| Margaret Russo | |
|---|---|
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| All-American Girls Professional Baseball League | |
| Shortstop | |
| Born:(1931-09-29)September 29, 1931 Milton, New York | |
| Died: June 26, 2006(2006-06-26) (aged 74) Milton, New York | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Margaret Russo [m. 1986 Jones] (September 29, 1931 – June 26, 2006) was ashortstop who played from1950 through1954 in theAll-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m), 130 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.[1][2]
A two-time All Star, Margaret Russo was a consistent defensive player and a solid hitter in the AAGPBL during the final five years of its existence. Russo led all shortstops in the league infielding average during two seasons, while converting 138double plays in 497 career games. A valuablecontact hitter, she was usually able to put the ball in play while workingcounts and seldomstriking out, collecting a .332on-base percentage and a 1.71walk-to-strikeout ratio. Additionally, she overcame the disadvantages of moving from one place to another constantly, playing with four teams in four different cities while adjusting to new teammates, as the league switched players as needed to help teams to be competitive.[3]
Born inMilton, New York, Russo graduated fromMarlboro High School in 1949. Previous to her baseball career, she worked for a while in a print shop and for a local winery. She entered the league in 1950 with thePeoria Redwings, playing for them two years before joining theBattle Creek Belles (1952),Muskegon Belles (1953) andRockford Peaches (1954).[4]
In her rookie season of 1950, Russo had abatting average of .132 in 93 games. She improved in 1951, batting .247 with 66runs and 22stolen bases in 106 games, including sixdoubles, fourtriples and twohome runs, while ranking 10th in the league with 51runs batted in, and turned in 25 double plays with a .918 fielding average.[5]
In 1952, Russo dropped to .222, 39 runs and 28 RBI, though she belted 13 doubles, three triples and one home run. But she committed only 37errors at shortstop to lead the league with a .928 average.[6]
Russo played a career-high 112 games in 1953, batting .226 with nine doubles, nine triples and a homer, while driving in 29 runs and scoring 65 times. She ended 6th best with 45 stolen bases, also a career-high, and collected a .918 fielding average with 33 double plays. In addition, she was selected for theAll-Star Team.[1][6][7]
During the league's final season of 1954, Russo posted career numbers with a .313 average, 10 home runs, and 67 runs scored (9th best), driving in 35 runs and stealing 17 bases (9th best). As an added value, she hit three home runs in a single game, and for the second time led shortstops in fielding average (.938) and joined the All-Star Team. She also converted 43 double plays, for the second highest single-season total in the history of the league.[1][6][8][9]
After the league folded, Russo went on toIthaca College for her bachelor's in physical education in 1955 and her master's in education in 1962. She stayed active playing basketball and softball while teaching physical education, and married Fred Jones in 1986.[10]
Since 1988, Russo is part ofWomen in Baseball, a permanent display based at theBaseball Hall of Fame and Museum inCooperstown, New York, which was unveiled to honor the entire All-American Girls Professional Baseball League rather than individual baseball personalities. She died in her homeland of Milton, New York, at the age of 74.[2]
Batting
| GP | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 501 | 1640 | 251 | 377 | 39 | 19 | 15 | 166 | 104 | 251 | 147 | .230 | .332 | .304 |
Fielding
| GP | PO | A | E | TC | DP | FA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 497 | 911 | 1424 | 202 | 2535 | 138 | .886 |