Ron Davis – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Ron Davis wrapped up his Major League Baseball career in 1969 after seven seasons as an outfielder. His journey started with promise but faced the usual challenges that come with professional baseball.

He played for three teams: the Houston Colt .45s/Astros, St. Louis Cardinals, and Pittsburgh Pirates. Davis saw both the highs and lows that shaped many players of his time.

Davis put together a .233 batting average with 10 home runs and 79 RBIs in 295 games from 1962 to 1969. He made it to the 1968 World Series with the Cardinals, though he went hitless in seven at-bats. A Duke University grad, he stood 6 feet tall, weighed 180 pounds, and brought solid fundamentals to the outfield.

You can see in Davis’s career the story of a guy who worked through the ups and downs of pro baseball in the 1960s. He started with a strong college background, put up some decent stats, and eventually moved on from the game.

Early Life and Background

Ronald Everette Davis was born on October 21, 1941, in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. He ended up becoming one of Duke University‘s standout baseball players in the 1960s.

His path from small-town North Carolina to the big leagues included a solid college career that set him up for pro ball.

Birthplace and Family

Ronald Everette Davis was born in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, a small textile town along the Roanoke River. Born in 1941, he grew up during World War II and the post-war years.

Roanoke Rapids offered a tight-knit community where young athletes could really develop their talents. Back in the 1940s and 1950s, baseball mattered a lot in small Southern towns like his.

Davis found his love for baseball as a kid in North Carolina. The local support helped him grow as an athlete from early on.

Education and College Baseball

Davis went to Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and played college baseball for the Blue Devils. In the 1960s, Duke’s baseball program was still building its name.

Davis stands out as the only major leaguer from Duke during the entire 1960s. That says a lot about his talent and also the smaller size of Duke’s program back then.

His college career at Duke gave him a good foundation for pro ball. The Blue Devils offered strong coaching and competition that helped him develop as an outfielder.

Duke’s academic reputation meant Davis got a good education while playing ball. That mix of school and sports was pretty common for student-athletes at top schools in the early ‘60s.

Path to Professional Baseball

Davis caught the eye of major league scouts with his play at Duke. The Houston Colt .45s picked him up for their first major league season in 1962.

At just 20 years old, Davis made his major league debut on August 1, 1962. Houston clearly believed in his skills straight out of college.

Jumping from college to the pros was a big leap in competition. Davis took on that challenge with a brand-new franchise that was still putting its team together.

His route to the majors was pretty direct, especially compared to players who spend years in the minors. Joining an expansion team gave Davis a shot to prove himself early on.

Professional Baseball Career Overview

Ronald Everette Davis played Major League Baseball from 1962 to 1969, mostly as an outfielder for three National League teams. Over seven seasons with the Houston Colt .45s/Astros, St. Louis Cardinals, and Pittsburgh Pirates, he put up a .233 batting average, 10 home runs, and 79 RBIs in 295 games.

Major League Debut and Houston Colt .45s

Davis made his MLB debut in 1962 with the Houston Colt .45s at 20. He got into just six games that rookie season, picking up three hits in 14 at-bats for a .214 average.

The young outfielder from Duke didn’t have much success in his limited shot. He managed one RBI, one stolen base, and struck out seven times in 16 plate appearances.

After 1962, Davis spent time in the minors. He didn’t make it back to the majors until 1966, when he was 24.

Transition to Houston Astros

Davis returned to Houston in 1966, now with the Astros. This was really his most productive time, appearing in 48 games with 214 plate appearances.

He hit .247 with two home runs and 19 RBIs that season. Davis also improved his patience at the plate, drawing 13 walks and striking out 26 times.

In 1967, he had his best year, playing 94 games for Houston. Davis batted .256 with seven home runs and 38 RBIs, showing his most consistent offense.

That 1967 season was his peak. He racked up 73 hits in 285 at-bats, added five stolen bases, and played solid defense in the outfield.

St. Louis Cardinals Stint

The Cardinals traded for Davis during the 1968 season. He played 33 games for St. Louis after they got him from Houston.

He struggled with the Cardinals, batting just .177 with no home runs in 79 at-bats. Davis managed 14 hits and five RBIs in his time there.

Still, Davis got to appear in the 1968 World Series with St. Louis. He played in two games against the Detroit Tigers and went 0-for-7.

