Bill Nicholson
Born: 12/11/1914 in Chestertown, MD, USA
Died: 3/8/1996 in Chestertown, MD, USA
MLB Debut: 1936-06-13 | Final Game: 1953-09-19
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 205 lbs
Full name: William Beck Nicholson
Biography
Bill Nicholson, born in 1914, was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball, whose career spanned from 1936 to 1953. He made a significant impact during a transformative period in baseball, showcasing his talents in an era that bridged the pre-World War II years and the post-war boom. Over the course of his career, Nicholson appeared in 1,677 games, accumulating 1,484 hits, 235 home runs, and 948 RBIs, while maintaining a batting average of .268. His ability to drive in runs and hit for power made him a key offensive asset for the teams he played for, particularly the Chicago Cubs, with whom he is most closely associated.
Nicholson was recognized for his excellence on the field, earning five All-Star selections throughout his career. He also demonstrated notable speed and base-running ability, amassing 27 stolen bases. His playing style combined power and agility, reflecting the evolving nature of the game during his time. As a respected figure in baseball history, Bill Nicholson's contributions helped shape the landscape of the sport in the mid-20th century, making him a memorable player of his era.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1677 | 5546 | 837 | 1484 | 272 | 60 | 235 | 948 | 27 | 800 | 828 | 0.268 | 0.365 | 0.465 | 0.830 | 21396.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | PHA | AL | 11 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1939 | CHC | NL | 58 | 220 | 37 | 65 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 38 | 0 | 20 | 29 | 0.295 | 365.2 |
| 1940 | CHC | NL | 135 | 491 | 78 | 146 | 27 | 7 | 25 | 98 | 2 | 50 | 67 | 0.297 | 2274.0 |
| 1941 | CHC | NL | 147 | 532 | 74 | 135 | 26 | 1 | 26 | 98 | 1 | 82 | 91 | 0.254 | 1632.1 |
| 1942 | CHC | NL | 152 | 588 | 83 | 173 | 22 | 11 | 21 | 78 | 8 | 76 | 80 | 0.294 | 3222.9 |
| 1943 | CHC | NL | 154 | 608 | 95 | 188 | 30 | 9 | 29 | 128 | 4 | 71 | 86 | 0.309 | 4325.4 |
| 1944 | CHC | NL | 156 | 582 | 116 | 167 | 35 | 8 | 33 | 122 | 3 | 93 | 71 | 0.287 | 4341.6 |
| 1945 | CHC | NL | 151 | 559 | 82 | 136 | 28 | 4 | 13 | 88 | 4 | 92 | 73 | 0.243 | 1052.5 |
| 1946 | CHC | NL | 105 | 296 | 36 | 65 | 13 | 2 | 8 | 41 | 1 | 44 | 44 | 0.220 | 10.0 |
| 1947 | CHC | NL | 148 | 487 | 69 | 119 | 28 | 1 | 26 | 75 | 1 | 87 | 83 | 0.244 | 1775.3 |
| 1948 | CHC | NL | 143 | 494 | 68 | 129 | 24 | 5 | 19 | 67 | 2 | 81 | 60 | 0.261 | 1417.8 |
| 1949 | PHI | NL | 98 | 299 | 42 | 70 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 40 | 1 | 45 | 53 | 0.234 | 110.8 |
| 1950 | PHI | NL | 41 | 58 | 3 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 16 | 0.224 | 10.5 |
| 1951 | PHI | NL | 85 | 170 | 23 | 41 | 9 | 2 | 8 | 30 | 0 | 25 | 24 | 0.241 | 332.0 |
| 1952 | PHI | NL | 55 | 88 | 17 | 24 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 19 | 0 | 14 | 26 | 0.273 | 487.8 |
| 1953 | PHI | NL | 38 | 62 | 12 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 12 | 20 | 0.210 | 38.3 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 28 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 0.214 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | WS | CHN | 7 | 28 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 0.214 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 1471 | 0 | 2954 | 118 | 67 | 20 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | PHA | OF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1939 | CHN | OF | 58 | 0 | 123 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
| 1940 | CHN | OF | 123 | 0 | 235 | 10 | 13 | 2 |
| 1941 | CHN | OF | 143 | 0 | 293 | 10 | 9 | 2 |
| 1942 | CHN | OF | 151 | 0 | 327 | 18 | 5 | 2 |
| 1943 | CHN | OF | 154 | 0 | 340 | 16 | 8 | 2 |
| 1944 | CHN | OF | 156 | 0 | 305 | 18 | 7 | 4 |
| 1945 | CHN | OF | 151 | 0 | 300 | 12 | 3 | 4 |
| 1946 | CHN | OF | 80 | 0 | 179 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
| 1947 | CHN | OF | 140 | 0 | 281 | 7 | 3 | 1 |
| 1948 | CHN | OF | 136 | 0 | 244 | 7 | 5 | 1 |
| 1949 | PHI | OF | 91 | 0 | 185 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| 1950 | PHI | OF | 15 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1951 | PHI | OF | 41 | 0 | 75 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1952 | PHI | OF | 19 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1953 | PHI | OF | 12 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 31 |
| Right Field | 1442 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1944 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | RF |
| 1944 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | RF |
| 1943 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | RF |
| 1943 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | RF |
| 1943 | TSN All-Star | OF |
| 1940 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | RF |
| 1940 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | RF |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington College | Chestertown | MD | 1934, 1935, 1936 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 2nd | 189.0 | 336 | 4 |
| 1943 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 3rd | 181.0 | 336 | 5 |
| 1942 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 19th | 14.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1941 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 16th | 16.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1940 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 20th | 12.0 | 336 | 0 |