to Cuban Mining and Santa Clara in sugar mill leagues into the early 1940s.

Sugar mills were pretty much the only organizations in rural Cuba that could afford to put together baseball teams. Even though these leagues were informal, the level of play was surprisingly high—sometimes even better than the Cuban League in Havana.

From 1942 to 1944, Noble played for the Contramaestre Rifleros, another respected sugar mill team in Oriente province. That experience set him up for his eventual jump to professional baseball in the United States.

Negro League Career

Noble’s time in the Negro leagues really shaped his baseball career. From 1945 to 1949, he played with the New York Cubans and became a key player during some of their best seasons, including their 1947 championship run.

Joining the New York Cubans

In 1945, Alex Pómpez, who owned the New York Cubans in the Negro National League, reached out to Noble with a chance to play in the U.S. At the time, Noble was still working as a stevedore in Cuba, hauling sugar sacks and earning six pesos a day.

Switching to professional baseball in America was a big leap. Noble actually found the work easier than the backbreaking labor in the sugar mills. The New York Cubans gave him his first real shot to show off his skills in a bigger arena.

Years of manual labor had made Noble strong, and that made him perfect for the tough job of catcher. Scouts and managers all over the league noticed his build and his arm.

Performance in the Negro National League

Noble quickly became known as a reliable catcher and a power hitter during his four seasons with the New York Cubans. His batting and his work behind the plate made him a real asset.

His standout season came in 1947, when the Cubans finally won their first pennant in 30 years under Pómpez. Noble played a key role all season. Even though the team started slow, they came alive in the second half.

His steady play made him one of the top catchers in the league. Noble’s mix of hitting and defense set him apart from most other players.

Key Achievements in the Negro Leagues

Noble’s biggest moment came during the 1947 Negro World Series. The New York Cubans beat the Cleveland Buckeyes in five games, and Noble was one of the stars at the plate.

In Game Three at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, he crushed a grand slam that hit the top of the left-field roof, helping the Cubans win 9-4. That blast showed he could deliver when it mattered most.

In the deciding Game Five at Chicago’s Comiskey Park, Noble came through again with a two-run double that put New York ahead for good, 6-5. That hit sealed the championship for the Cubans and capped off Noble’s best season in the Negro leagues.

Major League Baseball Journey

Ray Noble played three seasons with the New York Giants from 1951 to 1953. He served as a backup catcher to Wes Westrum and got to play in the 1951 World Series. Even with limited playing time, he managed to show off his power-hitting abilities.

Debut with the New York Giants

Noble made his MLB debut on April 18, 1951, at age 32, catching the ninth inning at Braves Field in Boston. This was a pretty big deal—it made him only the second black catcher in modern major-league history, right after Roy Campanella.

He got his shot after years in the Negro Leagues and the minors. Noble impressed folks during spring training, and manager Leo Durocher was a fan. “That’s him. Look at him. He looks like a black lion. Look at those shoulders. That’s power, boys,” Durocher said to reporters.

The Cuban-born catcher debuted on the same day as another Latino player, Luis “Canena” Márquez from Puerto Rico, who also appeared in that ninth inning.

1951 Season and 1951 World Series

Noble’s rookie year turned out to be his best in the big leagues. He played 41 games behind the plate, started 26 times, and hit .234 with five home runs in 141 at-bats.

His biggest day came on May 9, 1951, in a 17-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at the Polo Grounds. Noble went 4-for-6, hit two homers, and drove in five runs. His second home run off Al Brazle was described as “a towering blast, estimated at 500 feet, that cleared the roof of a building behind the left field wall.”

The 1951 Giants pulled off a dramatic National League pennant win. Noble helped the team and played in the 1951 World Series against the Yankees, though the Giants came up short in the end.

Catcher Role and Wes Westrum

Noble spent his MLB career mostly battling Wes Westrum for the starting catcher spot. Westrum was known for his defense and stayed the Giants’ top catcher, even with some injuries.

When Westrum broke his finger on May 1, 1951, Noble stepped in. From May 2 through May 17, he started 14 out of 15 games and boosted his average to .286. Sportswriters joked that Noble had Westrum “chained to Leo Durocher’s bench.”

Leo Durocher praised Noble in early 1952, saying, “If I didn’t have Wes Westrum, he’d be my No. 1 man. He’s a good catcher and he has a lot of power. He’d be even better if he played every day.”

Still, Noble never managed to take over the starting job for good.

Retirement in 1953

Noble’s MLB career ended after the 1953 season at age 34. He played his last game on September 22, 1953, against the Phillies and went hitless in one at-bat.

Over three MLB seasons, he appeared in 107 games, hit .218, and tallied 9 home runs and 40 RBIs. Playing behind Westrum limited his chances to become a regular starter.

After leaving the majors, Noble kept playing in the minors until 1961. He also played in the Cuban winter league through the 1960-61 season, where he became the all-time home run leader with 71 homers over 16 seasons.

Noble’s short but memorable MLB stint really shows the hurdles many talented players faced when they reached the majors during the integration era.

Statistical Legacy and Performance

Ray Noble’s three years with the New York Giants in the majors produced modest numbers: a .218 batting average and 9 home runs across 107 games. These stats might not jump off the page, but they capped off a much longer professional career that began in the Negro Leagues.

