Rod Nichols
Born: 12/29/1964 in Burlington, IA, USA
Died: 5/14/2025 in Helena, MO, USA
MLB Debut: 1988-07-30 | Final Game: 1995-08-29
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: Rodney Lea Nichols
Biography
Rod Nichols, born in 1964, was a professional baseball pitcher whose career spanned from 1988 to August 29, 1995. Nichols played in an era characterized by the emergence of power hitters and the evolving strategies of the game. He made his mark primarily with the Cleveland Indians and the Atlanta Braves, showcasing a determination and resilience that defined his playing style.
Over the course of his career, Nichols recorded an 11-31 win-loss record with a 4.43 earned run average (ERA). He struck out a total of 214 batters, demonstrating his ability to challenge hitters and contribute to his teams' pitching rotations. Nichols also notched one save, a testament to his versatility as a pitcher. While his overall record may not reflect the dominant performances seen from some of his contemporaries, Nichols's presence on the mound during the late 1980s and early 1990s contributed to the competitive landscape of Major League Baseball during that dynamic period.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 31 | 100 | 48 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 412.7 | 460 | 203 | 42 | 121 | 214 | 4.43 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | CLE | AL | 1 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 69.3 | 73 | 39 | 23 | 31 | 5.06 | -281.9 |
| 1989 | CLE | AL | 4 | 6 | 15 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 71.7 | 81 | 35 | 24 | 42 | 4.40 | -1093.3 |
| 1990 | CLE | AL | 0 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16.0 | 24 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 7.88 | -1659.2 |
| 1991 | CLE | AL | 2 | 11 | 31 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 137.3 | 145 | 54 | 30 | 76 | 3.54 | 2852.3 |
| 1992 | CLE | AL | 4 | 3 | 30 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 105.3 | 114 | 53 | 31 | 56 | 4.53 | -1395.5 |
| 1993 | LAD | NL | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6.3 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5.68 | - |
| 1995 | ATL | NL | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6.7 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5.40 | 0.0 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | CLE | AL | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1989 | CLE | AL | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1990 | CLE | AL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1991 | CLE | AL | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1992 | CLE | AL | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1993 | LAD | NL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1995 | ATL | NL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 100 | 48 | 24 | 53 | 3 | 4 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | CLE | P | 11 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | CLE | P | 15 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 2 |
| 1990 | CLE | P | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 | CLE | P | 31 | 16 | 10 | 14 | 1 | 1 |
| 1992 | CLE | P | 30 | 9 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 | LAN | P | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1995 | ATL | P | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 100 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | LAN | NL | $350,000 |
| 1992 | CLE | AL | $250,000 |
| 1991 | CLE | AL | $125,000 |
| 1990 | CLE | AL | $112,500 |
| 1989 | CLE | AL | $73,500 |
| Total Career Earnings | $911,000 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Mexico | Albuquerque | NM | 1983, 1984, 1985 |