That World Series was the high point of his short time with the Cardinals, even though he didn’t get a hit in the postseason.

Pittsburgh Pirates and Final MLB Season

Davis finished his MLB career with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1969. He played 62 games for Pittsburgh, hitting .234 with no home runs and four RBIs.

His last season showed more struggles at the plate, with just 15 hits in 64 at-bats. Davis drew seven walks and struck out 14 times in 73 plate appearances.

At 27, Davis saw his playing time drop a lot in his final year. He mostly filled in as a backup outfielder and pinch-hitter.

Davis retired after the 1969 season, ending a seven-year pro career. In total, he had 199 hits and a .233 lifetime batting average in 295 games.

Career Highlights and Key Achievements

Ron Davis had his best year in 1967 with the Houston Astros, hitting .256 and a career-high seven home runs. He made it to the World Series with the Cardinals and got traded between three National League teams.

Notable Seasons and Team Contributions

Davis’s top season was 1967 with the Astros. He played 94 games, hit .256 with 73 hits and seven home runs, and posted a positive WAR (Wins Above Replacement) of 1.2.

That year, he drove in 38 runs, scored 31 times, and had a career-high 19 doubles. It was definitely his most productive stretch.

Davis also played 48 games for the 1966 Astros, hitting .247 and providing outfield depth after missing three years in the majors.

In his final season with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1969, he saw limited action. He appeared in 62 games but only managed 15 hits in 64 at-bats, batting .234.

World Series Appearance

Davis took part in the 1968 World Series with the Cardinals. He played in two games against Detroit, going 0-for-7 with two strikeouts.

The Cardinals picked up Davis in a midseason trade from Houston in 1968. He played 33 regular season games for St. Louis, batting .177 with 14 hits.

Even though he didn’t hit much, Davis made the World Series roster. The Cardinals lost to Detroit in seven games.

Memorable Trades and Transactions

The biggest trade in Davis’s career happened in 1968 when Houston sent him to the St. Louis Cardinals. That move put him on a team chasing a championship.

After the 1968 season, the Cardinals traded Davis to the Pittsburgh Pirates. That was his last stop in the majors.

Davis started out with the Houston Colt .45s in 1962 at age 20. After missing 1963-1965, he came back to the renamed Houston Astros in 1966.

Statistical Performance and Playing Style

Ron Davis ended up with a .233 career batting average in 295 games over seven years. His defensive work in the outfield helped make up for his limited offense, with 10 home runs and 79 RBIs across four teams.

Batting Performance and Metrics

Davis had a tough time at the plate, putting up a .233 average against major league pitching. His numbers matched his role as a bench player and defensive guy.

In 295 games, Davis collected 199 hits in 853 at-bats. His best year was 1966, when he returned to the majors and hit .247 in 48 games for Houston.

Davis scored 142 runs in his career, showing he could contribute when he got on base. His .300 on-base percentage pointed to some selectivity despite the low average.

His offensive peak came in 1966, when he went 3-for-5 in his first game back against the Dodgers on August 6. That game showed flashes of the talent that took him to the majors.

Fielding and Defensive Role

Davis mainly played outfield, where his defense added value beyond his hitting. At 6 feet and 175 pounds, he could cover ground in all three outfield spots.

He served as a backup outfielder for most of his career, filling in wherever needed. That versatility made him useful to teams even if he didn’t hit much.

During his last season with the Pirates in 1969, Davis backed up an outfield that included Willie Stargell, Roberto Clemente, and Matty Alou. He helped as a defensive replacement and pinch-runner.

His defensive reliability kept him around for seven seasons with different teams. Managers liked his glove and his ability to step in when starters needed a rest.

Notable Stats: WAR, RBI, and Home Runs

Davis finished with 79 RBIs, which matched his limited chances as a regular starter. He hit 10 home runs over his career, but power was never a big part of his game.

He averaged about 11 RBIs per season, mostly during years when he played more. Most of his RBIs came when he got regular at-bats.

Davis wrapped up his big league stats on September 25, 1969, going 1-for-1 in his last game against the Phillies. His career ended with modest but respectable numbers for someone in his role.

Comparison with Peers

Davis played with guys like Jimmy Wynn, Joe Morgan, and Rusty Staub in Houston. Those teammates, who were around his age, ended up having bigger offensive careers.

