Ron Cey

Ron Cey
File:CeyRon.jpg
Third baseman
Born: (1948-02-15) February 15, 1948 Tacoma, Washington
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 3, 1971, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Last MLB appearance
July 12, 1987, for the Oakland Athletics
MLB statistics
Batting average	.261
Home runs	316
Runs batted in	1,139
Teams
Los Angeles Dodgers (1971–1982) Chicago Cubs (1983–1986) Oakland Athletics (1987)
Career highlights and awards
6× All-Star (1974–1979) World Series champion (1981) World Series MVP (1981)

Ronald Charles Cey (/ˈseɪ/; born February 15, 1948) is an American former professional baseball player, a third baseman in the major leagues. He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1971–82), Chicago Cubs (1983–86), and Oakland Athletics (1987). Cey batted and threw right-handed; a popular player, he was nicknamed "The Penguin" for his slow waddling running gait by his college coach, Chuck "Bobo" Brayton.

Early years

Born and raised in Tacoma, Washington, Cey was a multi-sport athlete at Mount Tahoma High School, its first to earn nine varsity letters. Following graduation in 1966, he attended Washington State University in Pullman and was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Cey played two years of college baseball for the Cougars, on the freshman team in 1967, and a year on the varsity under head coach Brayton in 1968. He was selected in the second phase of the 1968 MLB Draft in June.

Professional career

With the Dodgers, third baseman Cey was part of an All-Star infield that included Steve Garvey (first baseman), Davey Lopes (second baseman) and Bill Russell (shortstop). This quartet was the most enduring infield in baseball history. The four infielders stayed together as the Dodgers' starters for eight and a half years. Cey was one of the most productive and adept-fielding National League third basemen in the 1970s, but was overshadowed by Pete Rose and Mike Schmidt. In 1977, he was named NL Player of the Month in April after helping the Dodgers to a fast start by batting .425 with 9 home runs and a ML record 29 RBIs for the month of April. The Dodgers won the Western Division title that season on their way to the National League pennant.

File:Ron cey poster.jpg

Cey continued to have productive seasons with the Dodgers, helping them to pennants in 1978 and 1981. After the 1982 season, the Dodgers traded Cey to the Chicago Cubs for two minor leaguers so that Pedro Guerrero could move to third base and rookie Mike Marshall could get in the Dodgers' outfield. Cey provided veteran leadership for the Cubs over four seasons and, in 1984, helped lead the Cubs to the National League East Division title, hitting 25 homers and driving in 97 runs, both team highs. Cey spent the final year of his career in 1987 as a part-time player with the Oakland A's.

In a 17-season career, Cey was a .261 hitter with 316 home runs and 1139 RBI in 2073 games.

Cey had a terrific 1981 World Series in which he helped spark the Dodgers to four straight victories after they had lost the first two games, including returning for the clinching Game 6 after having been being hit in the head by a Goose Gossage fastball during Game 5. Cey was named co-MVP along with Steve Yeager and Pedro Guerrero, and won the annual Babe Ruth Award. He is still a part of the Dodgers' organization and continues to make appearances on the team's behalf.

Career Hitting

G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
2,073	7,162	1,868	328	21	316	977	1,139	24	1,012	1,235	.261	.354	.445	.799

See also

• List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
• List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
• Ron Cey Los Angeles Dodgers
• Washington State University Athletics: Hall of Fame

Preceded by Steve Garvey

National League Player of the Month April, 1977

Succeeded by Ken Reitz