Raymond “Corky” Withrow, a Hall of Fame basketball player from Kentucky who later pursued a brief but notable career in Major League Baseball, died on April 22 at the age of 88 in Owensboro, Kentucky. He is survived by his wife Barbara and their children Keith, Kelly and Robin.
Withrow’s athletic talent emerged early at Central City High School, where as a sophomore he scored 51 points in a 103‑83 win over Daviess County, setting a county record and earning a spot on the Paducah Sun‑Democrat All‑State Team.
A Star in Two Arenas
Instead of attending the University of Kentucky, he signed a professional baseball contract with the Milwaukee Braves after being scouted by Dick Keeley, a decision that led him to split his time between minor‑league baseball and college basketball.
His professional baseball journey included a six‑game stint with the 1963 St. Louis Cardinals, part of an 11‑year career that saw him navigate the Triple‑A level with the Jacksonville Suns and eventually retire from the sport in August 1966 after struggling to maintain a batting average above .200.
After hanging up his cleats, Withrow earned a living in varied roles, selling asphalt and working on oil rigs, before turning to writing, publishing his memoir Uncorked in 2018.
He was inducted into the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2010, a testament to his dual‑sport legacy, and left behind a family that includes his wife Barbara and their children Keith, Kelly and Robin, along with their own families.