Waters, Ray “Cutsy”

Ray “Cutsy” Waters – (1986)

 

Ray “cutsy” Waters

ACH DU KLEIN KATZE — that was Gramma Ehrlich’s favorite German phrase for Ray Waters. She recognized potential as it translates to “Oh, you little cat”. Soon playmates were calling him “Cutsy”. The nickname remained throughout Ray’s athletic career.

The diamond sport was Cutsy’s number one love. He started out as a sandlot catcher to be where the action was. A foul tip split the fingers of his right hand and convinced Ray that the outfield was his position.

By the time high school rolled around, Cutsy had added football and basketball. He played under Doyt Perry at Clearview and in the summers he signed with Mike Telatnik’s Elks baseball club in the Northern Ohio League. They garnered championships in 1938 through 1940. In 1940, Cutsy carved out a 406 batting average. Even then, he was better known for his defensive prowess.

Ray was Doyt Perry’s scatback in the 1938 and 1940 football seasons. In 1938 Clearview won the Northern Ohio League title and in 1939 Ray scored the only touchdown Amherst allowed all year on a 70 yard skamper.

In basketball, Ray starred at guard and in the 1939-40 season he made the county sectional, district and regional all-tournament teams. Indelibly stamped in his memory was the sudden death loss to Canfield in the regional. It lasted less than 15 seconds -long enough for the tip – a dribble – a pass – a bucket. Sudden death died the next year.

Upon graduation, Cutsy was offered scholarships from Ohio University, Western Reserve and Baldwin Wallace. It was at Doyt Perry’s Bowling Green camp that he made his decision to turn back to baseball. He signed a contract in 1941 with the Boston Red Sox organization.

Cutsy was assigned to Erie of the Mid-Atlantic League. Skippered by Kirby Farrell, he had an outstanding year at bat and afield in 1942. Erie won the play-offs from the Canton Terriers in four straight and Cutsy made the All-star team with players such as Mel Parnell, Gene Woodling and Clay Bryant.

As with many budding ballplayers, World War II interrupted Ray’s baseball career. In the Pacific Theatre he took part in the invasions of the Marshall, Philippine Islands and Okinawa. It was near Okinawa in October 1945 in a 150 mph typhoon that his ship was wrecked and, as a survivor, he returned to the States.

After the three year absence from professional baseball, Cutsy figured it was over and he returned to Lorain to continue sandlot baseball and softball. He was a respected hitter and brilliant outfielder. In hardball, he starred with the Kirby Sweepers, Lawson Lumber and the National Tube during the 1950’s. City champs, these teams all played in the NABF tournaments. His softball title holders included UPC, Clearview Vets, and Harts Jewelers. Cutsy was, also, a member of the 1952 Fattys Sports Club which won the State Championship.