Russ Van Atta

Russ Van Atta

Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=darkblue
bgcolor2=maroon
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
name=Russ Van Atta
position=Pitcher
bats=Left
throws=Left
birthdate=birth date|1906|6|21|mf=y
deathdate=death date and age|1986|10|10|1906|10|10
debutdate=April 25
debutyear=by|1933
debutteam=New York Yankees
finaldate=May 11
finalyear=by|1939
finalteam=St. Louis Browns
stat1label=ERA
stat1value=5.60
stat2label=Record
stat2value=33-41
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=339
teams=
* New York Yankees (1933-1935)
* St. Louis Browns (1935-1939)
highlights=
* Holds AL record for most hits in a 9 inning ML debut
* Best winning percentage in 1933

Russell "Sheriff" Van Atta is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was born on June 21, 1906 in Augusta, New Jersey. As a 6', 184 pound left-hander, Van Atta chose to attend Penn State University.

On April 25, 1933, Van Atta made his big league debut with the New York Yankees at the age of 27. And what a debut it was! Perhaps one of the best debuts by a Major League pitcher "ever", Van Atta not only shut out the Washington Senators 16-0, he also went 4-4 at the plate. His rookie season consisted of a 12-4 record and a 4.38 ERA. Even as a "late bloomer", he had a very successful rookie season-he actually led the league with the best winning percentage (.750), and he put up good number at the plate (.283 batting average).

Van Atta's rookie success did not carry over into the rest of his career. In 1934, he posted a 6.34 ERA. During the winter of 1934, he injured his hand by cutting it and was limited to relief (with some spot-starts) for the rest of his career. In 1935, he went 9-16 with a 5.30 ERA, but still Van Atta managed to lead the league with 58 appearances (his 16 losses were the second highest total in the league, behind only Bobo Newsom's 18). He posted an even worse ERA the next season-6.60-but again he led the league in appearances with 52. Overall in his career, Van Atta went 33-41 with a 5.60 ERA. At the plate, he hit .228 with 2 home runs, and on the field he showed off a .929 fielding percentage.

Sheriff Van Atta played his final game on May 11, 1939. He died on October 10, 1986 in Andover, New Jersey. His body was laid to rest in Frankford Plains Cemetery in Newton, New Jersey.

Transactions

* On May 15, 1935, the St. Louis Browns purchased Van Atta from the Yankees.
* On May 14, 1939, was purchased by Toronto of the International League from the Browns.

Uniform Numbers

* New York Yankees, 1933-1935: 14
* St. Louis Browns, 1935: 19
* St. Louis Browns, 1936-1939: 21

Other Facts

* Van Atta's 4 hit first game ties an AL record for the most hits in a 9 inning Major League debut. He's tied with six other players, including Kirby Puckett. Van Atta is the only pitcher on the list. The NL record is 5, held by Fred Clarke.
* Compares statistically to Frank Rodriguez.
* Van Atta was a teammate of Jim Walkup, Beau Bell and Harlond Clift for five years-longer than any other teammates.


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