Russ Bailey
Personal information
Born:(1897-10-17)October 17, 1897
Weston, West Virginia, U.S.
Died:September 15, 1949(1949-09-15) (aged 51)
Wheeling, West Virginia, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:183 lb (83 kg)
Career information
High school:Weston (WV)
College:West Virginia (1915–1919)
Position:Center
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:23
Games started:21
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Russell Brooks Bailey (October 17, 1897 – September 15, 1949) was a professional American football center and surgeon. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Akron Pros of the APFA (later renamed National Football League in 1922). He played college football at West Virginia University.

Career

Bailey attended Weston High School in Weston, West Virginia.[1] He played college football at West Virginia from 1915 to 1919 where he studied a pre-med curriculum.[2] At West Virginia, he was a two-time All-American in 1917 and 1919 and served as a team captain in 1917.[3][4][5] Following his career at West Virginia, he graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and earned his doctorate.[2]

He joined the Akron Pros in 1920 as the team's starting center,.[6] The Pros would go undefeated and were awarded the Brunswick-Balke Collender Cup.[7] He remained with the club through the 1921 season.[8]

After football, Bailey worked as a surgeon in Wheeling, West Virginia, and served as chairman of the West Virginia Cancer Society, president of the West Virginia State Medical Association, chairman of the West Virginia Board of Health and director of the American Cancer Society.[9] He died on September 15, 1949, after collapsing on a golf course in Wheeling.[2]

Bailey was named to the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.[10]

References

  1. ^ John Heisman (November 2, 1928). "Heisman's Hundred in Hall of Football Fame". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 23. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Dr. R.B. Bailey Dies Suddenly in West Virginia". Cherokee County Herald. September 21, 1949. p. 8. Retrieved February 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Men To Wage Hot Fight for Berths". The Pittsburgh Press. September 14, 1919. p. 28. Retrieved February 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Is Russ Bailey Getting Scared?". The Wheeling Intelligencer. October 23, 1919. p. 7. Retrieved February 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "West Virginia all-Americans 1919". New Castle Herald (New Castle, Pennsylvania). November 24, 1919. p. 14. Retrieved February 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Akron Football Eleven Will Make Strong Bid For "Pro" Championship". Akron Beacon Journal. September 10, 1920. p. 24. Retrieved February 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Price, Mark (April 25, 2011). "Searching for the Lost Trophy". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved December 21, 2011.
  8. ^ Russ Bailey at Pro-Football-Reference.com, Pro-Football-Reference.com. Accessed February 3, 2022.
  9. ^ "Dies Suddenly - Dr Russell Brooks Bailey". Cumberland Times-News. September 19, 1949. p. 3. Retrieved February 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "WVU Sports Hall of Fame - Russ Bailey". wvusports.com. Retrieved February 3, 2022.

External links

Akron Pros 1920 APFA champions
Categories