Russ Van Atta

Born: 6/21/1906 in Augusta, NJ, USA

Died: 10/10/1986 in Andover, NJ, USA

MLB Debut: 1933-04-25 | Final Game: 1939-05-11

Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 184 lbs

Full name: Russell Van Atta

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Biography

Russ Van Atta, born in 1906, was a professional baseball pitcher who played in the Major Leagues from 1933 until 1939. Known for his durability and competitive spirit, Van Atta finished his career with a record of 33-41, an earned run average (ERA) of 5.6, and tallied a total of 339 strikeouts. Throughout his time in the league, he demonstrated the ability to effectively manage games, contributing to his teams with 6 saves over his career. Van Atta's playing career unfolded during a transformative period in baseball, marked by the transition from the deadball era to a time when offensive production began to rise. Though he may not have achieved the acclaim of some of his contemporaries, his contributions as a reliable pitcher and his resilience on the mound remain a part of the rich tapestry of baseball history. After retiring on May 11, 1939, Van Atta's impact on the game continued to be remembered by those who appreciate the nuances of pitching in the early years of modern baseball.

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
33	41	207	76	17	3	6	712.3	838	443	39	368	339	5.60	0

Career ERA 5.60 vs. league average 4.29 across their career seasons — 30.4% worse than league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year	Team	Lg	W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	ERA	Lg ERA	Pitcher PIV
1933	NYY	AL	12	4	26	22	10	2	1	157.0	160	73	63	76	4.18	3.86 (-9%)	-
1934	NYY	AL	3	5	28	9	0	0	0	88.0	107	62	46	39	6.34	4.29 (-48%)	-
1935	NYY	AL	0	0	5	0	0	0	0	4.7	5	2	4	3	3.86	—	-
1935	SLA	AL	9	16	53	17	1	0	3	170.3	201	101	87	87	5.34	4.35 (-23%)	-750.6
1936	SLA	AL	4	7	52	9	2	0	2	122.7	164	90	68	59	6.60	4.59 (-44%)	-1494.4
1937	SLA	AL	1	2	16	6	1	0	0	58.7	74	36	32	34	5.52	4.34 (-27%)	320.0
1938	SLA	AL	4	7	25	12	3	1	0	104.0	118	70	61	35	6.06	4.35 (-39%)	-1956.0
1939	SLA	AL	0	0	2	1	0	0	0	7.0	9	9	7	6	11.57	—	0.0

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
208	206	24	47	8	1	2	17	1	5	34	0.228	0.246	0.306	0.552	-117.4

Career AVG .228 vs. league average .277 across their career seasons — 17.5% below league average.

Career OBP .246 vs. league average .341 across their career seasons — 27.8% below league average.

Career SLG .306 vs. league average .394 across their career seasons — 22.4% below league average.

Career OPS 0.552 vs. league average 0.735 across their career seasons — 24.9% 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
1933	NYY	AL	26	60	8	17	2	0	0	7	0	2	8	0.283	.270 (+5%)	.329 (-7%)	.377 (-16%)	.707 (-12%)	-117.4
1934	NYY	AL	28	29	5	6	0	1	1	3	0	0	4	0.207	—	—	—	—	0.0
1935	NYY	AL	5	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.000	—	—	—	—	0.0
1935	SLA	AL	53	42	5	9	2	0	0	4	0	1	4	0.214	—	—	—	—	0.0
1936	SLA	AL	53	29	1	5	2	0	0	1	0	0	8	0.172	—	—	—	—	0.0
1937	SLA	AL	16	13	3	6	0	0	1	1	0	2	2	0.462	—	—	—	—	0.0
1938	SLA	AL	25	30	2	4	2	0	0	1	1	0	7	0.133	—	—	—	—	0.0
1939	SLA	AL	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0.000	—	—	—	—	0.0