Donell Nixon
Encyclopedia
Robert Donell Nixon is a former Major League Baseball
outfielder
. He played all or part of four seasons in the majors, from until , playing all three outfield positions, most often in center field
.
in the 10th round of the 1980 Major League Baseball Draft
out of West Columbus High School in Cerro Gordo, North Carolina. He began his professional career the following season with the Wausau Timbers
of the Single-A Midwest League
. He spent most of the next two seasons at Single-A as well. In , while with the Bakersfield Mariners Nixon stole 144 bases in just 135 games, one short of the minor league record of 145 by Vince Coleman
set the same year.
In , Nixon was promoted to the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts
, where he continued to impress on the basepaths, stealing 102 bases. Unfortunately, he suffered a compound fracture in his left leg in , which stalled his promising career. The injury cost him almost 2 years of his career but did not take away much of his speed. He ran a 6.25 sixty-yard dash prior to the injury and a 6.3 after.
and one stolen base. Although he continued to start for the Mariners, Nixon did not get his first hit
until the season's fifth game, a run-scoring double
off Les Straker
. On May 1, with Nixon batting just .130, he was sent back to the minors, where he played for the Triple-A Calgary Cannons
, the Mariners' top farm team. He returned to the team in July, and finished with a much more respectable .250 average.
Nixon opened the 1988 season
with Calgary, where he batted .281 through 40 games. He was then traded to the San Francisco Giants
on June 23.
with the Giants, the only season in which he did not play in the minor leagues. He made his only postseason appearances in 1989 as well. In the 1989 World Series
against the Oakland Athletics
, he played in two of the four games, getting one hit in five at bats. The following year, the Giants released Nixon at the end of spring training
.
. He spent most of the season with the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings
, although he did appear in eight games for the Orioles in late June and early July. After the season, Nixon became a free agent.
organization, but Nixon never returned to the major leagues.
, who is also a former major league outfielder.
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...
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...
. He played all or part of four seasons in the majors, from until , playing all three outfield positions, most often in center field
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
.
Minor leagues
Nixon was originally drafted by the Seattle MarinersSeattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
in the 10th round of the 1980 Major League Baseball Draft
1980 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1980 Major League Baseball draft.- Compensation Picks :*William Erickson, was drafted in the second round by the San Francisco Giants, 31st pick overall. *Jeff Horne was drafted in the second round by the Pittsburgh Pirates,...
out of West Columbus High School in Cerro Gordo, North Carolina. He began his professional career the following season with the Wausau Timbers
Wausau Timbers
The Wausau Timbers were a minor league baseball team.The team began as the Wausau Mets in 1978, but left the affiliation with the New York Mets and went co-op...
of the Single-A Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
. He spent most of the next two seasons at Single-A as well. In , while with the Bakersfield Mariners Nixon stole 144 bases in just 135 games, one short of the minor league record of 145 by Vince Coleman
Vince Coleman
Vincent Maurice Coleman is an American former Major League Baseball player, best known for his years with the St. Louis Cardinals. Primarily a left fielder, Coleman played from to and set a number of stolen base records. He was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed.-Biography:Coleman attended...
set the same year.
In , Nixon was promoted to the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts
Chattanooga Lookouts
The Chattanooga Lookouts are a minor league baseball team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. They are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team, which plays in the Southern League, has been a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club since the 2009 season. The Lookouts...
, where he continued to impress on the basepaths, stealing 102 bases. Unfortunately, he suffered a compound fracture in his left leg in , which stalled his promising career. The injury cost him almost 2 years of his career but did not take away much of his speed. He ran a 6.25 sixty-yard dash prior to the injury and a 6.3 after.
Major league debut
Despite not playing at all in 1985 and appearing in only 12 games in , Nixon made the Mariners' Opening Day roster. He started the season's first game as Seattle's center fielder and leadoff hitter, coming to the plate four times with two walksBase 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 one stolen base. Although he continued to start for the Mariners, Nixon did not get his first hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
until the season's fifth game, a run-scoring double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
off Les Straker
Les Straker
Lester Paul Straker Bolnalda , best known as Les Straker, is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher who played for the Minnesota Twins....
. On May 1, with Nixon batting just .130, he was sent back to the minors, where he played for the Triple-A Calgary Cannons
Calgary Cannons
The Calgary Cannons were a minor league baseball team located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for 18 seasons, from 1985 until 2002. They were a member of the AAA Pacific Coast League and played at Foothills Stadium. The Cannons replaced the Calgary Expos who played in the rookie level Pioneer League...
, the Mariners' top farm team. He returned to the team in July, and finished with a much more respectable .250 average.
Nixon opened the 1988 season
1988 in baseball
See also: 1988 Major League Baseball season-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers over Oakland Athletics ; Orel Hershiser, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Dennis Eckersley...
with Calgary, where he batted .281 through 40 games. He was then traded to the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
on June 23.
Giants organization
The Giants immediately added Nixon to the major league roster. He played in 59 games over the remainder of the season, batting .348. He spent the entire 1989 season1989 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Oakland Athletics over San Francisco Giants ; Dave Stewart, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Rickey Henderson*National League Championship Series MVP: Will Clark...
with the Giants, the only season in which he did not play in the minor leagues. He made his only postseason appearances in 1989 as well. In the 1989 World Series
1989 World Series
†: Game 3 was originally slated for October 17 at 5:35 pm; however, it was postponed when an earthquake occurred at 5:04 pm.-Game 1:Saturday, October 14, 1989 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California...
against the Oakland Athletics
1989 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics season saw the A's finish in first place in the American League West division, with a record of 99 wins and 63 losses, seven games in front of the Kansas City Royals. It was their second consecutive AL West title, as well as the second straight year in which they finished...
, he played in two of the four games, getting one hit in five at bats. The following year, the Giants released Nixon at the end of spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
.
Orioles organization
Eight days after his release by the Giants, Nixon signed with the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore 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...
. He spent most of the season with the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
, although he did appear in eight games for the Orioles in late June and early July. After the season, Nixon became a free agent.
Indians organization
Nixon spent the last three years of his playing career in 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...
organization, but Nixon never returned to the major leagues.
Personal
Nixon is the younger brother of Otis NixonOtis Nixon
Otis Junior Nixon, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball player. He was a center fielder and switch-hitter who played from 1983 to 1999...
, who is also a former major league outfielder.