Biography
Cedric Montgomery Durst (August 23, 1896 - February 16, 1971) was an outfielder who played between 1922 and 1930 for the St. Louis Browns (1922-23, 1926), New York Yankees (1927-30) and Boston Red Sox (1930). Listed at 5' 11", 160 lb., Durst batted and threw left-handed. He was born in Austin, Texas.
Though he was always a fine defensive player, Durst was a weak hitter. In seven seasons, Durst
hit .244 (269-for-1103) with 15 home runs and 122 RBI in 481 games, including 146 runs, 39 doubles, 17 triples, and seven stolen bases. In five postseason games with the Yankees in 1927-28, he hit .333 (3-for-9) with one home run, two RBI and three runs. The home run coming in the 1928 clincher when he led off the top of the 8th with a solo shot (obviously) off St. Louis' Pete Alexander. The round-tripper put the Yankees up 6-2 and when
Babe Ruth smacked his third homer of the game two batters later, the Yankees were well on their way to their 3rd World Series title and second in as many years.
Durst played in parts of three seasons with the Browns before joining the Yankees. While in New York, Durst played exclusively as a reserve outfielder for
Earle Combs (LF),
Bob Meusel (CF) and Babe Ruth (RF). During the 1930 midseason, he was traded from New York to the Red Sox in the same deal that brought
Red Ruffing to the Yankees. He appeared in 102 games with Boston that year, then called it a career.
Durst died in San Diego, California at age 74.
Transactions
Acquired: February 8, 1927: Traded by the St. Louis Browns with Joe Giard
to the New York Yankees for Sam Jones.
Traded: May 6, 1930: Traded by the New York Yankees with $50,000 to
the Boston Red Sox for
Red Ruffing.
