Kid Nichols
Encyclopedia
Charles Augustus Nichols (September 14, 1869 – April 11, 1953), better known as Kid Nichols, was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
. Admired for his steadfast consistency year-in and year-out, Nichols won 361 games, the 7th highest total in major league history
. Nichols is the youngest pitcher to win 300 games, reaching that milestone at the age of 30.
Born in Madison
, Wisconsin, Nichols entered the major leagues in 1890 with the Boston Beaneaters and was an instant success. Nichols went 27–19 with a 2.23 ERA
and 222 strikeout
s and began a string of ten consecutive seasons with 20 wins or more. Nichols also had a major league record seven 30 win seasons in this time (1891–1894, 1896–1898) with a career high of 35 in 1892.
Nichols had his first losing season in 1900 when he went 13–16 but improved to 19–16 the following year. After the 1901 season, Nichols purchased an interest in a minor league franchise in Kansas City
. He left the Beaneaters to manage and pitch for the Kansas City club, where he won a total of 48 games in 1902 and 1903. After a two year hiatus from the major leagues, Nichols returned to the 20 win plateau for the eleventh and final time in his career in 1904 for a new team, the St. Louis Cardinals
. He finished his career in 1906 with the Philadelphia Phillies
, who picked him up off waivers in 1905. Nichols retired with 361 wins, a total exceeded at the time only by Cy Young
, 208 losses, 1,868 strikeouts and a 2.95 ERA. He was a part of five National League
pennant winners, all with the Boston Beaneaters (1891–93, 1897, 1898). His 361 victories ranks 7th all-time, and his 5056 1/3 innings pitched ranks 11th all-time.
After baseball, Nichols dabbled in the motion picture industry, partnering with Joe Tinker
in running a business that distributed movies to theatres in the midwest, and opened bowling alleys in the Kansas City area. An accomplished bowler himself, Nichols won Kansas City's Class A bowling championship at age 64.
Nichols was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame
in 1949
.
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...
. Admired for his steadfast consistency year-in and year-out, Nichols won 361 games, the 7th highest total in major league history
Top 100 winning pitchers of all time
This is a list of the top 500 Major League Baseball winningest pitchers. In the sport of baseball, a win is a statistic credited to the pitcher for the winning team who was in the game when his team last took the lead...
. Nichols is the youngest pitcher to win 300 games, reaching that milestone at the age of 30.
Born in Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
, Wisconsin, Nichols entered the major leagues in 1890 with the Boston Beaneaters and was an instant success. Nichols went 27–19 with a 2.23 ERA
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...
and 222 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and began a string of ten consecutive seasons with 20 wins or more. Nichols also had a major league record seven 30 win seasons in this time (1891–1894, 1896–1898) with a career high of 35 in 1892.
Nichols had his first losing season in 1900 when he went 13–16 but improved to 19–16 the following year. After the 1901 season, Nichols purchased an interest in a minor league franchise in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. He left the Beaneaters to manage and pitch for the Kansas City club, where he won a total of 48 games in 1902 and 1903. After a two year hiatus from the major leagues, Nichols returned to the 20 win plateau for the eleventh and final time in his career in 1904 for a new team, the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. He finished his career in 1906 with the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, who picked him up off waivers in 1905. Nichols retired with 361 wins, a total exceeded at the time only by Cy Young
Cy Young
Denton True "Cy" Young was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. During his 22-year baseball career , he pitched for five different teams. Young was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937...
, 208 losses, 1,868 strikeouts and a 2.95 ERA. He was a part of five National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
pennant winners, all with the Boston Beaneaters (1891–93, 1897, 1898). His 361 victories ranks 7th all-time, and his 5056 1/3 innings pitched ranks 11th all-time.
After baseball, Nichols dabbled in the motion picture industry, partnering with Joe Tinker
Joe Tinker
Joseph Bert Tinker was a Major League Baseball player and manager. He is best known for his years with the Chicago Cubs dynasty which won four pennants between 1906 and 1910; and for his feud with double play partner Johnny Evers. Tinker was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in...
in running a business that distributed movies to theatres in the midwest, and opened bowling alleys in the Kansas City area. An accomplished bowler himself, Nichols won Kansas City's Class A bowling championship at age 64.
Nichols was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
in 1949
Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1949
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 1949 followed the rules in place since 1947, which had governed two successful elections of recent players. The Baseball Writers Association of America voted by mail to select from players retired less than 25 years, with provision for a runoff in case of...
.
See also
- 300 win club300 win clubIn Major League Baseball, the 300 win club refers to the group of pitchers—24 as of 2011—who have won 300 or more games. While the "300 club" is an informal group, becoming a member is among the highest accomplishments a starting pitcher can achieve. Several members retired soon after winning their...
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball saves champions
- List of Major League Baseball wins champions
- MLB All-Time Hit Batsmen ListMLB All-Time Hit Batsmen ListThis is a list of top 100 Major League Baseball pitchers who have the most hit batsmen of all time. There is an of hitters who have been hit by pitch the most times.Active players are denoted in bold text.-The List:* Bold denotes active player...
- Top 100 strikeout pitchers of all timeTop 100 strikeout pitchers of all timeIn baseball, a strikeout occurs when the batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. Strikeouts are associated with dominance on the part of the pitcher and failure on the part of the batter....
- Major League Baseball titles leadersMajor League Baseball titles leadersAt the end of each Major League Baseball season, the league leaders of various statistical categories are announced. Leading the league in a particular category is referred to as a title....
External links
- Obituary - TheDeadballEra.com