Gary Nilsson
Encyclopedia
Gary Nilsson is a former Australia
n baseball
player who played as a pitcher
for the Lakeland Tigers
in 1984 and in the Australian Baseball League from to . He is the brother of former All-Star
, Dave Nilsson
as well as former minor leaguer Bob Nilsson
. His son is Mitch Nilsson
, currently contracted to the Cleveland Indians
and nephew Jay Nilsson
, former Gulf Coast Indians
player.
in 1983. The next year, he played in advanced A baseball with the Lakeland Tigers and was 1-4 with a 5.95 ERA. He was released at the end of the year.
In 1989, when the Australian Baseball League was founded, the right-hander was picked up by the Gold Coast Cougars
. He batted at a .289/.352/.378 clip as a first baseman
in the 1989-90 Australian Baseball League season
, second on the team to brother Bob Nilsson
. In the 1990-1991
season, he was 6-1 with one save and a 5.96 ERA for the Daikyo Dolphins
. The following year, he had a 5-4, 4.62 record for Daikyo, threw a one-hitter and helped the team to an ABL title.
In 1992-1993
, Nilsson was 3-0 with a 2.50 ERA with the Brisbane Bandits, despite spending a lot of the season injured. In 1993-1994
, Gary had a 2-2, 2.42 record, helping Brisbane win the title, picking up the win
in the final game of the season, pitching to his younger brother Dave
.
The next year season was a bit of a low one for Nilsson as he was 0-4 with four saves and a 5.06 ERA, but did join with Kelly Wunsch and Cam Cairncross
on a combined no-hitter. His career ended due to injuries in 1996, after a 1-3, 6.35 campaign in 1995-1996
. His career in the Australian Baseball League totalled to a 17-14 record with 5 saves and a 4.57 ERA in 56 games.
Gary is now a coach with the Pine Rivers Rapids
in the Greater Brisbane League
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player who played as a 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...
for the Lakeland Tigers
Lakeland Tigers
The Lakeland Flying Tigers are a minor league baseball team based in Lakeland, Florida.Home games are played at Joker Marchant Stadium; opened in 1966 and renovated in 2003. The park, which also doubles as the Detroit Tigers spring training home, seats 8,500 fans...
in 1984 and in the Australian Baseball League from to . He is the brother of former All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
, Dave Nilsson
Dave Nilsson
David Wayne Nilsson is a retired Australian professional baseball player who played as catcher for Major League Baseball's Milwaukee Brewers from to . He was an All-Star in 1999, becoming the only Australian player to appear in an All-Star game...
as well as former minor leaguer Bob Nilsson
Bob Nilsson
Robert "Bob" Nilsson was the oldest of the four Nilsson brothers and one of the greatest relievers in the history of Australian baseball leagues. Bob's brother Dave Nilsson was the first Australian All-Star in MLB, his brother Gary Nilsson played in the minors and Ron Nilsson also played in...
. His son is Mitch Nilsson
Mitch Nilsson
Mitchell Caine Nilsson is an Australian baseball player who plays catcher and is currently with the Brisbane Bandits and the Cleveland Indians organisation...
, currently contracted to 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...
and nephew Jay Nilsson
Jay Nilsson
Jay Nilsson born 1 November 1987 in Redcliffe, Queensland is a former minor league baseball player for the Gulf Coast Indians. He is the son of Bob Nilsson, a top Australian league reliever of the 1990s. Jay's uncle David Nilsson was the first Australian All-Star in the major leagues...
, former Gulf Coast Indians
Gulf Coast Indians
The Arizona League Indians are a minor league baseball team in Goodyear, Arizona managed by Ted Kubiak. They are a Rookie-level team in the Arizona League that began play as a Cleveland Indians affiliate in the summer of 2009...
player.
Playing career
Gary was signed to the Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in 1983. The next year, he played in advanced A baseball with the Lakeland Tigers and was 1-4 with a 5.95 ERA. He was released at the end of the year.
In 1989, when the Australian Baseball League was founded, the right-hander was picked up by the Gold Coast Cougars
Gold Coast Cougars
The Gold Coast Cougars were the re-branded Daikyo Dolphins after major sponsor Daikyo had to end sponsorship of the team due to financial problems with the Australian arm of the company.- See also :*Sport in Australia*Australian Baseball...
