Russ Christopher

Russell Ormand Christopher

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3½", Weight 180 lb.
• High School Richmond (CA) High School
• Debut April 14, 1942
• Final Game October 1, 1948
• Born September 12, 1917 in Richmond, CA USA
• Died December 5, 1954 in Richmond, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Russ Christopher packed a lot of punch into a seven-year career, earning an All-Star berth, a (retroactive) saves title and a World Series ring.

Brother of outfielder Loyd Christopher, Russ debuted with the Philadelphia Athletics at the top of the 1942 season as a Rule 5 pick, going 4-13 with a 3.82 ERA in 30 games. He was the lone returnee to the rotation the following season, enjoying his best season with a 14-14, 2.97 record in 35 games in 1944. He was an All-Star in 1945, finishing 13-13 with a 3.17 ERA while fading down the stretch of a 33-game season. He posted a career best 17 complete games and 227 1/3 innings that season, moving into a swingman role the following season. Russ then spent his final two seasons as a full-time reliever, saving 12 games in 1947 with 10 victories, then moving to the Cleveland Indians for their final (as of 2020) championship season, racking up 17 saves with a 2.90 ERA in 45 games in 1948. He retired during camp in 1949, then made an ultimately failed attempt to comeback in 1951, following open heart surgery.

Russ later worked at an aircraft plant in San Diego. He died at 37 of rheumatic heart disease.

Notable Achievements

• AL All-Star (1945)
• AL Saves Leader (1948)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 2 (1944 & 1945)
• Won a World Series with the Cleveland Indians in 1948

Related Sites

• Russ Christopher at the SABR Bio Project