Bob Gibson welcomed Jim Ray to the big leagues in 1963 by breaking his shoulder blade with a fastball in the back. A few days after Hart's return, he was beaned by Curt Simmons and missed the rest of the season.
But in 1964, his first full year, the stocky strongman proved he wasn't gun-shy with a San Francisco rookie record 31 homers. Until a 1969 shoulder injury made him a part timer, he averaged 28 homers a season. On September 8, 1970 he hit for the cycle and tied a major-league record with six RBI in one inning.
Although the former North Carolina cotton picker was so quiet it was said a soft chuckle was a whole conversation for him, he was vocal about his hatred of playing third base: it was "just too damn close to the hitters." (JCA)
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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»August 12, 1963:
Back in action for the first time since being beaned by Bob Gibson, the Giants' Jim Ray Hart returns to the hospital after Curt Simmons plunks him in the head. Simmons had an 0–2 count in the 9th on Hart during an easy 13–0 Cardinal win at San Francisco.
»July 20, 1968: At San Francisco, aging speedster Willie Mays scores from 1B on a Jim Ray Hart single. It's the only tally as the Giants beat Houston, 1–0.
»July 8, 1970: Jim Ray Hart ties a modern major-league record with six RBIs in one inning (5th) with a 3-run homer and 3-run triple. The Giants score 11 in the frame. Hart also hits for the cycle as the Giants rout the Braves 13–0. Gaylord Perry is the easy winner, posting SF's first shutout of the year. Perry will throw four more to lead the National League.
»September 24, 1985: Expos OF Andre Dawson slugs three home runs, including a pair of 3-run shots in a 12-run 5th inning, to lead Montreal to a wild 17–15 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Dawson joins Willie McCovey as the only players to hit two home runs in one inning on two different occasions, and his six RBIs in one inning ties the major-league record last accomplished by Jim Ray Hart in 1970.
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