Dave Nelson
Encyclopedia
David Earl Nelson is a former Major League Baseball
player and one of the current broadcasters for the Milwaukee Brewers
baseball team on Fox Sports Wisconsin. During a period in the early 2010 season, Nelson was team's interim radio color commentator
over the Brewers Radio Network during road games outside of Chicago while Bob Uecker
recovered from heart surgery to repair an aortic valve. He was the team's first base coach for four years prior to the end of his contract. He has developed many players, including Kenny Lofton
, Scott Podsednik
, Rickie Weeks
, and many more.
in Gardena, California
, and attended Compton Junior College and Los Angeles State College. Nelson served for six years in the Army Reserve
.
on April 11, 1968, spending two seasons with the tribe before being traded to the Washington Senators
during the 1969-70 offseason.
.
Nelson moved with the franchise to Texas, where he continued to gain a reputation as a base-stealing threat, stealing 51 bases in . He had his best year in , when he played in his one and only All-Star Game
, playing one inning at third base but not coming to bat. That year, he finished with a batting average
of .286, with seven home runs and 48 RBIs. He remained with the Rangers until being traded to the Kansas City Royals
in exchange for Nelson Briles
following the season.
in Game 3 of the 1976 American League Championship Series
against the New York Yankees
, he grounded out against Sparky Lyle
. He played in his final major league game on September 27, , then retired after the season.
's baseball team. The following season, he returned to the majors as a coach for the Chicago White Sox
, where he remained until . Over the next two-plus decades would work in various capacities for the Oakland Athletics
(Director of Instruction, -), Montreal Expos
(minor league baserunning instructor, -), Cleveland Indians
(-), and Milwaukee Brewers
(minor league outfield instructor, -, first base coach, -).
Nelson is currently a pregame analyst for the Milwaukee Brewers
on Fox Sports Wisconsin. He is also the Director of Milwaukee Brewers Alumni Relations. His previous experience as a sportscaster was on Kansas City Royals
telecasts in , on Chicago Cubs
radio broadcasts from -, and on Cleveland Indians
radio broadcasts from -. Nelson also sits on the board of directors for Open Arms Home for Children, a non-profit organization that provides homes to orphaned children affected by the AIDS pandemic in South Africa.
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...
player and one of the current broadcasters for the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
baseball team on Fox Sports Wisconsin. During a period in the early 2010 season, Nelson was team's interim radio color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
over the Brewers Radio Network during road games outside of Chicago while Bob Uecker
Bob Uecker
Robert George "Bob" Uecker is an American former Major League Baseball player, later a sportscaster, comedian, and actor. Uecker was given the title of "Mr. Baseball" by Johnny Carson...
recovered from heart surgery to repair an aortic valve. He was the team's first base coach for four years prior to the end of his contract. He has developed many players, including Kenny Lofton
Kenny Lofton
Kenneth Lofton is a former Major League Baseball outfielder known for his great speed on the base paths as well as in the field, award-winning defensive play , timely hitting, and playful spirit. He batted and threw left-handed...
, Scott Podsednik
Scott Podsednik
Scott Eric Podsednik is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. Podsednik led the major leagues in stolen bases in with 70.-Minor leagues:...
, Rickie Weeks
Rickie Weeks
Rickie Darnell Weeks is a Major League Baseball second baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers....
, and many more.
Early Years
Nelson was born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He graduated from Junipero Serra High SchoolJunípero Serra High School (Gardena, California)
Junípero Serra High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Gardena, California, a suburban city located 14 miles southwest from downtown Los Angeles. Honored as a State School of the Year, Serra is operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.-Background:Junípero Serra High...
in Gardena, California
Gardena, California
Gardena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 58,829 at the 2010 census, up from 57,746 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Gardena is located at ....
, and attended Compton Junior College and Los Angeles State College. Nelson served for six years in the Army Reserve
Army Reserve
Army Reserve may refer to:*Military Reserve Force*Army Reserve *United States Army Reserve...
.
Cleveland Indians
Nelson played his first career game with the Cleveland IndiansCleveland 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 April 11, 1968, spending two seasons with the tribe before being traded to the Washington Senators
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...
during the 1969-70 offseason.
Washington Senators/Texas Rangers
In , Nelson finally began seeing regular time in the field, coming to bat over 300 times for the first time in his career. At the end of that season, Nelson scored the last run ever for the Washington Senators at RFK stadiumRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Washington, D.C., United States, and the current home of MLS's D.C. United....
.
Nelson moved with the franchise to Texas, where he continued to gain a reputation as a base-stealing threat, stealing 51 bases in . He had his best year in , when he played in his one and only All-Star Game
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
, playing one inning at third base but not coming to bat. That year, he finished with a batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of .286, with seven home runs and 48 RBIs. He remained with the Rangers until being traded to 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...
in exchange for Nelson Briles
Nelson Briles
Nelson Kelley "Nellie" Briles was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals , Pittsburgh Pirates , Kansas City Royals , Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles...
following the season.
Kansas City Royals
Nelson spent two seasons in Kansas City, playing sparingly off the bench. In , he got his only taste of postseason action. Pinch-hitting for Tom PoquetteTom Poquette
Thomas Arthur Poquette is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played all or part of seven seasons in the majors, between and , for the Kansas City Royals, Boston Red Sox, and Texas Rangers...
in Game 3 of the 1976 American League Championship Series
1976 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 9, 1976 at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, MissouriThe opener was played on a bright Saturday afternoon at Royals Stadium and pitted Yankee ace Jim “Catfish” Hunter against left-hander and ex-Yankee Larry Gura. The Yankees got off to a quick start scoring two in the first...
against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, he grounded out against Sparky Lyle
Sparky Lyle
Albert Walter "Sparky" Lyle is an American former left-handed relief pitcher who spent sixteen seasons in Major League Baseball . He was a closer from 1969 to 1977, first for the Boston Red Sox and then the New York Yankees. A three-time All-Star, he won the American League Cy Young Award in 1977...
. He played in his final major league game on September 27, , then retired after the season.
Post-playing career
In , Nelson was named a coach for Texas Christian UniversityTexas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
's baseball team. The following season, he returned to the majors as a coach for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, where he remained until . Over the next two-plus decades would work in various capacities for the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
(Director of Instruction, -), Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
(minor league baserunning instructor, -), 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...
(-), and Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(minor league outfield instructor, -, first base coach, -).
Nelson is currently a pregame analyst for the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
on Fox Sports Wisconsin. He is also the Director of Milwaukee Brewers Alumni Relations. His previous experience as a sportscaster was on 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...
telecasts in , on 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...
radio broadcasts from -, and on 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...
radio broadcasts from -. Nelson also sits on the board of directors for Open Arms Home for Children, a non-profit organization that provides homes to orphaned children affected by the AIDS pandemic in South Africa.