Red Durrett

Elmer Cable Durrett

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 10", Weight 170 lb.

• Debut September 14, 1944
• Final Game May 2, 1945
• Born February 3, 1921 in Sherman, TX USA
• Died January 17, 1992 in Waxahachie, TX USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Outfielder Red Durrett spent two short seasons in professional baseball (1938-1939) with very little playing time. So much so that he went back to the semi-pro game in Oklahoma in 1940. It was here that he was found by a scout for the Brooklyn Dodgers and signed with the Johnstown Johnnies of the class D Pennsylvania State Association. Red spent the 1941 season with the Johnstown team and hit at a .307 average in 91 games.

Durrett joined the United States Marines after the 1941 season and spent the next two seasons (1942-1943) serving in the South Pacific where he suffered several wounds during combat on Guadalcanal. He was hospitalized for five months during the rest of his time in World War II. He received a medical discharge and was able to report to spring training with the Dodgers in 1944.

The Brooklyn management sent him to the Montreal Royals of the AA International League, for the 1944 season, and he responded with with a .291 average and 18 homeruns while appearing in 142 games. This showing caused the Dodgers to bring him to Ebbets Field for the remainder of the 1944 year and he made his big league debut on September 14. Red appeared in 11 games with 32 at-bats and 5 hits for a .156 average in his first shot at the major leagues.

Durrett started the 1945 season with the Dodgers and appeared in only eight games with a .125 hitting average and would make his final appearance with the big league club on May 2, 1945. He would not return to the big leagues and ended this part of his baseball career with a .146 average, appearing in 18 games. Red returned to Montreal where he hit .273 and 21 four-baggers while appearing in 136 games during the balance of the 1945 season.

In 1947 Durrett appeared with Nashville and Fort Worth, both AA squads and played poorly, hitting just .159 in 57 games, and sat out the 1948 year. He tried a comeback with Greenville, a class B team, in 1949 and was with the AAA Syracuse club in 1950, again not playing up to his standards and called it a career after the 1950 season at age 29. This ended his nine season minor league run with appearances in 631 games and a .265 batting average in AA leagues.

After baseball Durrett worked for the United States Postal Service, retiring in 1982. Elmer Cable Durrett died at home on January 17, 1992 in Waxahachie, TX. He was 71 years of age.

Related Sites

• BR Minors page