Nicholas Nick Etten, 77, former New York Yankee first baseman, originally starred in baseball, basketball and football at St. Rita High School. With the Yankees, he helped take the team to the World Series in 1943 and led the American League in home runs in 1944.

He died Thursday in his Hinsdale home.

Mr. Etten was the center on St. Rita`s basketball team, right end for its football squad and first baseman in baseball. He graduated in 1930 and is in the Chicago Sports and Catholic League Halls of Fame.

Mr. Etten spent nine years in the minor leagues because a manager tried to make him into an outfielder, he said later.

He led the Southeastern League in 1939, batting .370. His first full season in the big leagues was with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he had his most memorable day.

On Opening Day in 1941, he had four hits in four at bats, including a homer.

The Yankees acquired him in 1943, and he played first base for them in the World Series. He hit 22 home runs the next year, enough to lead the league.

White Sox fans, at the time, were not very happy with him because he had supposedly upset a rookie pitcher into making a balk. They said he had yelled, time, time, imitating the umpire`s voice in doing so. Mr. Etten claimed he said, Hey, hey.

He ended his big league career in 1947 with the Phillies.

Mr. Etten subsequently served as president of Carroll Construction Co. in Chicago.

Survivors include his wife, Helen; a daughter, Patricia Zoeller; three sons, Nick Jr., Thomas and John; 14 grandchildren; and two brothers.

Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Sunday in the Elliston Funeral Home, 60 S. Grant St., Hinsdale. Mass for Mr. Etten will be said at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 124 N. Spring Ave., La Grange.

Nicholas R Etten