Jerry Nops
From BR Bullpen
Jeremiah H. Nops
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Weight 168 lb.
- Debut September 7, 1896
- Final Game September 23, 1901
- Born June 23, 1875 in Toledo, OH USA
- Died March 26, 1937 in Camden, NJ USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Jerry Nops had an excellent year as a 22-year-old youngster on the famous Baltimore Orioles of the National League in 1897. He went 20-6 on a team that featured such stars as John McGraw, Willie Keeler, Hughie Jennings and Joe Kelley.
On May 17, 1897, he not only pitched a shutout but also singled and doubled.
Nops' major league career lasted six years, long enough to play in the inaugural year of the new major league American League.
Prior to coming to the majors he pitched for the Wilmington Peaches. The book Honus Wagner: A Biography details Nops' exploits in several games against Paterson. Even before that, he had pitched for Toledo. The SABR biography of Lucky Wright also indicates that Nops played for an independent team in Cygnet, OH, near Toledo.
In 1904 he played for Providence, and then in the winter joined a group from Lynn, MA, who went to Cuba to play against Cuban teams. Source: Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History, 1878-1961.
The book John McGraw says McGraw suspended Nops for being hung over and losing a game against the 1899 Spiders.
The book Baseball in Baltimore: The First 100 Years has a photo of the 1899 Orioles including Nops. He is a broad-shouldered young man who is perhaps a couple inches shorter than some of the taller players he is standing near. Joe McGinnity, who is standing next to him, is a bit taller.
