Albersheim's 2014 Summer Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/24/2014
Raymond was known for his spitball and got his nickname because of his zany antics on the mound. What might have been a promising career was short-circuited by a perpetual addiction to alcohol. The only manager who could keep Raymond in line for any length of time was hard-nosed Giants manager John McGraw. McGraw picked him up in the Roger Bresnahan trade before the 1909 season, and Bugs won 18 games for him that year.
However, Raymond could never stay sober for long. McGraw tried everything - including fining him so there wouldn't be any money left for drinks and even hiring a detective to trail Bugs, but nothing worked. In addition, Raymond had a subpar performance on the mound in 1910, going 4-11. He was released midway through the Giants' 1911 pennant-winning season.
In 1912, after a stint with the Cincinnati Pippins of the short-lived United States League, Raymond got into a number of fights in Chicago and ended up badly beaten. He died of a fractured skull a few weeks later at age 30.
Sharp looking card graded by PSA a 5.5 EX+