115. Johnny Ray: Light it Up

The Hog Pod with Bo Mattingly

Sport & Story

Arkansas, Hogs, Sports, Razorbacks

4.8 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 16 June 2021

⏱️ 38 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Johnny Ray & legendary head coach Norm DeBriyn take us through the story of two-time all-Southwest Conference performer. Johnny Ray, an MLB All-Star & Silver Slugger award winner has one of the most storied careers in Razorback history. The JUCO transfer struggled early in his life after losing his father in an accident while in college. The tragedy shaped Ray into the person and player he came to be. He helped build the bedrock of Arkansas baseball as he helped take the Hogs to their first-ever College World Series appearance, coming up just short of a national title. Ray transitioned his success into the big leagues, being named the MLB Rookie of the Year. But to Ray, the success was not his alone—he wanted to give back to the program & coach that had meant so much to him. Ray and some fellow teammates came together and self-funded a project to add lights to George Cole Field—a move that helped shape the future of Arkansas baseball. Johnny Ray's footprint on the Razorback program can not be understated and echoes to this day.

Transcript

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0:00.0	When you go to Baumwaker Stadium now and you look on the outfield wall you think kind of in right center field you see all the
0:07.4	appearances that Arkansas made in the College World Series. But 1979 was the first. That's a foundation. Do you and your teammates? Do you have a sense of
0:17.5	pride about being able to kind of help start what's become a baseball juggernaut in college athletics.
0:26.3	You know, we take pride in that.
0:29.1	I mean now, you know, as you see, it's one of the best programs in the nation.
0:33.2	The perennial powerhouses, you know, we like to think we started this thing. Welcome into the Hog Pot. I'm Bo Mattingly and this episode is made possible by our friends at First Security Bank,
0:53.9	Sarzan Resort, Lindsay Golf, and Abilita Maria.
0:57.6	That'll bring up the hottest batter in the National League.
0:59.7	Johnny Ray, right leading the leg and hitting at 4.55. Johnny Ray or Jay Ray as fans knew him is a razorback legend and have one of the most
1:08.6	storied Arkansas baseball careers.
1:11.2	And here's the pitch.
1:12.2	There's a long drive at a right field.
1:14.6	It is going and it is a home run.
1:18.0	A three-run shot by Johnny Ray.
1:20.6	The two-time all-conference player and M.L-B All-Star helped lay the foundation for Arkansas
1:25.8	baseball as we know it, helping the Hawks to not just their first College World series,
1:31.3	but all the way to the final game.
1:33.0	Johnny Ray, a switch hitter, this one down the heart of the pipe.
1:36.0	It springboarded me to have confidence that I could compete with anybody.
1:40.0	After Arkansas, Ray quickly found his way to the majors and promptly earned Rookie of the Year.
1:47.0	Here is a shot to deep right field.
1:50.0	That ball's going to get out of here.
	...

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