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

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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	208.2

Career AVG .224 vs. league average .260 across their career seasons — 13.9% below league average.

Career OBP .322 vs. league average .331 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .373 vs. league average .363 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OPS 0.695 vs. league average 0.694 across their career seasons — near league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1944	NYY	AL	38	114	14	29	3	0	4	14	1	20	19	0.254	.261 (-3%)	.325 (+12%)	.357 (+8%)	.683 (+10%)	248.5
1945	NYY	AL	78	253	37	57	6	2	13	45	1	31	49	0.225	.260 (-14%)	.328 (-5%)	.354 (+18%)	.683 (+7%)	280.6
1946	PHA	AL	69	184	17	38	8	5	0	14	0	27	54	0.207	.256 (-20%)	.328 (-5%)	.358 (-15%)	.687 (-10%)	-320.9
1949	STL	NL	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0.000	—	—	—	—	0.0