 He graduated from Western Hills High School in Cincinnati, and also attended the University of Cincinnati.Nixon and his twin brother, Roy, an infielder, each signed with the Cleveland Indians in 1953.Although Roy never played Major League Baseball, retiring after five minor league seasons, Russ Nixon fashioned a 12-year MLB career with the Indians (1957–60), Boston Red Sox (1960–65; 1968) and Minnesota Twins (1966–67).