Rocky Nelson

From BR Bullpen

Glenn Richard Nelson

Bats Left, Throws Left
Height 5' 11", Weight 178 lb.

Debut April 27, 1949
Final Game September 29, 1961
Born November 18, 1924 in Portsmouth, OH USA
Died October 31, 2006 in Portsmouth, OH USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Rocky Nelson was a perennial minor league star first baseman who played in 13 full or part minor league years. Nelson broke in with the Johnson City Cardinals in 1942. He then spent 3 years 1943, 1944 and 1945 in the United States military during WW II. It would be 3 more years in the minors before getting his first chance in the majors.

He was with the Cardinals, Pirates, White Sox, Dodgers and Indians from 1949 to 1956, but was an International League superstar during the decade. While with Brooklyn in 1952 he was used mainly as a left-hand hitting pinch hitter and took part in three games in that capacity against the Yankees in the World Series.

A three time MVP award winner in the International League in 1953, 1955 and 1958 he hit well over .300 all three years with 34 home runs and 136 RBIs in 1953, 37 and 130 in 1955 and 43 and 120 in 1958 while playing for the Montreal Royals and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Rocky, who was married at home plate at Lynchburg, VA when he was playing in the Piedmont League in 1947, was the first non Canadian ever elected into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.

Late in his career he resurfaced in the big leagues with Pittsburgh and shared the first sack with Dick Stuart for the 1960 world champions. Rocky hit an even .300 during the regular season then .333 (3 for 9) in the World Series. In the 10-9 victory in game seven his two run homer opened the scoring parade. After one more season with the Pirates, he finished with a .249 average.

He spent the 1962 season with the Denver Bears and Toronto Maple Leafs and chose to retire to his hometown of Portsmouth, OH where he was in the insurance business and owned a steak-house.

Rocky Nelson died on October 31, 2006 in Portsmouth, OH

Transactions

Before 1942 Season: Signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as an amateur free agent.

May 17, 1951: Traded by the St. Louis Cardinals with Erv Dusak to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Stan Rojek.

September 10, 1951: Selected off waivers by the Chicago White Sox from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

December 6, 1951: Traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Brooklyn Dodgers for Hector Rodriguez.

October 1, 1953: Traded by the Brooklyn Dodgers to the Cleveland Indians for Bill Abernathie and cash.

May 11, 1954: Purchased by the Brooklyn Dodgers from the Cleveland Indians.

July 30, 1956: Selected off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals from the Brooklyn Dodgers.

March 21, 1957: Sent by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Toronto (International) to complete an earlier deal made on October 1, 1956. The St. Louis Cardinals sent a player to be named later, Jim Pearce, and cash to the Toronto (International) for Frank Barnes. The St. Louis Cardinals sent Rocky Nelson (March 21, 1957) to the Toronto (International) to complete the trade.

December 1, 1958: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates from the Toronto (International) in the 1958 rule 5 draft.

Career Statistics