Batting Average and Offensive Stats

Noble struggled at the plate during his time in the majors, finishing with a .218 average from 1951 to 1953. His best year was 1951, when he played in 55 games and hit .234 with 33 hits.

The Cuban infielder collected 53 total hits in his MLB career. His on-base percentage was .299, showing he didn’t reach base all that often. He scored 31 runs, mostly as a second baseman.

His bat cooled off in his final season. In 1953, he hit just .206, though he did draw 19 walks in 46 games, his highest walk total in any MLB season.

Home Runs and Runs Batted In

Noble’s power numbers were on the modest side in the majors. He hit 9 home runs and drove in 40 RBIs over his three seasons with the Giants.

His best power year was 1951, when he hit 5 homers. That same season, he had 26 RBIs, which made up most of his career total. In 1952, he didn’t hit any home runs during a short 6-game stint.

He did show some clutch ability at times. Back in the 1947 World Series with the New York Cubans, he batted .400 with 1 home run and 6 RBIs in 3 games.

Career WAR and Notable Games

Noble put up a career Wins Above Replacement (WAR) of just 0.2 during his National League years. That number shows his overall contribution landed just below replacement level for a big-league player.

He reached his highest single-season WAR in 1953, clocking in at 0.3. Even with a low batting average, his glove at second base made up for some of what he lacked at the plate.

He played in two World Series games for the Giants in 1951. In those limited chances against the Yankees, he went 0-for-2 with a strikeout.

Minor and International Leagues

Noble’s baseball life stretched well past his short MLB stint. He made a real mark in high-level minor league ball and in Cuba’s professional winter circuit.

His Pacific Coast League numbers helped him break into the majors. But it was in Cuban winter baseball that he really became one of the island’s best catchers.

Pacific Coast League Experience

Noble joined the Oakland Oaks in the Pacific Coast League in 1950, right after his first year with Jersey City. The PCL was the top minor league back then.

With Oakland, he really stood out. Noble hit .316, smashed 15 home runs, and drove in 76 runs in just 110 games for a pennant-winning team.

Manager Charlie Dressen didn’t hide his admiration. In September, Dressen even claimed he wouldn’t trade Noble for any other catcher in professional baseball.

That kind of performance caught the New York Giants’ eye. In October 1950, the Giants traded for Noble, shortstop Artie Wilson, and pitcher Al Gettel, giving up four players and $125,000.

After his 1951 big league season, Noble went back to the PCL in 1952. He spent most of that year with the Giants’ PCL affiliates, not in the majors.

Cuban Winter League Contributions

Noble made a bigger impact in Cuban pro baseball than he ever did in the majors. He played 16 seasons in the Cuban Winter League, and folks there still talk about him as one of the league’s best.

He started his winter league career in 1942-43 with the Havana Rojos, though he only played three games that season.

After some time away, Noble came back in 1946-47 and joined the Cienfuegos Elefantes.

He stuck with Cienfuegos for 14 seasons, becoming their mainstay behind the plate. His years there overlapped with his time in the majors and kept going long after.

Career Achievements in Cuban Winter League:

• 71 career home runs, which still stands as the league’s all-time record
• Built a reputation for hitting some of the longest homers ever at Havana’s Gran Stadium
• Played all the way through the league’s final season in 1960-61

Noble’s defense got a lot better as his Cuban career went on. Early on, people doubted his skills behind the plate, but he worked hard and became a solid receiver with a strong arm.

Post-Career, Legacy, and Recognition

After baseball, Ray Noble lived quietly in Brooklyn until he passed away in 1998. His career bridged the Negro Leagues and Major League Baseball, showing the hurdles Cuban players faced during baseball’s long integration process.

Later Years and Death

Noble stayed in New York after his MLB days ended in 1953. He kept playing pro ball in the minors through 1961, stretching his career another eight years after leaving the Giants.

The Cuban catcher settled in Brooklyn, where he spent the rest of his life. He lived out his later decades mostly away from the baseball world that once defined him.

Noble died on May 8, 1998, in Brooklyn at age 79. They buried him at Cypress Hills Cemetery, closing the chapter on a life that spanned almost 80 years. His passing came 45 years after his last game with the New York Giants.

Impact on Cuban and Black Baseball History

Noble’s career stands out as a key part of baseball’s integration story. He was one of the Cuban players who made the jump from the Negro Leagues to Major League Baseball in the early 1950s.

He went from the New York Cubans to the Giants, showing just how much talent moved from Negro League teams to big league franchises. The $21,000 deal that brought Noble, Ray Dandridge, and Dave Barnhill to the Giants says a lot about how much MLB teams valued proven Negro League players.

Noble’s time in the majors opened doors for future Cuban players. His three years in MLB came at a turning point, just as baseball was starting to welcome players of color from all over.

Baseball Reference and Records

You can still find Noble’s MLB stats in baseball record books and on sites like Baseball Reference. He finished his career with a .218 batting average, 9 home runs, and 40 RBIs over 107 games.

Career MLB Statistics:

• Games: 107
• Hits: 53
• Home Runs: 9
• Batting Average: .218
• Years Active: 1951-1953

He played backup catcher for the New York Giants during those intense early 1950s seasons. Honestly, his numbers show just how tough it was for many older Negro League players to break into MLB later on.