page_title: Hank Erickson
section_title: Cincinnati Reds
hierarchical_section_title: Hank Erickson / Professional career / Cincinnati Reds
caption_attribution_description: Joe DiMaggio at-bat while Hank Erickson is catching.
context_page_description: Henry Nels "Hank" Erickson was a professional baseball catcher. Erickson spent seven seasons in professional baseball, one of which was in Major League Baseball with the Cincinnati Reds. Over his major league career, Erickson batted .261 with nine runs, 23 hits, three doubles, two triples, one home run, and four runs batted in in 37 games. His only season in the majors was cut short because of injuries he suffered in an automobile accident.
  In six minor league seasons, Erickson batted .265 with 333 hits, 49 doubles, 20 triples, and five home runs in 402 games. He played for three teams in the minors; the Double-A Louisville Colonels of the American Association, the Double-A Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League, and the Class-A Waterloo Reds of the Western League. During his career, Erickson had the nickname "Popeye".
context_section_description: In 1935, Erickson was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds as a part of a rebuilding phase in the franchise. On April 18, after replacing injured catcher Ernie Lombardi in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Erickson hit his first major league home run. During his time with the Reds, Erickson was given the nickname "Popeye" after the comic strip character. Erickson was involved in an automobile accident in September. He suffered a dislocated right hip, a broken left elbow, a skull fracture, a brain injury, and skull lacerations. Early into his hospital stay, Erickson slipped in and out of consciousness. He was unable to play for the remainder of the season. Injured catcher Ernie Lombardi had to take over the bulk of the catching duties while Erickson was out. Erickson played 37 games with the Reds and batted .261 with nine runs, 23 hits, three doubles, two triples, one home run, and four runs batted in (RBIs).
caption: Erickson behind the plate while Joe DiMaggio hits the ball.
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