RAY DANDRIDGE
Game 13 | September 12, 1950 | Ray Dandridge, Tommy Heath
Dandridge, who never played in the majors, but was one of the great Negro Leaguers, was the Minneapolis Millers third baseman and American Association MVP in the season that was about to end when 18 Dunkers attended this meeting. Manager Heath talked about the future of black players in baseball and a young man named Willie Mays who would join the Millers and hit .477 for them in 1951.
Game 254 | July 15, 1977 | Ray Dandridge
When the Minneapolis Aquatennial offered Dandridge a chance to be the Grand Marshal in their Torchlight Parade, the former Millers third baseman was happy to accept. With a minor league career batting average of .355, Dandridge was already in his late 30s when he played for the Millers and was considered too old to be promoted to the majors. He was named to the Hall of Fame in 1987 and died in 1994 at age 80.
