Russ Laribee

Russell Kurt Laribee

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 200 lb.
• School University of Connecticut

• Born July 30, 1956

Russ Laribee played five seasons in the minors, reaching AAA.

Laribee was a 21st round draft choice of the Boston Red Sox in the 1977 draft. He hit .261/.365/.428 in his professional debut, with the Elmira Pioneers. In 1978, Russ batted .266/.346/.399 for the Winter Haven Red Sox with 8 home runs in 301 AB. Laribee returned to the state in which he played college baseball with the 1979 Bristol Red Sox. He hit .275/.360/.484 with 18 home runs in 364 AB and 18 stolen bases in 21 tries. He tied for 7th in the Eastern League in homers.

In 1980, Laribee produced at a .302/.390/.508 rate in a return engagement with Bristol. He had 13 homers, 21 doubles and 66 RBI in 321 AB while swiping 16 bases in 22 attempts. The DH-OF struggled with the 1981 Pawtucket Red Sox, only batting .212/.303/.366. He still showed good power with 13 home runs and 46 RBI in 325 AB, but also struck out 87 times. He hit 6 sacrifice flies to tie five others for the International League lead. Laribee had a big sacrifice fly in terms of historical significance that year. In the bottom of the 9th of a 1-0 game against the Rochester Red Wings, cleanup hitter Laribee hit a sacrifice fly off of Larry Jones to score Chico Walker. By sending the game into extra innings, Laribee helped it become the longest game in Organized Baseball history. He was later intentionally walked in the bottom of the 33rd with Walker aboard, bringing up Dave Koza, who delivered the winning hit.

Sources: 1978-1982 Baseball Guides