Jim Nelson (baseball)

Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=#EAC117
bgcolor2=#000000
textcolor1=black
textcolor2=white
name=Jim Nelson
position=Pitcher


bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=July 4 1947
deathdate=death date and age|2004|8|22|1947|7|4
debutdate=May 30
debutyear=by|1970
debutteam=Pittsburgh Pirates
finaldate=July 15
finalyear=by|1971
finalteam=Pittsburgh Pirates
stat1label=W-L
stat1value=6-4
stat2label=K
stat2value=53
stat3label=ERA
stat3value=3.06
teams=
*Pittsburgh Pirates (1970-71)
highlights=
*Started and won final game played at Forbes Field

James Lorin Nelson (July 4 1947 - August 22 2004) was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1970 and 1971.

Nelson was born in Birmingham, Alabama. The Pirates selected him in the 31st round of the 1965 amateur draft. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/n/nelsoji01.shtml Jim Nelson statistics, baseball-reference.com] ] His debut for the Pirates on May 30, by|1970 was memorable. He relieved Gene Garber in the fifth inning of a game at Forbes Field against the San Francisco Giants, struck out Willie Mays, and got Willie McCovey to hit into a double play; he finished that appearance with three perfect innings pitched and four strikeouts, and hit a single in his only plate appearance. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT197005300.shtml May 30, 1970 Giants-Pirates box score and play-by-play] ]

Nelson won his first four career starts for the Pirates in 1970, a feat not equalled by a Pirates pitcher until Zach Duke won his first four starts in 2005. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9400E0D81E3FF931A3575BC0A9639C8B63 "Major League Roundup; The Braves Can't Intimidate The Pirates' 22-Year-Old Duke", New York Times, August 2, 2005] ]

Nelson also was the starting and winning pitcher in the final game played at Forbes Field on June 28, by|1970. He commented on the fans' frenzy at the end of that game: "After the game, the fans stormed the field and took everything, grass, bases, numbers off the scoreboard. I even saw some old ladies with parts of chairs. It was a real scene." [ [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07212/805588-44.stm Kevin Kirkland, "Forbes Field memories come alive in new book", "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette", July 31, 2007] ]

Nelson appeared in 15 games for the Pirates in 1970 and 17 games in 1971, both as a starter and a reliever. He struggled with control in 1971, walking 26 batters in 34 innings. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/n/nelsoji01.shtml Jim Nelson statistics, baseball-reference.com] ] In July, he was demoted to the minor leagues, but refused to report to his minor-league team. Although his teammates voted him a half-share of their 1971 World Series money, Pirates management did not award him a World Series ring. [Jim Jenkins, "Ex-Pirates right-hander Jim Nelson," Sacramento Bee, August 24, 2004] He underwent rotator cuff surgery and never returned to the majors. [Jim Jenkins, "Ex-Pirates right-hander Jim Nelson," "Sacramento Bee", August 24, 2004]

Nelson was a good-hitting pitcher, with 7 hits in 26 career at bats for a batting average of .269. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/n/nelsoji01.shtml Jim Nelson statistics, baseball-reference.com] ]

After retiring from baseball, Nelson became a produce salesman. He died unexpectedly at his Sacramento, California home at age 57 in 2004. [Jim Jenkins, "Ex-Pirates right-hander Jim Nelson," "Sacramento Bee", August 24, 2004]

References

External links

*baseball-reference|id=n/nelsoji01