Nick Etten
Born: 9/19/1913 in Spring Grove, IL, USA
Died: 10/18/1990 in Hinsdale, IL, USA
MLB Debut: 1938-09-08 | Final Game: 1947-05-09
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 198 lbs
Full name: Nicholas Raymond Thomas Etten
Biography
Nick Etten was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1938 until 1947. Born in 1913, Etten established himself as a reliable position player, known for his solid hitting and consistent performance during a transitional period in the sport. Over the course of his career, he played in 937 games and amassed 921 hits, demonstrating a strong batting average of .277. His power at the plate was evident as he recorded 89 home runs and drove in 526 runs, contributing significantly to his teams' offensive efforts.
Etten's playing style was characterized by a combination of power and contact hitting, which allowed him to thrive in the competitive landscape of the late 1930s and 1940s. He also showcased his speed on the bases, finishing his career with 22 stolen bases. In recognition of his talents, Etten was selected to the All-Star team once, highlighting his status as one of the prominent players of his era. Throughout his career, he played against the backdrop of World War II, which affected many athletes and the game itself, yet Etten's contributions on the field remained significant and memorable. He left a lasting legacy in baseball before retiring in 1947.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 937 | 3320 | 426 | 921 | 167 | 25 | 89 | 526 | 22 | 480 | 199 | 0.277 | 0.371 | 0.423 | 0.794 | 11053.5 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | PHA | AL | 22 | 81 | 6 | 21 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 0.259 | -55.2 |
| 1939 | PHA | AL | 43 | 155 | 20 | 39 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 29 | 0 | 16 | 11 | 0.252 | -76.3 |
| 1941 | PHI | NL | 151 | 540 | 78 | 168 | 27 | 4 | 14 | 79 | 9 | 82 | 33 | 0.311 | 2582.4 |
| 1942 | PHI | NL | 139 | 459 | 37 | 121 | 21 | 3 | 8 | 41 | 3 | 67 | 26 | 0.264 | 911.1 |
| 1943 | NYY | AL | 154 | 583 | 78 | 158 | 35 | 5 | 14 | 107 | 3 | 76 | 31 | 0.271 | 1852.6 |
| 1944 | NYY | AL | 154 | 573 | 88 | 168 | 25 | 4 | 22 | 91 | 4 | 97 | 29 | 0.293 | 3353.7 |
| 1945 | NYY | AL | 152 | 565 | 77 | 161 | 24 | 4 | 18 | 111 | 2 | 90 | 23 | 0.285 | 2553.2 |
| 1946 | NYY | AL | 108 | 323 | 37 | 75 | 14 | 1 | 9 | 49 | 0 | 38 | 35 | 0.232 | -68.0 |
| 1947 | PHI | NL | 14 | 41 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0.244 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0.105 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | WS | NYA | 5 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0.105 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 903 | 0 | 8030 | 545 | 107 | 797 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | PHA | 1B | 22 | 0 | 212 | 10 | 3 | 20 |
| 1939 | PHA | 1B | 41 | 0 | 376 | 19 | 4 | 29 |
| 1941 | PHI | 1B | 150 | 0 | 1286 | 89 | 23 | 124 |
| 1942 | PHI | 1B | 135 | 0 | 1152 | 83 | 19 | 99 |
| 1943 | NYA | 1B | 154 | 0 | 1410 | 79 | 17 | 148 |
| 1944 | NYA | 1B | 154 | 0 | 1382 | 106 | 16 | 144 |
| 1945 | NYA | 1B | 152 | 0 | 1401 | 94 | 17 | 149 |
| 1946 | NYA | 1B | 84 | 0 | 717 | 55 | 7 | 80 |
| 1947 | PHI | 1B | 11 | 0 | 94 | 10 | 1 | 4 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 903 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 1B |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 15th | 21.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1944 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 23th | 5.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1943 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 7th | 61.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1941 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 28th | 6.0 | 336 | 0 |