The stereotypical hard-drinking baseball bum, Raymond was considered a better pitcher when lacking in sobriety, and unfortunately, his managers took advantage of this; all except John McGraw, who made a serious effort to save the man. Despite Raymond’s 2.03 ERA in 1908, the spitballer lost a league-high 25 games for the Cardinals. He was 18-12 for the Giants in 1909, his most effective season. Finally axed in 1911, he died shortly thereafter of a blow to the head in a barroom brawl.
