Russell Holmes

Russell Holmes (Ducky)

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Russell Holmes played in the minors at times from 1913-1922 and was a bullpen catcher in the majors.

In 1913, Holmes debuted for the Newburgh Hilltoppers, hitting .357, one of the top ten averages in the New York-New Jersey League. He remained strong at .336 with a .475 slugging for the 1914 Newburgh Hillclimbers, tying for second in the Atlantic League with seven triples. In 1915, he hit .269/?/.382 between the Lewiston Cupids and Lynn Pirates. He was the bullpen catcher for the 1916 Red Sox, working with Babe Ruth, Ernie Shore and Carl Mays. Holmes would be the last surviving member of the team.

Returning to an active playing role, he hit .267 in 1917 between the Harrisburg Islanders and Reading Pretzels. His other known stops are with the 1920 Richmond Colts (.263/?/.343) and 1922 Danville Tobacconists (.296/?/.401). His nine home runs in 1922 were third in the Piedmont League, two shy of the co-leaders.

Sources include 1988 article on Holmes