Russ Davis

Davis attended Hueytown High School in Hueytown, Alabama, graduating in 1987. He played for the school's baseball team as a shortstop, but did not receive much interest from Major League Baseball (MLB) teams because he weighed {{convert|160|lbs}}.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100717811/ |title=Clipping |newspaper=Daily News |via=Newspapers.com |date=February 6, 1994 |accessdate=April 29, 2022}} He enrolled at Shelton State Community College. Playing as a shortstop for Shelton State's college baseball team in 1988, Davis had a .347 batting average with 14 home runs and 46 runs batted in (RBIs). He also gained weight, reaching {{convert|195|lbs}}. The New York Yankees selected Davis in the 29th round of the 1988 MLB draft. He signed with the Yankees and reported to the Gulf Coast Yankees.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100711216/yankees-may-have-a-prize-in-shelton-stat/ |title=Yankees may have a prize in Shelton State star |via=Newspapers.com |date=June 7, 1988 |accessdate=April 29, 2022|newspaper=Birmingham Post-Herald}}

In Minor League Baseball, Davis became a third baseman. He batted .285 with 22 home runs and 71 RBIs for the Albany-Colonie Yankees of the Class AA Eastern League in the 1992 season,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/16/sports/baseball-yanks-davis-shows-a-smile-and-a-future.html |title=BASEBALL; Yanks' Davis Shows A Smile and a Future |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 16, 1993 |accessdate=April 29, 2022}} and was subsequently named the league's most valuable player.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100721121/jones-voted-top-el-pitcher-mets-only-a/ |title=Jones voted top EL pitcher, Mets' only all-star |newspaper=Press and Sun-Bulletin|via=Newspapers.com |date=September 11, 1992 |accessdate=April 29, 2022}} However, Davis was blocked at third base with the Yankees by Wade Boggs.{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629183314/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1994-02-28-9402270337-story.html|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1994-02-28-9402270337-story.html|title=Davis Out to Take Hueytown... And New York|first=Craig|last=Barnes|work=Sun-Sentinel|date=February 28, 1994|accessdate=April 29, 2022|via=archive.org|archivedate=June 29, 2021}} He spent the 1993 season and most of the 1994 season with the Columbus Clippers of the Class AAA International League. He made his major league debut in July 1994, but spent one week with the Yankees before returning to Columbus.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/20/sports/baseball-aaa-ball-a-waiting-game-for-frustrated-davis.html |title=BASEBALL; AAA Ball a Waiting Game for Frustrated Davis |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 20, 1994 |accessdate=April 29, 2022}} Davis began the 1995 season with Columbus, but played for the Yankees from May 6 to 27, and was called up again on June 12.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411000000/https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:7CuPf2M11nMJ:https://www.nydailynews.com/hc-xpm-1995-07-15-9507150365-story.html+&cd=18&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/hc-xpm-1995-07-15-9507150365-story.html|title=Davis Doing His Best to Maintain His Place|date=July 15, 1995|first=Tom|last=Yantz|work=New York Daily News|archive-date=April 11, 2022|access-date=April 29, 2022|via=Google Cache}} He hit his first major league home run against David Wells on June 28, 1995.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/29/sports/baseball-tigers-enjoy-a-super-day-vs-mcdowell.html |title=BASEBALL; Tigers Enjoy A Super Day Vs. McDowell |newspaper= The New York Times|date=June 29, 1995 |accessdate=April 29, 2022}} In December 1995, the Yankees traded Davis and Sterling Hitchcock to the Seattle Mariners for Tino Martinez, Jeff Nelson, and Jim Mecir.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/08/sports/baseball-yanks-get-martinez-for-davis-hitchcock.html |title=BASEBALL;Yanks Get Martinez For Davis, Hitchcock|newspaper= The New York Times|date=December 8, 1995 |accessdate=April 29, 2022}} On June 7, 1996, Davis broke his leg,{{cite web|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19960608&slug=2333446 |title=Broken Leg To Sideline Russ Davis 6-8 Weeks|newspaper= The Seattle Times |date=June 8, 1996 |accessdate=April 29, 2022}} ending his season.{{cite web|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19970326&slug=2530701 |title=Around The Horn - The 1997 Mariners|newspaper= The Seattle Times |date=March 26, 1997 |accessdate=April 29, 2022}} In 1997, Davis batted .271 with 20 home runs and 63 RBIs in 119 total games.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1998/mar/21/davis-only-wants-to-change-his-luck/|title=Davis Only Wants To Change His Luck |newspaper= The Spokesman-Review}} In 1998, Davis set a Mariners franchise record for errors committed.{{cite web|url=https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/1998/08-06/0053_mariners__davis_just_happy_to_be_.html |title=MARINERS: Davis just happy to be here |website=Products.kitsapsun.com |date= |accessdate=April 29, 2022}} He led the American League with 34 errors.{{cite web|url=https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/1999/04-02/0050_russ_davis__third_sacker_hopes_to.html |title=RUSS DAVIS: Third sacker hopes to put nightmare season behind him |website=Products.kitsapsun.com |date= |accessdate=April 29, 2022}} He also hit 20 home runs with 82 RBIs in 141 games. On July 17, 1999, Davis hit the first ever home run at Safeco Field.{{cite web|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19990718/2972502/mariner-notebook----ibanez-not-overwhelmed-by-first-grand-slam-at-safeco |title=Mariner Notebook - Ibanez Not Overwhelmed by First Grand Slam at Safeco |newspaper= the Seattle Times|date=July 18, 1999 |access-date=April 29, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100725054/russ-davis-gets-first-safeco-homer/ |newspaper=The Post-Star|title=Russ Davis gets first Safeco homer |via=Newspapers.com |date=July 18, 1999 |accessdate=April 29, 2022}} For the 1999 season, Davis batted .245 with 21 home runs and 59 RBIs in 124 games, while committing only 12 errors.{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/2000/01/24/Giants-sign-3b-Russ-Davis/3063948690000/ |title=Giants sign 3b Russ Davis |publisher=UPI |date=January 24, 2000 |accessdate=April 29, 2022}}

