Richard Benjamin "Dick" Gray (July 11, 1931 – July 8, 2013) was an American baseball player who appeared in the major leagues as a third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals. Gray is widely remembered for hitting the first home run in Los Angeles Dodgers history and for the long fly that produced the franchise's first homer at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Dodgers' early Los Angeles ballpark.

Early life

Gray was born in Jefferson, a small community in Jefferson Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania, on July 11, 1931. Like many players of his generation he came up through local and minor-league baseball before reaching the majors, developing the fielding and batting skills that would define his professional role as an infielder.

Major league career

As a third baseman Gray contributed to his teams with defense and occasional power. He spent parts of his major-league tenure with the Dodgers and Cardinals and earned a place in team and local baseball history through one signature moment. During the Dodgers' move to Los Angeles, Gray produced the club's inaugural Los Angeles home milestone by clearing the fence in the Coliseum, an event often recalled when discussing the franchise's transition from Brooklyn to Los Angeles.

Notable facts

  • Primary position: third base; remembered for solid infield play and occasional timely hitting.
  • Credited with the first home run in Los Angeles Dodgers history and the first at the Coliseum.
  • Played for two National League clubs: the Dodgers and the Cardinals.

Later life and legacy

After his playing days Gray lived away from the national spotlight. He died on July 8, 2013, in Anaheim, California, of heart failure, aged 81. His name continues to appear in retrospectives about the Dodgers' early years in Los Angeles and in lists of memorable firsts for major-league franchises. For readers seeking further information about his career and the era in which he played, general baseball histories and team archives provide context and statistics.