Memory Lane: Russell family carries great baseball tradition
The name Russell carries a lot of weight in baseball circles in the Mid Mon Valley.
The patriarch Jim Russell from Fayette City played in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Braves, and Brooklyn Dodgers between 1942 and 1951.
The family followed in his footsteps. Son Jimmy played baseball at South Alabama and was the longtime baseball and golf coach at Belle Vernon High School. His three sons, Jim, Ryan and Nelson, all played baseball.
The boys know the family history well.
鈥淚 was aware my grandfather played 10 years of professional baseball,鈥� Ryan Russell stated. 鈥淚鈥檝e seen his statistics and photos and his cards. Both me and my older brother Jim interacted with him. He passed in 1987. I was six and I have memories, not a lot, but I have some memories of him.
鈥淔rom what my dad told us our grandfather didn鈥檛 really talk about his baseball career. Uncle Steve Russell talked about him a lot.鈥�
鈥淎bsolutely I was very aware of my grandfather all the way to my earliest memories,鈥� Nolan offered. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got a trophy case with some autographed baseballs and the Pirates and Dodgers and a lot of memorabilia and, of course, my uncle Steve, all the stuff that he had. Unfortunately, I never met my grandfather. He passed in 1987 and I was born in 1990.鈥�
Eldest grandson Jim, born in 1979, played baseball and golf in high school and played golf at Washington and Jefferson College. Ryan, born in 1981, played baseball, football and basketball at Belle Vernon and played four years of college baseball at Saint Vincent.
He has great memories of his days at Saint Vincent.
鈥淢y senior year we made it to the Regional Championship,鈥� Ryan recalled. 鈥淲e won our conference tournament and then made it to the regional and lost in NAIA to Mt. Vernon of Nazarene.
鈥淚 was basically the only left-handed pitcher we had my senior year. I played the outfield and pitched. I was mainly a relief pitcher.鈥�
The youngest grandson Nolan was born in 1990 and excelled at baseball and golf at Belle Vernon.
鈥淔or me, my start in athletics was through my dad James and my two older brothers Jim and Ryan,鈥� Nolan Russell said. 鈥淔rom a young age my earliest memories are playing baseball in the yard and hitting golf balls in the yard as well.鈥�
Nolan was a three-year starter and a two-year captain for the Leopards, and he took home several honors as a result of his success as a senior.
He was named a first-team All-Section outfielder, won both the BVA Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards, and took home the Aaron Krepps Leadership Award, which is picked each year by coach Dan Palm.
In 2009 Nolan led BVA in average (.458), hits (22 in 48 at bats), on base percentage (.606), slugging (.646), walks (18), average with runners in scoring position (.500 with seven hits in 14 at bats) and tied for the team lead with five steals.
鈥淲e did okay in baseball,鈥� Nolan remembered. 鈥淒an Palm took over for my dad and my first year of baseball at Belle Vernon was under Coach Palm and the records weren鈥檛 too good and the program was going through a lot of changes. My senior year we were right around .500.
鈥淚 played in the outfield my senior year. I was in center field.鈥�
On the links Nolan was very consistent for the Belle Vernon golf team.
鈥淕olf was great,鈥� Nolan explained. 鈥淎t the time I liked baseball more growing up with the family the way it was around baseball. But I think I was more successful at golf.
鈥淲e were section champs my senior year under coach Jay Lustic. We were undefeated that year and went all the way to the WPIAL finals. We had an unbelievable season that year. I was a pretty well-rounded golfer.鈥�
Looking back at his athletic career, Nolan says he really was guided by his brothers and his father.
鈥淭hey made a big difference for me. I had three people helping me learn,鈥� Nolan stated. 鈥淚 watched them play and learned from them. Ryan was an assistant at Belle Vernon.鈥�
鈥淚 worked as an assistant for Dan Palm who took over for my dad,鈥� Ryan said. 鈥淚 helped out for a number of years until I started having children. I have three and still live in Belle Vernon.鈥�
Ryan played a role in younger brother Nolan蘑菇视频 decision to play college baseball at Saint Vincent.
鈥淗e wanted to go to the military which he eventually did,鈥� Ryan said. 鈥淚 said I didn鈥檛 know what I wanted to do right out of high school and maybe you should give college a try and I called Coach Janosko and he helped make it happen.鈥�
鈥淚 was familiar with Saint Vincent and Coach Janosko and I went up there,鈥� Nolan offered. 鈥淒idn鈥檛 play much my first three years because I had some issues with my arm. My senior year I cracked the lineup and started most of the season. We had a good year and went into the section playoffs.鈥�
Nolan batted .263 with 10 RBI as a senior for the Bearcats.
鈥淩yan played the most out of all of us,鈥� Nolan said. 鈥淗e played in the Fayette County League for a long time. I discontinued baseball after college.鈥�
Nolan chose a different path after college.
鈥淚 moved out of state and I went into the Army after college and I鈥檓 now a State Trooper,鈥� Nolan reported. 鈥淎 very different approach in life compared to most of the family.鈥�
Nolan, 34, works for the Arizona Highway Patrol. He and his wife of two years, Audrey, reside in Salome, Arizona.
鈥淎thletics shaped who I am today,鈥� Nolan stated.
Ryan is proud of the family athletic tradition.
鈥淲e were fortunate to be blessed with some God-gifted athletic ability,鈥� Ryan said.
George Von Benko蘑菇视频 鈥淢emory Lane鈥� column appears in the Sunday editions of the 蘑菇视频. He also hosts a sports talk show on WMBS-AM radio from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.