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Over the course of 10 seasons, Ray 'Burger' King had it his way

In Ray King’s day, which basically was 15 to 20 years ago, lefthanded relievers were more specialized. If the former Cardinal pitched in back-to-back games in a series, it generally revolved around twice facing a dangerous, middle-of-the-order hitter.

Somebody like the all-time home run king, for instance, in Barry Bonds.

But, in those particular matchups, it was the portly “Burger King,” rather than the home-run king, who had it his way.

Over the course of King’s 10-season career, all spent in the National League, Bonds had 17 official at-bats (plus three walks) against King. He hit just three balls to the outfield and had only one hit, a game-winning home run, on a pitch King, then in his second of two stints with the Atlanta organization, said he didn’t want to throw but that his catcher had insisted upon.