Davis became a free agent after the 1999 season, and the Mariners opted not to offer Davis a new contract.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/22/sports/baseball-roundup-rhodes-moves-west.html |title=BASEBALL: ROUNDUP; Rhodes Moves West |newspaper= The New York Times |date=December 22, 1999 |accessdate=April 29, 2022}} The San Francisco Giants signed Davis to a minor league contract in January 2000.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/25/sports/transactions-511790.html |title=TRANSACTIONS |newspaper= The New York Times |date=January 25, 2000 |accessdate=April 29, 2022}} Davis was a backup to third baseman Bill Mueller and first baseman J. T. Snow for the Giants during the 2000 season.{{cite web|author=John Shea |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/New-position-is-a-first-for-Davis-3071580.php |title=New position is a first for Davis |website=Sfgate.com |date=March 4, 2000 |accessdate=April 29, 2022}} The Giants traded Mueller to the Chicago Cubs after the 2000 season and re-signed Davis.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/20/sports/plus-baseball-cubs-get-mueller-from-san-francisco.html |title=PLUS: BASEBALL; Cubs Get Mueller From San Francisco |newspaper= The New York Times |date=November 20, 2000 |accessdate=April 29, 2022}} He started the 2001 season as the Giants' starting third baseman, with Pedro Feliz backing him up.{{cite web|last=Knapp |first=Gwen |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/knapp/article/Davis-Enjoys-Turning-Boos-Into-Roos-3316138.php |title=Davis Enjoys Turning Boos Into 'Roos' |work=Sfgate.com |date=April 3, 2001 |accessdate=April 29, 2022}} Davis struggled in 2001, and was designated for assignment in June.{{cite web|author=Henry Schulman |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/GIANTS-NOTEBOOK-S-F-takes-Russ-Davis-advice-2910209.php |title=GIANTS NOTEBOOK / S.F. takes Russ Davis' advice and roster spot |work=Sfgate.com |date=June 16, 2001 |accessdate=April 29, 2022}}

Davis met his wife, Adryne, while they attended high school. They married on December 30, 1993,{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100717495/hot-property/|title=Hot Property|first=John|last=Harper|work=New York Daily News|pages=82-[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100717811/ 83]|date=February 6, 1994|accessdate=April 29, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}} and had three children. Adryne died in 2012 from leukemia.{{Cite web|url=https://obits.al.com/us/obituaries/birmingham/name/adryne-davis-obituary?id=19911451|title=ADRYNE ADALE WILLIAMS DAVIS Obituary (2012) |work=The Birmingham News|via=Legacy.com}} Davis' father played in Minor League Baseball for the Baltimore Orioles organization.

{{Reflist}}

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{{Eastern League MVP}}

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Category:1969 births

Category:Living people

Category:Baseball players from Alabama

Category:Major League Baseball third basemen

Category:New York Yankees players

Category:Seattle Mariners players

Category:San Francisco Giants players

Category:Gulf Coast Yankees players

Category:Oneonta Yankees players

Category:Fort Lauderdale Yankees players

Category:Prince William Cannons players

Category:Albany-Colonie Yankees players

Category:20th-century American sportsmen

Category:Columbus Clippers players

Category:Hueytown High School alumni

Category:Shelton State Buccaneers baseball players