Niles Jordan
Encyclopedia
Niles Chapman Jordan [Sonny] (December 1, 1925 - March 15, 2008) was a starting pitcher
who played in Major League Baseball
during the and seasons. Listed at 5' 11", 180 lb., he batted and threw left-handed
.
A native of Lyman, Washington
, Jordan excelled in sports at Sedro-Woolley High School
before enlisting the United States Navy
upon graduation in 1943. He served on the destroyer USS Bennett (DD-473)
in the Pacific, taking part at the battles of Iwo Jima
and Okinawa
. On April 7, 1945, the Bennett was hit by a Japanese kamikaze fighter, but Jordan was not among the casualties. After being discharged from military service he attended Mount Vernon College where he played baseball and football.
Jordan later pitched for the Sedro-Woolley in the local city league and in 1948 was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies
. He was sent to the Klamath Falls of the Far West League where, in 1949, he finished with a 19-7 mark and a 4.35 ERA
. In 1950 he was promoted to Terre-Haute of the Three-I League where he was 17-6, and then enjoyed his best season with Wilmington of the Interstate League in 1951, going 21-3 with 20 complete game
s (including two one-hitters) and earned a late-season call-up to Philadelphia. Before the 1952 season, he was obtained by the Cincinnati Reds
along with Eddie Pellagrini
, Andy Seminick
and Dick Sisler
in the same transaction that brought Connie Ryan
, Smoky Burgess
and Howie Fox
to the Phillies.
In a two-season career, Jordan posted a 2-4 record with a 4.19 ERA in eight appearances, including a shutout
, giving up 22 runs (two unearned) on 49 hits and 11 walks
while striking out
13 in 43.0 innings of work.
Following his baseball career, Jordan returned to Sedro Woolley, Washington, just miles from his birthplace, where he worked in the lumber industry for many years. He died in the Life Care Center of Skagit Valley
at the age of 82.
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
who played in Major League Baseball
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...
during the and seasons. Listed at 5' 11", 180 lb., he batted and threw left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
.
A native of Lyman, Washington
Lyman, Washington
Lyman is a town in Skagit County, Washington, United States. The population was 438 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Mount Vernon–Anacortes, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, Jordan excelled in sports at Sedro-Woolley High School
Sedro-Woolley High School
Sedro-Woolley High School is a public high school in the city of Sedro-Woolley, Washington. The school enrolls about 1394 students in grades 9-12. Its colors are blue and white and the school mascot is the bear cub...
before enlisting the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
upon graduation in 1943. He served on the destroyer USS Bennett (DD-473)
USS Bennett (DD-473)
USS Bennett , a Fletcher-class destroyer, was a ship of the U.S. Navy that was named for the naval aviator Floyd Bennett , who flew towards the North Pole with Richard E. Byrd in 1926, but did not make it there....
in the Pacific, taking part at the battles of Iwo Jima
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima , or Operation Detachment, was a major battle in which the United States fought for and captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Empire of Japan. The U.S...
and Okinawa
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945...
. On April 7, 1945, the Bennett was hit by a Japanese kamikaze fighter, but Jordan was not among the casualties. After being discharged from military service he attended Mount Vernon College where he played baseball and football.
Jordan later pitched for the Sedro-Woolley in the local city league and in 1948 was signed by 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...
. He was sent to the Klamath Falls of the Far West League where, in 1949, he finished with a 19-7 mark and a 4.35 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...
. In 1950 he was promoted to Terre-Haute of the Three-I League where he was 17-6, and then enjoyed his best season with Wilmington of the Interstate League in 1951, going 21-3 with 20 complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s (including two one-hitters) and earned a late-season call-up to Philadelphia. Before the 1952 season, he was obtained by the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
along with Eddie Pellagrini
Eddie Pellagrini
Edward Charles Pellagrini was an American infielder in Major League Baseball from to for the Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Browns, Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, and Pittsburgh Pirates...
, Andy Seminick
Andy Seminick
Andrew Wasal Seminick was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies between 1943 and 1951, and the Cincinnati Reds/Redlegs from 1952 through part of 1955, when he rejoined the Phillies for the rest of his career until...
and Dick Sisler
Dick Sisler
Richard Alan Sisler was an American player, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Sisler was the son of Hall of Fame first baseman and two-time .400 hitter George Sisler. Younger brother Dave Sisler was a relief pitcher in the 1950s and 1960s with four MLB...
in the same transaction that brought Connie Ryan
Connie Ryan
Cornelius Joseph Ryan was an American second baseman, third baseman, coach and manager in Major League Baseball....
, Smoky Burgess
Smoky Burgess
Forrest Harrill "Smoky" Burgess was an American professional baseball player, coach and scout. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1949 to 1967. Later in his career, he became known for his ability as a pinch hitter, setting the major league career record for career pinch-hits...
and Howie Fox
Howie Fox
Howard Francis Fox was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for three different teams between the 1944 and 1954 seasons. Listed at 6' 3", 210 lb., Fox batted and threw right-handed...
to the Phillies.
In a two-season career, Jordan posted a 2-4 record with a 4.19 ERA in eight appearances, including a shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
, giving up 22 runs (two unearned) on 49 hits and 11 walks
Base 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...
while striking out
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....
13 in 43.0 innings of work.
Following his baseball career, Jordan returned to Sedro Woolley, Washington, just miles from his birthplace, where he worked in the lumber industry for many years. He died in the Life Care Center of Skagit Valley
Skagit Valley
The Skagit Valley lies in the northwestern corner of the state of Washington, USA. Its defining feature is the Skagit River, which snakes through local communities which include the seat of Skagit County, Mount Vernon, as well as Sedro-Woolley, Concrete, Lyman-Hamilton, and Burlington.The local...
at the age of 82.