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| Ron Cey | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ron Cey |
| Position | Third baseman |
| Bats | Right |
| Throws | Right |
| Birth date | October 9, 1948 |
| Birth place | Tacoma, Washington |
| Debutleague | MLB |
| Debutdate | September 6 |
| Debutyear | 1971 |
| Debutteam | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| Finalleague | MLB |
| Finaldate | October 4 |
| Finalyear | 1987 |
| Finalteam | Milwaukee Brewers |
| Statleague | MLB |
| Stat1label | Batting average |
| Stat1value | .261 |
| Stat2label | Home runs |
| Stat2value | 316 |
| Stat3label | Runs batted in |
| Stat3value | 1,139 |
| Highlights | * 6× All-Star (1977–1982) * World Series champion (1981) * NLCS MVP (1981) |
Ron Cey
Ronald Charles Cey (born October 9, 1948) is a former professional Major League Baseball third baseman best known for his tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers. A six-time MLB All-Star and the National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player in 1981, Cey was a central figure on the Dodgers team that won the 1981 World Series against the New York Yankees. Over a 17-season career that included time with the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers, he compiled over 1,100 runs batted in and more than 300 home runs.
Cey was born in Tacoma, Washington and raised in Yakima, Washington, where he attended Selah High School and later Washington State University before transferring to Yakima Valley Community College. As a standout high school and junior college player, he drew attention from professional scouts from organizations such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Yankees, and the Chicago Cubs. Cey signed with the Dodgers organization and progressed through the minor league system with stops at affiliates including the Albuquerque Dodgers, Spokane Indians, and Reno Silver Sox, developing alongside contemporaries linked to the Dodgers pipeline like Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, and Bill Russell.
Cey made his major league debut with the Dodgers on September 6, 1971, joining a lineup that featured established stars such as Reggie Smith and future Hall of Famer Don Sutton. By the mid-1970s he had secured the starting third base job, forming the infield quartet famously known as the "Infield of Dreams" with Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, and Bill Russell. During the 1977 through 1982 seasons Cey earned six consecutive All-Star Game selections, competing alongside peers like Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Mike Schmidt, George Brett, and Robin Yount.
Cey’s defining postseason came in 1981: after the Dodgers defeated the Montreal Expos in the strike-shortened season and advanced through the National League Division Series, he earned NLCS Most Valuable Player honors for his performance against the Houston Astros, helping propel the Dodgers to a World Series matchup with the New York Yankees. In the 1981 World Series, Cey contributed to the Dodgers' title, joining teammates such as Fernando Valenzuela, Steve Yeager, and Pedro Guerrero. After the 1982 season Cey was traded to the Chicago Cubs, where he provided veteran leadership in a lineup featuring Ryne Sandberg, Jody Davis, and Lee Smith. He finished his career with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1987, retiring with a legacy that placed him among prominent third basemen of his era like Brooks Robinson and Adrian Beltre.
Cey was a right-handed hitter noted for his gap power, run production, and durability; he accumulated 316 home runs and 1,139 RBIs over his career. Defensively, he was known for steady glove work and competent reactions at third base, competing in an era with elite defenders such as Mike Schmidt, Brooks Robinson, and Graig Nettles. His offensive production included multiple seasons with 20-plus home runs and several campaigns exceeding 90 RBIs, placing him among contemporaries like Gary Carter and Andre Dawson in yearly leaderboards. Cey's postseason contributions, notably the 1981 NLCS, elevated his standing among clutch performers such as Duke Snider and Enos Slaughter in franchise lore. He earned recognition in Baseball Digest and annual The Sporting News lists during his peak years.
Following retirement from playing, Cey transitioned to roles that kept him connected to baseball, including coaching and front office advisory positions with organizations such as the Los Angeles Dodgers and involvement with community baseball programs in Southern California. He later entered broadcasting and media appearances, contributing to local telecasts, pregame and postgame analysis, and alumni events that featured networks and outlets associated with teams like the Dodgers and Cubs. Cey has participated in Major League Baseball alumni charity events, fantasy camps, and spring training panels alongside former teammates and rivals like Steve Garvey, Fernando Valenzuela, Pedro Guerrero, and Mike Piazza.
Cey resides in California and has been active in community and youth baseball initiatives, frequently appearing at Dodgers alumni reunions and charity fundraisers alongside figures like Tommy Lasorda and Don Drysdale in ceremonies at Dodger Stadium. His legacy endures in Los Angeles Dodgers history as a durable middle-of-the-order bat and a member of one of the franchise's most celebrated infields. Cey has been honored in team retrospectives and by regional sportswriters from publications such as the Los Angeles Times and Sports Illustrated, and he remains a frequent subject in discussions of the best third basemen of the 1970s and 1980s alongside players like Mike Schmidt, Brooks Robinson, George Brett, and Wade Boggs.
Category:1948 births Category:Major League Baseball third basemen Category:Los Angeles Dodgers players Category:Chicago Cubs players Category:Milwaukee Brewers players Category:Living people