Russ Derry
Born: 10/7/1916 in Princeton, MO, USA
Died: 10/26/2004 in Kansas City, MO, USA
MLB Debut: 1944-07-04 | Final Game: 1949-09-30
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Alva Russell Derry
Biography
Russ Derry, born in 1916, had a professional baseball career that spanned from 1944 to 1949. Primarily positioned as an outfielder, Derry played a total of 187 games in Major League Baseball, showcasing his skills during a transformative era in the sport, shortly after World War II. Throughout his career, he recorded 124 hits and achieved 17 home runs, contributing 73 runs batted in with a batting average of .224. His tenacity on the field was complemented by his speed, as evidenced by his two stolen bases.
Derry's playing style reflected the gritty determination characteristic of the post-war era, as players sought to establish themselves in a league that was beginning to integrate and redefine talent. While his overall statistics may not have placed him among the era's superstars, his contributions during his time in the league were significant in supporting his teams. Derry's career provides a glimpse into a pivotal moment in baseball history, as the sport evolved and new talent began to emerge on the scene.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 187 | 553 | 68 | 124 | 17 | 7 | 17 | 73 | 2 | 78 | 124 | 0.224 | 0.322 | 0.373 | 0.695 | 201.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | NYY | AL | 38 | 114 | 14 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 1 | 20 | 19 | 0.254 | 247.4 |
| 1945 | NYY | AL | 78 | 253 | 37 | 57 | 6 | 2 | 13 | 45 | 1 | 31 | 49 | 0.225 | 276.4 |
| 1946 | PHA | AL | 69 | 184 | 17 | 38 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 27 | 54 | 0.207 | -322.8 |
| 1949 | STL | NL | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 146 | 0 | 351 | 9 | 9 | 4 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | NYA | OF | 28 | 0 | 54 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 1945 | NYA | OF | 68 | 0 | 170 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| 1946 | PHA | OF | 50 | 0 | 127 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 71 |
| Center Field | 46 |
| Right Field | 32 |