Major League Baseball Player. When he played for the New York Yankees, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound first baseman led the American League in homers and runs batted in. He started his big-league career with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1938 and 1939 and then was with the Phillies in 1941 and 1942. He batted .311 with 27 doubles, 14 homers and 79 RBIs in 1941. The left-handed swinger was dealt to the Yankees on January 22, 1943 for pitchers Al Gettel and Al Gerheauser, first baseman-outfielder Ed Levy, catcher Tom Padden and $10,000. He batted .271 with 35 doubles, 14 homers and 107 RBIs in 1943. In the World Series that year against St. Louis, he struggled at .105 (2 for 19), but the Yankees prevailed in five games. Etten led the league with 22 homers while batting .293 with 91 RBIs in 1944. He also led the AL with 97 walks, while striking out just 29 times. The following year he hit .285 with 18 homers and an AL-high 111 RBIs. Once the war was over, he tailed off to .232 with nine homers and 49 RBIs in 108 games in 1946. The Yankees released him, and he played for the Phillies in 1947. His nine-year totals showed a .277 average, 167 doubles, 25 triples, 89 homers and 526 RBIs.
Major League Baseball Player. When he played for the New York Yankees, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound first baseman led the American League in homers and runs batted in. He started his big-league career with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1938 and 1939 and then was with the Phillies in 1941 and 1942. He batted .311 with 27 doubles, 14 homers and 79 RBIs in 1941. The left-handed swinger was dealt to the Yankees on January 22, 1943 for pitchers Al Gettel and Al Gerheauser, first baseman-outfielder Ed Levy, catcher Tom Padden and $10,000. He batted .271 with 35 doubles, 14 homers and 107 RBIs in 1943. In the World Series that year against St. Louis, he struggled at .105 (2 for 19), but the Yankees prevailed in five games. Etten led the league with 22 homers while batting .293 with 91 RBIs in 1944. He also led the AL with 97 walks, while striking out just 29 times. The following year he hit .285 with 18 homers and an AL-high 111 RBIs. Once the war was over, he tailed off to .232 with nine homers and 49 RBIs in 108 games in 1946. The Yankees released him, and he played for the Phillies in 1947. His nine-year totals showed a .277 average, 167 doubles, 25 triples, 89 homers and 526 RBIs.
Bio by: Ron Coons
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