C. J. Nitkowski
Born: 3/9/1973 in Suffern, NY, USA
MLB Debut: 1995-06-03 | Final Game: 2005-06-07
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: Christopher John Nitkowski
Biography
C. J. Nitkowski was a professional baseball pitcher whose career spanned from 1995 to 2005. Born in 1973, Nitkowski made his Major League Baseball debut in an era marked by the emergence of power hitting and increased offensive production. Over his decade-long career, he played for multiple teams, showcasing his versatility as both a starter and a reliever. Nitkowski concluded his career with a record of 18-32 and an earned run average (ERA) of 5.37, while recording 347 strikeouts and achieving 3 saves.
Nitkowski was known for his competitive spirit and ability to adapt to different roles on the mound. While his win-loss record may not fully reflect his talent, he carved out a niche in the league during a time when pitching depth was crucial for team success. His contributions to the teams he played for, including the Detroit Tigers and the New York Mets, highlighted his work ethic and determination, attributes that resonated with fans and teammates alike. As a part of the late 1990s and early 2000s baseball landscape, Nitkowski's career offered a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs faced by pitchers in a rapidly evolving sport.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 32 | 336 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 479.0 | 519 | 286 | 57 | 263 | 347 | 5.37 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | CIN | NL | 1 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32.3 | 41 | 22 | 15 | 18 | 6.12 | -589.4 |
| 1995 | DET | AL | 1 | 4 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39.3 | 53 | 31 | 20 | 13 | 7.09 | -2041.0 |
| 1996 | DET | AL | 2 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45.7 | 62 | 41 | 38 | 36 | 8.08 | -2227.5 |
| 1998 | HOU | NL | 3 | 3 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 59.7 | 49 | 25 | 23 | 44 | 3.77 | 661.0 |
| 1999 | DET | AL | 4 | 5 | 68 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 81.7 | 63 | 39 | 45 | 66 | 4.30 | -671.5 |
| 2000 | DET | AL | 4 | 9 | 67 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 109.7 | 124 | 64 | 49 | 81 | 5.25 | 341.2 |
| 2001 | DET | AL | 0 | 3 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45.3 | 51 | 28 | 31 | 38 | 5.56 | -1538.4 |
| 2001 | NYN | NL | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0.00 | 0.0 |
| 2002 | TEX | AL | 0 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13.7 | 11 | 4 | 13 | 14 | 2.63 | 175.1 |
| 2003 | TEX | AL | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9.7 | 17 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 7.45 | 0.0 |
| 2004 | ATL | NL | 1 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20.0 | 22 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 4.50 | -368.8 |
| 2004 | NYY | AL | 1 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13.0 | 18 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 7.62 | - |
| 2005 | WAS | NL | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8.10 | 0.0 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 337 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0.133 | 0.133 | 0.133 | 0.267 | 0.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | CIN | NL | 9 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 1995 | DET | AL | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1996 | DET | AL | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1998 | HOU | NL | 43 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1999 | DET | AL | 69 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2000 | DET | AL | 67 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2001 | DET | AL | 56 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2001 | NYN | NL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2002 | TEX | AL | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2003 | TEX | AL | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2004 | ATL | NL | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2004 | NYY | AL | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2005 | WAS | NL | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 336 | 44 | 23 | 84 | 7 | 5 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | CIN | P | 9 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1995 | DET | P | 11 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 | DET | P | 11 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | HOU | P | 43 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 2 |
| 1999 | DET | P | 68 | 7 | 5 | 17 | 3 | 0 |
| 2000 | DET | P | 67 | 11 | 7 | 21 | 1 | 2 |
| 2001 | DET | P | 56 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | NYN | P | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | TEX | P | 12 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | TEX | P | 6 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 2004 | ATL | P | 22 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2004 | NYA | P | 19 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | WAS | P | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 336 |
| Designated Hitter | 1 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | ATL | NL | $375,000 |
| 2003 | TEX | AL | $550,000 |
| 2001 | DET | AL | $1,200,000 |
| 2000 | DET | AL | $950,000 |
| 1999 | DET | AL | $300,000 |
| 1998 | HOU | NL | $185,000 |
| 1995 | CIN | NL | $109,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $3,669,000 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. John's University | Queens | NY | 1993, 1994 |