Red Kress died of a heart ailment in November 1962 after coaching for the original Mets. I don't mean to imply any connection in that sentence!Kress started his career as a shortstop for the St. Louis Browns. In three of his four seasons with the Browns he hit over .300 with 100 RBI. But the Browns traded him to the White Sox in April 1932, and with Luke Appling at short in Chicago, Kress became more of utility man.
Kress spent three years with the White Sox, then was traded to the Senators. Unfortunately Washington had Joe Cronin at shortstop, so again, Kress did not see much action at his regular position. After the Senators released him he spent a year in the minors before rejoining the Browns.
In May 1939 Kress was sent to the Tigers but broke his leg later that season. In 1940 the Tigers released him and then, as Kress' luck would have it, went on to win the AL pennant.
Kress played in one more major league game with the New York Giants in July of 1946---and that was as a pitcher. He had pitched in three games for the Senators in 1935. In his one appearance with the Giants he gave up five runs, five hits, a walk, and a hit batsman in 3.2 innings.
