Russ Wrightstone

Russell Guy Wrightstone

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10½", Weight 176 lb.

• Debut April 19, 1920
• Final Game September 29, 1928
• Born March 18, 1893 in Bowmansdale, PA USA
• Died February 25, 1969 in Harrisburg, PA USA

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Biographical Information

Russ Wrightstone played in the majors in the 1920s, spending almost all of his big-league time with the Philadelphia Phillies. He hit over .300 several times and played several positions.

Russ was born in Pennsylvania in 1893, in a town about 100 miles from Philadelphia. He was 27 by the time he reached the majors. He was discovered while playing for the Klein Chocolate Company, a top semi-pro team based in Elizabethtown, PA that played regularly against major league teams in 1919, more than holding its own. Wrightstone was their top hitter and was signed by the Phillies after the season, making the team as a regular in 1920 without ever having played in the minors prior to that season.

He played primarily third base for his first few years in the majors, then switched to the outfield and then became a first baseman. However, he often filled in at other positions, appearing 75 times at shortstop and 47 at second base during his career. In spite of his versatility, an article from Baseball Digest in July 1988 called him "good-hit, no-field".

He played in the minors from 1929-1932, mostly hitting over .300.

Related Sites

• Russ Wrightstone at the SABR Bio Project