Al Nipper
Encyclopedia
Albert Samuel Nipper is an American
professional baseball
coach
and a former Major League
pitcher
who played for the Boston Red Sox
, Chicago Cubs
and Cleveland Indians
. On September 19, 2011, he was named minor league
pitching coordinator of the Detroit Tigers
.
Nipper graduated from Hazelwood West High School in Hazelwood
, Missouri
and Truman State University
in Kirksville
(formerly Northeast Missouri State University). Nipper pitched for the Red Sox from 1983 to 1987, the Cubs in 1988 and the Indians in 1990. In 144 total games played
(124 as a starting pitcher
), he finished with a career record of 46–50 and a 4.52 earned run average
in 797⅔ innings pitched
, with 381 strikeouts and 303 bases on balls. He was also one of the top first year players in the ballot for Rookie of the Year in 1984.
Nipper has been a scout and coach
for Major League clubs since the mid-1990s. He has been the MLB pitching coach of the Red Sox (mid-1995 through mid-1996) and the Kansas City Royals
(2001–2002). He served as the Red Sox' bullpen
coach in , although he spent much of that season as the team's interim pitching coach because of the surgery-induced absence of Dave Wallace
. Nipper has also held roving minor league pitching instructor posts for Boston and the Texas Rangers
. From –, he was a special assignment scout for the Red Sox, specializing in evaluating pitchers.
Nipper is a close friend of pitcher and former Boston teammate Roger Clemens
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
and a former Major League
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
who played for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
and Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. On September 19, 2011, he was named minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
pitching coordinator of the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
.
Nipper graduated from Hazelwood West High School in Hazelwood
Hazelwood, Missouri
Hazelwood is a second-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in northwestern St. Louis County, Missouri. The population was 25,703 as of the 2010 census. Hazelwood, a northern suburb of St. Louis, is located north of Lambert-St...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
and Truman State University
Truman State University
Truman State University is a public liberal arts and sciences university in Missouri, United States and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. About 6,000 students attend Truman, pursuing degrees in 43 undergraduate and 9 Graduate programs. It is located in Kirksville in...
in Kirksville
Kirksville, Missouri
Kirksville is the county seat of Adair County, Missouri, United States. It is located in Benton Township. The population was 17,505 at the 2010 census. Kirksville also anchors a micropolitan area that comprises Adair and Schuyler counties. The city is perhaps best known as the location of Truman...
(formerly Northeast Missouri State University). Nipper pitched for the Red Sox from 1983 to 1987, the Cubs in 1988 and the Indians in 1990. In 144 total games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
(124 as a starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
), he finished with a career record of 46–50 and a 4.52 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 797⅔ innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
, with 381 strikeouts and 303 bases on balls. He was also one of the top first year players in the ballot for Rookie of the Year in 1984.
Nipper has been a scout and coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
for Major League clubs since the mid-1990s. He has been the MLB pitching coach of the Red Sox (mid-1995 through mid-1996) and the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
(2001–2002). He served as the Red Sox' bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
coach in , although he spent much of that season as the team's interim pitching coach because of the surgery-induced absence of Dave Wallace
Dave Wallace (baseball)
David William Wallace was the interim pitching coach for the Atlanta Braves. He spent the majority of his career working for the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets organizations.-Playing career:...
. Nipper has also held roving minor league pitching instructor posts for Boston and the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. From –, he was a special assignment scout for the Red Sox, specializing in evaluating pitchers.
Nipper is a close friend of pitcher and former Boston teammate Roger Clemens
Roger Clemens
William Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
.