Negro Leagues Baseball Player. Attended Sam Houston College in Texas, where he played baseball, ran track, and was named an All-American in football in 1924. Signed by Candy Jim Taylor as a catcher for the Memphis Red Sox of the Negro National League in 1925. Russ then moved on to Rube Foster's Chicago American Giants in 1926, where he would remain for the remainder of his career. Usually batting in the middle of the batting order, Russ eventually began to play shortstop. He played a major role in the team's 1926 and 1927 Colored World Series Championship clubs, and his fine hitting rewarded him with the 1928 batting championship. After having another successful season in 1929, he succumbed to tuberculosis in 1930, prematurely ending both his career and life.
Negro Leagues Baseball Player. Attended Sam Houston College in Texas, where he played baseball, ran track, and was named an All-American in football in 1924. Signed by Candy Jim Taylor as a catcher for the Memphis Red Sox of the Negro National League in 1925. Russ then moved on to Rube Foster's Chicago American Giants in 1926, where he would remain for the remainder of his career. Usually batting in the middle of the batting order, Russ eventually began to play shortstop. He played a major role in the team's 1926 and 1927 Colored World Series Championship clubs, and his fine hitting rewarded him with the 1928 batting championship. After having another successful season in 1929, he succumbed to tuberculosis in 1930, prematurely ending both his career and life.
Bio by: Adam Penale
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