Otis Nixon

Outfielder · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1983-1999)

Otis Nixon was an outfielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1983 to 1999 for 9 teams, including the New York Yankees, a span of 17 seasons. In 1,709 career games, he hit .270 with 1,379 hits, 11 home runs, and 318 RBI.

AVG (Batting Average):
Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
HR (Home Runs):
Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
RBI (Runs Batted In):
Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.

Data updated

AVG .270
HR 11
RBI 318
H 1,379
OPS .658
PIV -6,862
Position
Outfielder
Bats / Throws
B / R
Height / Weight
6'2" / 180 lb
Born
1/9/1959 in Evergreen, NC, USA
MLB Debut
1983-09-09
Last Game
1999-10-03

Full name: Otis Junior Nixon

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Career Batting Statistics

Otis Nixon — Career Batting Statistics
G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
1,709 5,115 878 1,379 142 27 11 318 620 585 694 .270 .343 .314 .658 -6,862

Career AVG .270 vs. league average .262 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .343 vs. league average .330 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .314 vs. league average .402 across their career seasons — 21.7% below league average.

Career OPS .658 vs. league average .731 across their career seasons — 10.1% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Career Arc

Click a stat to plot it across every season.

Otis Nixon Stats, Bio & Career Records
Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1983 NYA AL 13 14 2 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 5 .143 — — — — 0.0
1984 CLE AL 49 91 16 14 0 0 0 1 12 8 11 .154 .259 (-41%) .322 (-32%) .384 (-60%) .707 (-47%) -659.9
1985 CLE AL 104 162 34 38 4 0 3 9 20 8 27 .235 .257 (-9%) .323 (-16%) .390 (-19%) .714 (-18%) -461.4
1986 CLE AL 105 95 33 25 4 1 0 8 23 13 12 .263 .257 (+2%) .325 (+8%) .395 (-17%) .720 (-6%) -52.3
1987 CLE AL 19 17 2 1 0 0 0 1 2 3 4 .059 — — — — 0.0
1988 MON NL 90 271 47 66 8 2 0 15 46 28 42 .244 .254 (-4%) .317 (-2%) .377 (-24%) .695 (-14%) -517.0
1989 MON NL 126 258 41 56 7 2 0 21 37 33 36 .217 .254 (-15%) .319 (-4%) .375 (-31%) .694 (-19%) -650.5
1990 MON NL 119 231 46 58 6 2 1 20 50 28 33 .251 .257 (-3%) .324 (+2%) .385 (-20%) .710 (-10%) -299.3
1991 ATL NL 124 401 81 119 10 1 0 26 72 47 40 .297 .255 (+16%) .323 (+15%) .384 (-15%) .708 (-1%) 122.7
1992 ATL NL 120 456 79 134 14 2 2 22 41 39 54 .294 .255 (+15%) .322 (+8%) .377 (-8%) .699 (-1%) 41.2
1993 ATL NL 134 461 77 124 12 3 1 24 47 61 63 .269 .265 (+1%) .332 (+6%) .403 (-22%) .735 (-10%) -543.7
1994 BOS AL 103 398 60 109 15 1 0 25 42 55 65 .274 .269 (+2%) .338 (+6%) .424 (-25%) .763 (-11%) -567.6
1995 TEX AL 139 589 87 174 21 2 0 45 50 58 85 .295 .266 (+11%) .337 (+6%) .417 (-19%) .755 (-8%) -619.2
1996 TOR AL 125 496 87 142 15 1 1 29 54 71 68 .286 .269 (+6%) .340 (+11%) .426 (-23%) .767 (-8%) -401.8
1997 TOR AL 103 401 54 105 12 1 1 26 47 52 54 .262 .266 (-2%) .336 (+2%) .419 (-27%) .756 (-14%) -832.8
1997 LAN NL 42 175 30 48 6 2 1 18 12 13 24 .274 .266 (+3%) .336 (-4%) .419 (-17%) .756 (-11%) -832.8
1998 MIN AL 110 448 71 133 6 6 1 20 37 44 56 .297 .266 (+12%) .335 (+8%) .420 (-18%) .755 (-7%) -358.6
1999 ATL NL 84 151 31 31 2 1 0 8 26 23 15 .205 .271 (-24%) .344 (-10%) .433 (-47%) .778 (-31%) -740.0
Career · 18 seasons 1,709 5,115 878 1,379 142 27 11 318 620 585 694 .270 — — — — -7,373

Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

Otis Nixon — Playoff Career Batting
G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
24 81 13 26 5 0 0 7 10 13 .321

Playoff Batting by Year

Otis Nixon — Playoff Batting by Year
Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1999 NLCS ATL 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
1999 NLDS1 ATL 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000
1999 WS ATL 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500
1993 NLCS ATL 6 23 3 8 2 0 0 4 5 6 .348
1992 NLCS ATL 7 28 5 8 2 0 0 2 4 4 .286
1992 WS ATL 6 27 3 8 1 0 0 1 1 3 .296

Game Log & Splits

View full game log (1709 games) →

Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).

Batting — Home / Away

Otis Nixon — Batting — Home / Away
SplitGABRHHRRBIAVG
Home87325524666935170.272
Away83625634126866148.268

Last 10 Games — Batting

Otis Nixon — Last 10 Games — Batting
DateTmOppResABRH2B3BHRRBIBBSO
1999-10-03 ATLMIAW 623000100
1999-10-02 ATLMIAL 100000011
1999-10-01 ATLMIAW 212000010
1999-09-30 ATLNYNW 010000000
1999-09-29 ATLNYNL 100000000
1999-09-26 ATLWSNW 100000000
1999-09-24 ATLWSNW 010000000
1999-09-23 ATLNYNW 000000000
1999-09-21 ATLNYNW 000000000
1999-09-19 ATLWSNW 100000010

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Otis Nixon — Career Fielding Totals by Position
Position G GS PO A E DP
OF 1527 1203 3313 56 36 8
SS 1 0 0 1 0 1

Season-by-Season Fielding

Otis Nixon — Season-by-Season Fielding
Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1983 NYA OF 9 3 14 1 1 0
1984 CLE OF 46 29 81 3 0 0
1985 CLE OF 80 36 129 5 4 1
1986 CLE OF 95 19 90 3 3 0
1987 CLE OF 17 4 21 0 0 0
1988 MON OF 82 63 176 2 1 1
1989 MON OF 98 52 160 2 2 0
1990 MON OF 88 45 149 5 1 0
1990 MON SS 1 0 0 1 0 1
1991 ATL OF 115 93 218 6 3 1
1992 ATL OF 111 105 333 6 3 1
1993 ATL OF 116 111 308 4 3 1
1994 BOS OF 103 99 254 4 3 1
1995 TEX OF 138 138 357 4 4 1
1996 TOR OF 125 125 342 5 2 1
1997 TOR OF 102 102 254 1 1 0
1997 LAN OF 42 41 97 1 1 0
1998 MIN OF 108 106 278 4 3 0
1999 ATL OF 52 32 52 0 1 0

Career Games by Position

Position Diamond

Circle size = games played at each position.

Otis Nixon Stats, Bio & Career Records
Position Games
Shortstop 1
Left Field 357
Center Field 1137
Right Field 73
Designated Hitter 19

Salary History

Otis Nixon's recorded salaries total $19,865,000 over 11 seasons, 1986 to 1999. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Nixon's career ran from 1983 to 1999. His seasons before 1985 are not included, and no salary is recorded for 1985, 1987, 1988, and 1991.

Otis Nixon — Salary History
Year Team League Salary
1999 ATL NL $1,500,000
1998 MIN AL $2,000,000
1997 TOR AL $2,500,000
1996 TEX AL $350,000
1996 TOR AL $1,900,000
1995 TEX AL $3,150,000
1994 BOS AL $3,250,000
1993 ATL NL $2,815,000
1992 ATL NL $1,810,000
1990 MON NL $315,000
1989 MON NL $177,500
1986 CLE AL $97,500
Total recorded salary (partial) $19,865,000

College History

Otis Nixon — College History
School Name City State Years Attended
Louisburg College Louisburg NC 1978, 1979

Most Similar Players

Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.

