Russ Kerns

Russell Eldon Kerns

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 188 lb.

• Debut August 18, 1945
• Final Game August 18, 1945
• Born November 10, 1920 in Fremont, OH USA
• Died August 21, 2000 in Placerville, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Catcher Russ Kerns spent fourteen seasons in professional baseball playing in the minor leagues from 1939 to 1953 and appeared in one game for the major league Detroit Tigers on August 18, 1945. Russ made one plate appearance with no hits after being brought up from the Syracuse Chiefs of the International League and then returned to Syracuse to finish out the season. His one game appearance was it for Kerns in the big leagues.

During his seasons in the minors, Russ had a good year with the Lima Pandas of the class D Ohio State League in 1941, when he appeared in 60 games and hit at a .310 clip with 4 home runs. He also had a decent year with the 1947 Jamestown Falcons of the class D Pony League, hitting .325 in 88 games.

Kerns was with the 1948 Hornell Maple Leafs of the class D Pony League, as player-manager, hitting a career high .351 with five round-trippers in 106 games. His Hornell club finished the season with a 29-96 record and an eighth-place finish. Kerns had one more good year in 1949 with the Omaha Cardinals of the class A Western League, hitting .325 in 73 games.

Kerns served in the United States Army during World War II. He finished out his minor league run in 1953 at the age of 32, appearing in 723 games with an adjusted career batting average of .293. After baseball, Russ worked in the construction of grain storage bins until his retirement and died on August 21, 2000 in Placerville, CA. Russell Eldon Kerns was 79 years of age,

Related Sites

• BR Minors page