BIW - John "Red" Davis

John "Red" Davis

Date and Place of Birth: July 15, 1915 Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Died: April 26, 2002 Laurel, Mississippi

Baseball Experience: Major League
Position: Third Base
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Military Unit: USAAF

Area Served: United States

Major League Stats: Red Davis on Baseball-Almanac

John H “Red” Davis was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on July 15, 1915. He began his professional baseball career in the Cardinals’ organization with Albany, Georgia in 1935. He joined the New York Giants organization in 1940, when he was drafted from Houston by Jersey City Giants of the International League.

Davis was with Jersey City in 1941, and was batting .336 in 121 games when he was purchased by New York on August 29. He played 21 games at third base batting .214.

On January 15, 1942, he enlisted in the Army Air Force at Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and was assigned to Savannah Army Air Base in Georgia where he served as a staff sergeant.

Davis returned to the New York Giants in 1946. He had been out of organized baseball for four seasons and was released on April 8, spending the season with Dallas in the Texas League.

Davis spent 27 seasons as a minor league manager between 1949 and 1976, compiling a record of 1,993-1,927. He began managing independent teams in 1949, then rejoined the New York Giants’ organization from 1954 to1962. He managed in the Cincinnati Reds system from 1963 to 1966, the Cleveland Indians’ organization from 1967 to 1969, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ system from 1970 to1972, and back to the Indians from 1973 to 1976.

John Davis passed away on April 26, 2002 in Laurel, Mississippi. He was 86 years old.

Created March 28, 2007.