Pirates’ Johnny Ray Named Winner of Clemente Award
Johnny Ray, who led the Pittsburgh Pirates with a .301 batting average, has been named the 1986 winner of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Pittsburgh’s Baseball Writers of America chapter.
The award is given annually to the Pirates’ player who best exemplifies the baseball standards of excellence achieved by Clemente, a Hall of Fame outfielder.
Ray finished seventh in the National League in batting (.301), was tied for seventh in hits (174) and was tied for ninth in doubles (33). He also led the Pirates in games played (155) and at-bats (579).
Ray, 29, also set a club record for a second baseman with a .993 fielding percentage, breaking the previous record of .992 set by Bill Mazeroski in 1966. His five errors in 151 games tied Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs for the fewest by a NL second baseman.
Ray and Sandberg also tied the league record for fewest errors by a second baseman playing in at least 150 games.
Other winners of the Clemente award include Willie Stargell (1973 and 1979) and Dave Parker (1975, 1977 and 1978).
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