Career Spans

Otis Nixon (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.

  1. 98
    Dave Collins
    .272 avg, 32 HR
  2. 95
    Vince Coleman
    .264 avg, 28 HR
  3. 94
    Tom Goodwin
    .268 avg, 24 HR
  4. 93
    Bill North
    .261 avg, 20 HR
  5. 91
    Bob Bescher
    .258 avg, 28 HR
  6. 88
    Curt Welch
    .263 avg, 16 HR

Otis Nixon: the record in brief

September 9, 1983 and October 3, 1999 bracket Otis Nixon's time in the majors: the debut and the last game on record. Club by club, the record runs the New York Yankees (1983), the Cleveland Indians (1984 through 1987), the Montreal Expos (1988 to 1990), the Atlanta Braves (1991 through 1999), the Boston Red Sox (1994), the Texas Rangers (1995), the Toronto Blue Jays (1996 through 1997), and the Los Angeles Dodgers (1997), among other clubs in the table. At 6 feet, 2 inches and 180 pounds, Nixon is listed as an outfielder. Nixon batted from both sides and threw right-handed, per the bio block. The recorded birth is January 9, 1959, in Evergreen, NC, USA. On the record, Otis Nixon was born Otis Junior Nixon.

The batting record for Nixon: 1,709 games, 1,379 hits in 5,115 at bats, and a .270 average, along with 11 home runs, 318 runs batted in, and 620 stolen bases. Nixon got on base at a .343 rate and slugged .314 (.658 OPS). The .270 career average is close to the .262 the league hit across the same seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions about Otis Nixon

What years did Otis Nixon play?
Otis Nixon played in Major League Baseball from 1983 to 1999.
Was Otis Nixon a pitcher?
No. Otis Nixon was a position player (Outfielder).
How many home runs did Otis Nixon hit?
Otis Nixon hit 11 career home runs with 1,379 hits.
What teams did Otis Nixon play for?
Otis Nixon played for 9 teams: the New York Yankees (1983), the Cleveland Indians (1984–1987), the Montreal Expos (1988–1990), the Atlanta Braves (1991–1993, 1999), the Boston Red Sox (1994), the Texas Rangers (1995), the Toronto Blue Jays (1996–1997), the Los Angeles Dodgers (1997), and the Minnesota Twins (1998).
What were Otis Nixon's career stats?
In 1,709 games, Otis Nixon had 1,379 hits, 11 home runs, 318 RBI, 878 runs, and 620 stolen bases, with a .270 batting average.
How much did Otis Nixon earn in his career?
Otis Nixon's recorded salaries total $19,865,000 over 11 seasons, 1986 to 1999. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Nixon's career ran from 1983 to 1999. His seasons before 1985 are not included, and no salary is recorded for 1985, 1987, 1988, and 1991.
What was Otis Nixon's salary?
Otis Nixon's last recorded salary was $1,500,000, in 1999. His highest recorded salary was $3,250,000, in 1994, and his lowest was $97,500, in 1986. The Salary History table lists each season from 1986 to 1999.
What position did Otis Nixon play?
Otis Nixon played primarily as an outfielder, the position where he appeared in the most games.
How tall was Otis Nixon and how much did he weigh?
Otis Nixon was listed at 6 feet 2 inches and 180 pounds.
How many home runs did Otis Nixon hit each season?
Otis Nixon's home runs by season: 0 in 1983, 0 in 1984, 3 in 1985, 0 in 1986, 0 in 1987, 0 in 1988, 0 in 1989, 1 in 1990, 0 in 1991, 2 in 1992, 1 in 1993, 0 in 1994, 0 in 1995, 1 in 1996, 2 in 1997, 1 in 1998, and 0 in 1999. His most in one season was 3, in 1985.
What was Otis Nixon's career batting average?
Otis Nixon batted .270 over his career, with 1,379 hits in 5,115 at bats.
How many RBI did Otis Nixon have?
Otis Nixon drove in 318 runs in his career.
Is Otis Nixon in the Hall of Fame?
No. Otis Nixon has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.