Kid Nichols

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Kid Nichols
Kid Nichols
Pitcher
Born: September 14, 1869
Madison, Wisconsin
Died: April 11, 1953 (aged 83)
Kansas City, Missouri
Batted: Both Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 23, 1890
for the Boston Beaneaters
Final game
May 18, 1906
for the Philadelphia Phillies
Career statistics
Pitching Record     361-208
Earned run average     2.95
Strikeouts     1868
Teams

As Player

As Manager

Career highlights and awards
  • National League pennant: 1891, 1892, 1893, 1897, 1898
  • 7th-most wins in Major League history (361)
  • 11th-most innings pitched in Major League history (5056.3)
  • National League wins champion: 1896-1898
  • 3-time National League shutout leader
  • 11 20-win seasons
  • 7 30-win seasons
Member of the National
Baseball Hall of Fame
Elected     1949
Election Method     Veteran's Committee

Charles Augustus Nichols (September 14, 1869 - April 11, 1953), better known as Kid Nichols, was a Major League Baseball pitcher at the turn of the 20th century. Admired for his steadfast consistency year-in and year-out, Nichols amassed 361 wins over his 15 year career, the 7th highest total in major league history. Nichols is the youngest pitcher to win 300 games, reaching that milestone at age 30.

Born in Madison, Wisconsin, Nichols entered the major leagues in 1890 with the Boston Beaneaters and was an instant success. Nichols went 27-19 with a 2.23 ERA and 222 strikeouts and began a string of ten consecutive seasons with 20 wins or more. Nichols also had a major league record seven 30 win seasons in this time (1891 - 1894, 1896 - 1898) and a career high of 35 in 1892.

Nichols suffered his first losing season in 1900 when he went 13-16 but improved to 19-16 the following year. After the 1901 season, Nichols purchased an interest in a minor league franchise in Kansas City. He left the Beaneaters to manage and pitch for the Kansas City club, where he won a total of 48 games in 1902 and 1903. After a two year hiatus from the major leagues, Nichols returned to the 20 win plateau for the eleventh and final time in his career in 1904 for a new team, the St. Louis Cardinals. He finished his career in 1906 with the Philadelphia Phillies, who picked him up off waivers in 1905. Nichols retired with 361 wins, 208 losses, 1868 strikeouts and a 2.95 ERA. He was a part of five National League championship teams, all with the Boston Beaneaters (1891 - 1893, 1897, 1898). His 361 victories ranks 7th all-time, and his 5056 1/3 innings pitched ranks 11th all-time.

After baseball, Nichols dabbled in the motion picture industry and opened bowling alleys in the Kansas City area. An accomplished bowler himself, Nichols would eventually win the Class A bowling championship at age 64.

Nichols was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1949.

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Preceded by
Cy Young
National League Wins Champion
1896-1898
(1896 with Frank Killen)
Succeeded by
Jay Hughes & Joe McGinnity
Preceded by
Patsy Donovan
St. Louis Cardinals Manager
1904-1905
Succeeded by
Jimmy Burke
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