Reid Nichols
Encyclopedia
Thomas Reid Nichols is a former outfielder
in Major League Baseball
, playing mainly at center field from to for the Boston Red Sox
(1980–1985), Chicago White Sox
(1985–1986) and Montreal Expos
(1987). Listed at 5' 11", 165 lb., he batted and threw right-handed. Nichols currently serves as minor league farm director for the Milwaukee Brewers
.
. He worked his way through the Red Sox minor league system until he made his debut in .
In the early 1980s, Nichols played reserve roles in a Boston outfield that was composed of Jim Rice
, Tony Armas
and Dwight Evans
, being also used as a pinch-hitter against left-handing pitching.
In 1982 Nichols reached career-numbers in batting average
(.302), home run
s (7), and runs batted in (33) in 92 games, then in 1983 appeared in a career-high 100 games. During the 1985 midseason he was traded by Boston to the White Sox in exchange for Tim Lollar
, and later was signed as a free agent by Montreal in 1987, his last major league season.
In an eight-year career, Nichols was a .266 hitter (308-for-1160) with 22 home runs and 131 RBI in 540 games, including 156 runs
, 63 doubles
, eight triples
, 27 stolen base
s and a .326 on-base percentage. In 408 outfield appearances, he posted a collective .990 fielding percentage
(eight errors
in 782 chances).
Nichols ended his professional career with the Oklahoma City 89ers
in .
from - . In he served as the Rangers first base coach.
In he was hired as the Farm Director/Director of Player Development for the Milwaukee Brewers in , a position he still holds. During his tenure the Brewers farm system has gone from one of the lowest ranked development systems to a number seven ranking in by Baseball Prospectus, developing current players such as Prince Fielder
and Rickie Weeks
.
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...
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...
, playing mainly at center field from to for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1980–1985), Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(1985–1986) and Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
(1987). Listed at 5' 11", 165 lb., he batted and threw right-handed. Nichols currently serves as minor league farm director for the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.
Playing career
Nichols was selected by Boston Red Sox in 12th Round of the 1976 Major League Baseball Draft1976 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1976 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The 1976 Arizona State University team, considered by many to be the best collegiate team ever, played a major role in the draft. Floyd Bannister was picked number one...
. He worked his way through the Red Sox minor league system until he made his debut in .
In the early 1980s, Nichols played reserve roles in a Boston outfield that was composed of Jim Rice
Jim Rice
James Edward "Jim" Rice , nicknamed "Jim Ed", is a former Major League Baseball left fielder.Jim Rice played his entire career for the Boston Red Sox from 1974 to 1989...
, Tony Armas
Tony Armas
Antonio Rafael Armas Machado is a former Venezuelan professional baseball player who played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball. He was one of the top sluggers in the American League in the early 1980s. Twice Armas led the league in home runs, and led all of Major League Baseball in RBIs in...
and Dwight Evans
Dwight Evans
Dwight Michael Evans , nicknamed "Dewey", is an American former professional baseball right fielder and right-handed batter who played with the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles in Major League Baseball....
, being also used as a pinch-hitter against left-handing pitching.
In 1982 Nichols reached career-numbers in batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(.302), home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s (7), and runs batted in (33) in 92 games, then in 1983 appeared in a career-high 100 games. During the 1985 midseason he was traded by Boston to the White Sox in exchange for Tim Lollar
Tim Lollar
William Timothy Lollar is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played all or part of seven seasons in Major League Baseball from 1980-86 for the New York Yankees , San Diego Padres , Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox , primarily as a starting pitcher.- Early career :Lollar played...
, and later was signed as a free agent by Montreal in 1987, his last major league season.
In an eight-year career, Nichols was a .266 hitter (308-for-1160) with 22 home runs and 131 RBI in 540 games, including 156 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, 63 doubles
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....
, eight triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 27 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s and a .326 on-base percentage. In 408 outfield appearances, he posted a collective .990 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
(eight errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in 782 chances).
Nichols ended his professional career with the Oklahoma City 89ers
Oklahoma RedHawks
The Oklahoma City RedHawks are a minor league baseball team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros...
in .
Post playing career
Nichols served as the Farm Director for the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
from - . In he served as the Rangers first base coach.
In he was hired as the Farm Director/Director of Player Development for the Milwaukee Brewers in , a position he still holds. During his tenure the Brewers farm system has gone from one of the lowest ranked development systems to a number seven ranking in by Baseball Prospectus, developing current players such as Prince Fielder
Prince Fielder
Prince Semien Fielder is a Major League Baseball free agent who plays first base. He is currently listed at 5' 11" and . He was selected by the Brewers in the first round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft out of Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne, Florida.He is the son of former Detroit...
and Rickie Weeks
Rickie Weeks
Rickie Darnell Weeks is a Major League Baseball second baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers....
.
External links
- MLB historical statistics
- Retrosheet