Butch Nieman

Born: 2/8/1918 in Herkimer, KS, USA

Died: 11/2/1993 in Topeka, KS, USA

MLB Debut: 1943-05-02 | Final Game: 1945-09-30

Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 195 lbs

Full name: Elmer Leroy Nieman

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Biography

Butch Nieman was a professional baseball player who made his mark in the major leagues during the mid-1940s. Born in 1918, Nieman's career spanned from 1943 to 1945, a period marked by the challenges of World War II, which saw many athletes serving in the military. He played primarily as a position player, appearing in a total of 332 games. Over the course of his career, Nieman recorded 269 hits, including 37 home runs, and drove in 167 runs, showcasing his ability to contribute offensively during a time when the league was experiencing a talent shortage due to the war. Known for his solid batting skills, Nieman finished his career with a batting average of .256 and demonstrated speed on the bases with 20 stolen bases. His contributions to the game during this era helped to bridge the gap between the pre-war and post-war periods in baseball, as teams began to reassemble their rosters and integrate returning players. Although not a household name, Nieman's role in the game during a tumultuous time in American history remains a notable chapter in baseball's rich tapestry.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
332	1050	147	269	46	14	37	167	20	129	119	0.256	0.339	0.432	0.771	2515.5

Career AVG .256 vs. league average .259 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .339 vs. league average .327 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .432 vs. league average .353 across their career seasons — +22.5% above league average.

Career OPS 0.771 vs. league average 0.679 across their career seasons — +13.5% above 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	101	335	39	84	15	8	7	46	4	39	39	0.251	.255 (-2%)	.324 (+2%)	.346 (+17%)	.671 (+10%)	525.4
1944	BSN	NL	134	468	65	124	16	6	16	65	5	47	47	0.265	.261 (+1%)	.325 (+2%)	.357 (+20%)	.683 (+11%)	924.2
1945	BSN	NL	97	247	43	61	15	0	14	56	11	43	33	0.247	.260 (-5%)	.328 (+10%)	.354 (+35%)	.683 (+23%)	1066.0