The man who replaced Pete Rose as Cincinnati’s third baseman in 1979 later became the first World Series MVP to join a new team the next season. After three seasons at Cincinnati, Knight was traded to Houston, making way for another Cincinnati legend, Johnny Bench. Knight saw extensive duty at first base for the Astros before going to the Mets, for three minor leaguers, in 1984. After a poor 1985 season, New York coach Bill Robinson changed Knight’s batting stance from a crouching to a straight-up position. Ray earned Comeback Player of the Year honors for his 1986 season (.298, 11 HR, 76 RBI) while platooning with Howard Johnson. Knight hit the decisive homer in the Game Seven of the World Series after scoring the winning run in Game Six on Mookie Wilson‘s grounder through Bill Buckner’s legs. Knight had nearly been the goat of Game Six for his fielding miscues, but the Mets’ win wiped that out. Following a contract dispute, Knight went to Baltimore as a free agent in 1987, allowing Johnson to emerge as a star on the Mets. Knight is married to golf star Nancy Lopez, and caddied for her briefly after his retirement.
