Don Nicholas (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Donald Leigh Nicholas was an American
professional baseball
player who played from 1948–1959. Initially a shortstop
in minor league baseball
, then an outfielder
, Nicholas received two brief trials in the Major Leagues
with the and Chicago White Sox
as a pinch hitter
and pinch runner
. The native of Phoenix, Arizona
, batted left-handed
, threw right-handed, stood 5 in 7 in (1.7 m) tall and weighed 150 pounds (68 kg).
Nicholas originally signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers
and was a successful base stealer
during his minor league career, surpassing the 30-stolen-base mark at least three times during his career. Purchased by the White Sox after the 1951 minor league season, Nicholas made his MLB debut on April 16, 1952, when he pinch ran for Eddie Robinson in a 1–0 defeat at the hands of the Cleveland Indians
. The following day, he pinch hit for pitcher
Howie Judson
and was retired by Mike Garcia. Four days later, he batted for Hal Brown
and bounced out to St. Louis Browns
pitcher Ned Garver
. After spending the rest of 1952 and all of 1953 in the White Sox' farm system, Nicholas made Chicago's opening day roster in 1954. He pinch hit once (and received a base on balls
) and scored three runs
, but was sent to the Triple-A Havana Sugar Kings
at the May cutdown date and played the rest of his career in the minors.
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....
player who played from 1948–1959. Initially a shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
in minor league baseball
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...
, then an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
, Nicholas received two brief trials in the Major Leagues
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...
with the and 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...
as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
and pinch runner
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
. The native of Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, batted left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
, threw right-handed, stood 5 in 7 in (1.7 m) tall and weighed 150 pounds (68 kg).
Nicholas originally signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
and was a successful base stealer
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
during his minor league career, surpassing the 30-stolen-base mark at least three times during his career. Purchased by the White Sox after the 1951 minor league season, Nicholas made his MLB debut on April 16, 1952, when he pinch ran for Eddie Robinson in a 1–0 defeat at the hands of the 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...
. The following day, he pinch hit for 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...
Howie Judson
Howie Judson
Howard Kolls Judson is a retired American professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher in the Major Leagues from to for the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Redlegs...
and was retired by Mike Garcia. Four days later, he batted for Hal Brown
Hal Brown
Hector Harold Brown , nicknamed "Skinny," is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Chicago White Sox , Boston Red Sox , Baltimore Orioles , New York Yankees and Houston Colt .45's...
and bounced out to St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
pitcher Ned Garver
Ned Garver
Ned Franklin Garver was an American League pitcher playing from 1948 to 1961 winning 129 games in his major league career. Most of his career was spent playing for perennial second-division teams like the St. Louis Browns and Kansas City Athletics.In 1951, Garver fashioned an outstanding season....
. After spending the rest of 1952 and all of 1953 in the White Sox' farm system, Nicholas made Chicago's opening day roster in 1954. He pinch hit once (and received a base on balls
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
) and scored three runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, but was sent to the Triple-A Havana Sugar Kings
Havana Sugar Kings
The Havana Sugar Kings were a Cuban-based minor league baseball team that played in the Class AAA International League from 1954 to 1960 . They were affiliated with Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds, and their home stadium was El Gran Estadio del Cerro in Havana, Cuba.-History:The Sugar...
at the May cutdown date and played the rest of his career in the minors.