. He batted at a .289/.352/.378 clip as a first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
in the 1989-90 Australian Baseball League season
1989-90 Australian Baseball League season
The inaugural Australian Baseball League championship was won by the Waverley Reds coached by Phil Dale who defeated cross-town rivals the Melbourne Monarchs 3-1 in the 4 game championship series.-Teams:Source: -Ladder:Source:...
, second on the team to brother Bob Nilsson
Bob Nilsson
Robert "Bob" Nilsson was the oldest of the four Nilsson brothers and one of the greatest relievers in the history of Australian baseball leagues. Bob's brother Dave Nilsson was the first Australian All-Star in MLB, his brother Gary Nilsson played in the minors and Ron Nilsson also played in...
. In the 1990-1991
1990-91 Australian Baseball League season
The 1990-91 Australian Baseball League championship was won by Perth Heat who defeated the Daikyo Dolphins 3-2 in the 5 game championship series.-Ladder:-Final Series: Game 1: 1st Vs 2nd at Parry Field:-Final Series: Game 2: 1st Vs 2nd at Parry Field:...
season, he was 6-1 with one save and a 5.96 ERA for the Daikyo Dolphins
Daikyo Dolphins
The Daikyo Dolphins were formerly the Gold Coast Clippers, a foundation team in the now defunct Australian Baseball League. The Clippers changed their name to the Daikyo Dolphins following the signing of a major sponsorship deal with Japanese real estate development company Daikyo to create one of...
. The following year, he had a 5-4, 4.62 record for Daikyo, threw a one-hitter and helped the team to an ABL title.
In 1992-1993
1992-93 Australian Baseball League season
The 1992-93 Australian Baseball League Championship was won by the Melbourne Monarchs who were back after being expelled from the league in 1990. The Monarchs defeated Perth Heat in 2 games to take out the Championship.-Ladder:...
, Nilsson was 3-0 with a 2.50 ERA with the Brisbane Bandits, despite spending a lot of the season injured. In 1993-1994
1993-94 Australian Baseball League season
The 1993-94 Australian Baseball League Championship was won by the Brisbane Bandits who after finishing 3rd defeated Perth Heat to meet the Sydney Blues in the championship series where they won the Championship in 2 games.-Ladder:...
, Gary had a 2-2, 2.42 record, helping Brisbane win the title, picking up the win
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
in the final game of the season, pitching to his younger brother Dave
Dave Nilsson
David Wayne Nilsson is a retired Australian professional baseball player who played as catcher for Major League Baseball's Milwaukee Brewers from to . He was an All-Star in 1999, becoming the only Australian player to appear in an All-Star game...
.
The next year season was a bit of a low one for Nilsson as he was 0-4 with four saves and a 5.06 ERA, but did join with Kelly Wunsch and Cam Cairncross
Cam Cairncross
Cameron Cairncross is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who debuted for the Cleveland Indians on 20 July, , and pitched his final game on 1 October of that same season....
on a combined no-hitter. His career ended due to injuries in 1996, after a 1-3, 6.35 campaign in 1995-1996
1995-96 Australian Baseball League season
The 1995-96 Australian Baseball League Championship was won by the Sydney Blues, who defeated the Melbourne Reds in 2 games at the Sydney Showground.-Ladder:-Semi Final 1: Game 1: 1st Vs 4th at QE II Stadium:...
. His career in the Australian Baseball League totalled to a 17-14 record with 5 saves and a 4.57 ERA in 56 games.
Gary is now a coach with the Pine Rivers Rapids
Pine Rivers Rapids
The Pine Rivers Rapids Baseball Club is a baseball club located in Lawnton, Queensland, that participates in the Greater Brisbane League competition and the Brisbane North competition....
in the Greater Brisbane League
Greater Brisbane League
The Greater Brisbane League or formerly the Greater Brisbane Baseball Board league is the largest baseball league in the Australian state of Queensland and covers all teams from Brisbane North, South, West, Metro as well as two Gold Coast teams. These are from age groups Little League through to...
.