Heinie Heltzel, baseball player, 1943-1944

Heinie Heltzel

Born: 12/21/1913 in York, PA, USA

Died: 5/1/1998 in York, PA, USA

MLB Debut: 1943-07-27 | Final Game: 1944-08-06

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 150 lbs

Full name: William Wade Heltzel

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Biography

Heinie Heltzel was a professional baseball player born in 1913, who made his mark in the Major Leagues during a brief career that spanned from 1943 to 1944. Primarily serving as a position player, Heltzel participated in 40 games, where he recorded 17 hits and drove in 5 runs, finishing his career with a batting average of .157. Despite not hitting any home runs or stealing bases, his contributions came during a challenging era for baseball, characterized by the effects of World War II, which saw many players serve in the military, leading to a unique dynamic in the sport and opportunities for players like Heltzel. Heltzel's time in the Major Leagues was short-lived, yet he represented a generation of athletes who played the game amid significant societal changes. The limited opportunities available to players during wartime highlighted the resilience and adaptability of those who took the field. Although his statistics may not reflect the accomplishments of some of his contemporaries, Heltzel's role in maintaining the spirit of baseball during such turbulent times remains a notable aspect of his legacy.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
40 108 7 17 4 0 0 5 0 9 16 0.157 0.229 0.194 0.423 -550.9

Career AVG .157 vs. league average .259 across their career seasons — 39.2% below league average.

Career OBP .229 vs. league average .325 across their career seasons — 29.7% below league average.

Career SLG .194 vs. league average .352 across their career seasons — 44.7% below league average.

Career OPS 0.423 vs. league average 0.677 across their career seasons — 37.5% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1943 BSN NL 29 86 6 13 3 0 0 5 0 7 13 0.151 .255 (-41%) .324 (-34%) .346 (-46%) .671 (-40%) -550.9
1944 PHI NL 11 22 1 4 1 0 0 0 0 2 3 0.182 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
3B 29 0 18 48 9 3
SS 10 0 17 17 3 1

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1943 BSN 3B 29 0 18 48 9 3
1944 PHI SS 10 0 17 17 3 1

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Third Base 29
Shortstop 10