Joe's Question #1: At the start of the 1953 season you were a Shortstop for the Cleveland Indians. You're traded to the Detroit Tigers and moved to Third Base. As a Tiger in 101 games you have 22 Home Runs, 93 RBI and a .312 Batting Average to give you a season total of 26 HR's, 114 RBI and a .296 AVE. You also hit Four Grand Slams that year. My question is what was that amazing season like for you?

Mr. Boone's Answer: Well, first of all, I struggled in Cleveland and that's why I didn't really hit.
In the Texas League I lead the league in hitting with a .355 average. It (the 1953 season) was no surprise to me because all my time in the minor leagues I had great power to right center. When I say "great power" I mean that the deepest part of the park I would hit balls off the wall for doubles and everything. All my managers said, "Someday when you mature Ray, that ball you hit right center will move around to left", and it finally did. I did a lot of hitting in that short period.

Joe's Question #2: In 1954 you play in your first All-Star game, in Cleveland, and hit a Home Run. What was that experience like for you?

Mr. Boone's Answer: Great! That was great primarily because of the rough time I had in Cleveland.
When I say "a rough time in Cleveland", I'd been a catcher from my junior American Legion all through pro ball and everything. Then I became a shortstop and I only player 100 games at short in my whole life. Then I took a Hall of Famers place at shortstop (Lou Boudreau). Well, naturally I'm not going to be real smooth right then. So that was my tough time with Cleveland. I worried more about fielding then I did hitting.
In that All-Star game, the nice thing about that was Al Rosen, who was my roommate for about eight years in the Cleveland organization, he hit a Home Run. I followed him in the batting order, then I hit a Home Run. Which became the first back to back Home Runs in All-Star history.
I think now there's been about three or four.

Joe's Question #3: In 1955 you have another incredible year for the Tigers. You hit 20 Home Runs, have a .284 Batting Average and lead the league with 116 RBI. What was that season like for you and what was it like to be the league leader in RBI?

Mr. Boone's Answer: The nice thing that I look back on is the fact that there were some pretty tough hitters in the American League. Ted Williams, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle and to be in that class, and to have the type of year that I had.
I had a really good year that year but nothing like '53. In '53 it seemed like everytime I came to bat, that base hit won the ball game for us.

Joe's Question #4: You are the only person that I can ask this question to. You are the patriarch of one of baseballs brightest families. Your Son Bob was one of the best catchers of his time and is now managing the Cincinnati Reds. Your Grandson Brett has had a great career already and your other Grandson Aaron is on his way to becoming a star in baseball for many years to come. What is it like to watch the success that your family has had in baseball?

Mr. Boone's Answer: It's not amazing because from the time that they were little guys, when I say "little guys" when they were five, six and seven years old, you could see they had a lot of ability. I didn't tell people that they'd make Major Leaguers but I used to tell my Wife all the time that theses guy have a legitimate chance of being Major League ball players. It just turned out that way.
They're real dedicated, and that's the nice thing about it.