His .233 average was below the league average for outfielders in the 1960s. Still, his defense and flexibility gave him value that stats don’t always show.

Among backup outfielders of his time, Davis managed to stick around for seven years, which isn’t bad. Teams kept him for his steady glove and his readiness to step in when needed.

Post-MLB Career and Retirement

After Ronald Everette Davis wrapped up his major league days with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1969, he kept playing professionally in the minors for two more seasons.

Eventually, Davis stepped away from baseball for good. He spent his later years in Houston, Texas, where he lived until his death in 1992.

Minor League Years after 1969

Davis kept his baseball career going by playing in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ farm system. In both 1970 and 1971, he suited up for the Columbus Jets, the Pirates’ AAA affiliate in the International League.

That stint with the Columbus Jets gave Davis one last shot to show what he could do. He really hoped he’d get another crack at the majors.

The team also let veterans like Davis mentor younger prospects, which probably gave him a sense of purpose.

During the 1971 season, the franchise relocated to Charleston, West Virginia, and became the Charleston Charlies. That move ended Davis’s time with the Columbus organization.

Retirement from Baseball

Davis retired from professional baseball after the 1971 season. He was just 30 when he hung up his cleats for the last time.

His playing career stretched from 1961 to 1971, which isn’t a bad run at all.

The transition out of pro sports hit a lot of players from Davis’s era pretty hard. These guys didn’t have the support systems modern players enjoy.

Back then, salaries were modest, and Davis didn’t make much money compared to today’s athletes. Most guys had to find work after retirement just to get by.

Life after Baseball

After leaving baseball, Davis settled down in Houston, Texas. Funny enough, he had originally signed with the Houston Colt .45s as an amateur free agent back in 1961.

So, Houston bookended his professional journey, both the start and the finish.

Not much info exists about what Davis did after baseball. He lived quietly in Houston for over two decades.

Like a lot of former players, he probably found work outside the game.

Davis passed away on September 5, 1992, at age 50 in Houston. It’s sad—he died pretty young, and the details around his passing haven’t been widely shared.

Legacy and Recognition

Ron Davis holds a quirky spot in baseball history as the 12,000th player to appear in Major League Baseball. He made his debut on August 1, 1962.

His five-year career, from 1962 to 1969, left its mark on his teams, and you can still find his name in official records and memorabilia.

Influence on Teams and Fans

Davis made an impression with the Houston Colt .45s during their first season in 1962. At just 20, he joined the franchise’s original roster and helped shape their first year in the majors.

His best years came with the Houston Astros from 1966 to 1968. Davis played center field and became a reliable outfielder during the team’s early days.

He bounced between three National League teams, showing he could adapt. After most of his career in Houston, Davis joined the St. Louis Cardinals in 1968, then wrapped up with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1969.

Davis also stood out as Duke University’s only major league player in the 1960s. That made him a bit of a trailblazer for the school’s baseball program.

Baseball Reference and Historical Records

Baseball Reference keeps detailed stats for Davis’s five-year run. His official numbers show a .233 batting average, 10 home runs, and 79 RBIs across 295 games.

The database captures his career highlights, including his best season in 1967 when he hit .256 with 7 homers. Fans and researchers can dig into his performance, season by season.

Davis even appeared in the 1968 World Series with the Cardinals. He played in two games during the championship, though he went 0-for-7 at the plate.

Being the 12,000th player gives his legacy a little extra historical weight. That milestone cements his place in baseball’s official records, as documented by the major statistical sources.

Baseball Card Collecting and Memorabilia

Davis showed up on baseball cards throughout his career. His 1969 Topps card #553 stands out as one of the most recognized, and that Pittsburgh Pirates card marks his last season in pro baseball.

Collectors really value Davis cards because they capture a piece of early Houston baseball history. Since his 1962 rookie season landed right when the Colt .45s started out, memorabilia from that time feels especially significant.

You won’t find a ton of Davis memorabilia, probably because his career didn’t last long. Still, items from his playing days attract fans of 1960s baseball and folks who care about Houston’s franchise story.

Davis’s Duke University baseball ties bring something extra to the mix for collectors. Memorabilia that connects his college and pro days feels like a nice bonus.