Southwestern Oklahoma State Athletics

A graduate of Duke High School, no Southwestern player has enjoyed more success at the professional level than Ray Burris. Burris was a two-sport star in basketball and baseball at Southwestern but it was on the pitcher’s mound where he gained his most fame. He owns most every pitching record, including most wins in a career (35) and a season (16). In 1972, Burris set an NAIA record by striking out 150 batters and pitched the Bulldogs to a fifth-place finish at the NAIA National Tournament.

He played professionally for more than 14 years and won 108 games and struck out 1065 batters playing for the Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Oakland A’s, Montreal Expos, St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers before retiring in 1987. Burris currently serves as the pitching coach of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.