A Red Sox in the Family

1880's Trade Cards

These cards were found in a family scrap book.
Baseball was very popular in Vermont
and was part of the Collins family fiber.

Each card measures 3" x 5" and has a
"Pease Bros and Pope, Outfitters, Burlington, VT"
stamp at the bottom.

Tint Type circa 1890

Ray about age 3 with his mother
Electa Brooks Baker Collins

Ray's father died of scarlet fever when Ray
was 10 and his mother raised him and and his two
older sisters, Winifred and Genevieve. Ray's oldest
brother, Charles, also died of scarlet fever in 1874
at the age of 6.

"Brooks Ave." 1909

Brookes Avenue looking toward North Willard Street.
Ray grew up in Burlington, VT and lived at 76 Brookes Avenue for a time.

UVM Portrait

After graduating from Burlington High in 1905 he stayed in town and
attended UVM. He played for the varsity basketball and tennis teams
as well as staring in baseball.

UVM Program 1908

The 1908 team finished at 15-8-2. Ray was offered a contract
with the Red Sox at the end of the season but opted to finish out
his 4 years at UVM.

1909 UVM Schedule

The 1909 team posted a 13-9 record. In Ray's last game
against Penn State he struck out 19 in a 4-1 win.

UVM Pennant

Ray signed his initials on the back

Pitching for UVM at Centennial Field

Ray pitched the first baseball game ever played at Centennial Field
as a Freshman in 1906 (his Freshman year he had a 0.70 ERA) and by
the time he graduated he was the winningest pitcher in UVM history.
He won 37 of the 50 games he started.

Postcard to his young niece - 1909


Do you remember the time you saw the boys playing ball. Do you know any of them. Ray

Official Portrait & Cracker Jack Card

Ray signed with the Red Sox in July 1909 soon after graduation
and pitched in his first major league game on July 19.

The portrait and card are from 1910.

Postcards - 1910

Ray only saw limited action in 1909 and had an
ERA of 2.81 with a 4-3 record. In 1910 he was
13-11 with an ERA of 1.62 and pitched a
1 hitter against the White Sox

Ray showing the swing that garnered him a
career .165 batting average in 419 total at bats.
He singled in his first major league at bat
and slugged his only HR 4 years later in 1913.

Ray Collins and Larry Gardner

Ray and fellow Vermonter Larry Gardner (Enosburg Falls)
were teammates at UVM and then in Boston. Larry is
arguably the greatest ball player Vermont ever produced.
The 3rd baseman enjoyed a stellar career with the Red Sox,
the Philadelphia Athletics and the Cleveland Indians.
He won a total of 4 World Series and was instrumental
in each of them.

This photo does not appear to be from Fenway or
the Huntington Ave Grounds.

Red Sox visit Burlington, VT - October 10, 1910

The two Vermonters, Collins and Gardner, brought their Red Sox

teammates up to UVM's Centennial Field for an exhibition game to
the delight of the 4,000 in attendance. Gardner captained one team with
his Red Sox infielders and Ray captained the other with the outfielders.
Three players (Collins, Gardner, and Clyde Engle) would later find their
way back to Centennial Field to coach the UVM team.

25 Years Old - 1912

written in pen on the back:
Ray W. Collins -'09-'15
Red Sox
and in pencil:
Any others like there or better
25 yrs old-

Wednesday, October 9, 1912 World Series - Game 2

Fenway Park. Ray on the mound, loosening up.
(This appears to be pre-game, judging by the amount of fans in the stands.)

With Ray on the mound the Giants have a man on third
and the Sox defense pulled in.

Ray started against Giants Ace Christy Mathewson and pitched well for
the first 7 innings. In the eighth with 1 out and runners on 1st and 3rd
Ray gave up a ground rule double. Coach Hall replaced him with the Sox
up 4-3 and runners on 2nd and 3rd. In total Ray gave up 5 runs, 3 earned
with 5 Ks and no BB in 7.1 innings. The game was called due to darkness
after 2:38 in an 11 inning 6-6 tie.

Ray also pitched 7 shut-out innings of relief in Game 6 at the Polo Grounds.
He only gave up 5 hits and no BB but the Sox couldn't rally back
and ended up losing 5-2.

editors note: On the back of each photo is written
"World Series Champions - Fall 1912"
I am taking a leap of faith that these are from World Series game 2.

American League Champions 1912 Poster

16" x 14 1/2". Small print says:"Compliments of Riker=Jaynes Drug Stores"
and "Copyright Underwood & Underwood".

Parade 1912

"The Delivery"

Ray was a lefty control specialist with a side arm delivery.
This photo gives the best indication of what
that delivery may have looked like.

The back of the photo has a press and photographer
stamp, along with the words "Do not copy"

"Washington fans were all agog..."

A peek into Ray's priorities.

author: unknown
newspaper: unknown

Spring Training

During Ray's time the Red Sox spring training
took place in Hot Springs, Ark. in 1909-1910;
Redondo Beach, CA in 1911
(where he married Lillian Marie Lovely);
and back to Hot Springs, Ark. from1912-1915

There is a "Eureka Studio, Hot Springs, Ark."
embossed stamp in the lower right corner

Portrait '09-'15

Ray won a combined 39 games in 1913 & 1914.
On September 22nd, 1914 he won his 19th and
20th games of the season by pitching both ends of
a double header against the Detroit Tigers.
He won the first game 5-3 and the second
was a shut out, 5-0

He had a career 84-62 record with 19 shutouts
and a 2.51 ERA.

Official Schedule, American League 1915

This is the complete schedule for the 1915 season.
(only first and last weeks of season are shown)

1915 Red Sox Pennant

36" long

Royal Rooters Pin

1915 World Champions.
Ray is in the third row, far left
He was injured at some point during the season
and went unused in the bullpen for the Series.

Collins Farm Postcard circa 1915

Ray decided to retire from baseball at the end of the 1915 season and
head back to his family farm in Colchester. After being a Red Sox for
7 seasons it was time to return to being a full time yankee.

The Collins Homestead was originally purchased in 1835
by Ray's grandfather Charles Collins.