Johnny Hetki | |||
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Pitcher | |||
Born: Leavenworth, Kansas |
May 12, 1922 |||
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MLB debut | |||
September 14, 1945, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||
Last MLB appearance | |||
September 22, 1954, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
MLB statistics | |||
Win–loss record | 18–26 | ||
Earned run average | 4.39 | ||
Saves | 13 | ||
Games pitched | 214 | ||
Teams | |||
John Edward Hetki (born May 12, 1922) is a former long relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Browns and Pittsburgh Pirates in all or parts of eight seasons spanning 1945–54. Listed at 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m), 202 lb (92 kg), Hetki batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Leavenworth, Kansas.
Hetki first played in the Minor Leagues at the age of 18. He had a promising debut, winning 16 games and losing 10 for the Albuquerque Cardinals of the Arizona–Texas League in 1941. Hetki then was signed by the Reds organization before the 1942 season, and he went 4–1 with a 2.16 ERA with the Birmingham Barons before joining the Ogden Reds, where he was 13–8 and led the Pioneer League with a 2.24 ERA. Overall, he finished the split season with a 17–9 record and a 2.22 ERA in 29 games pitched. But his career was interrupted by two years of military service during World War II.
Returning to baseball in early 1945, Hetki made his major league debut with the Reds in September of that year. He went 1–2 with a 3.58 ERA in two starts and three relief appearances. His most productive season came in 1946, when he finished 6–6 with a 2.99 ERA in 32 games, including 11 starts and four complete games. Hetki was with the Reds through the 1950 season, spending part of this time in the minor leagues. As a result, in 1949 he went 16–14 for the Syracuse Chiefs of the International League, ending fifth in the league in wins and second in innings (250) behind Al Widmar (294). He then was purchased by the St. Louis Browns from Cincinnati in October 1950.