Willard Nixon
Born: 6/17/1928 in Taylorsville, GA, USA
Died: 12/10/2000 in Rome, GA, USA
MLB Debut: 1950-07-07 | Final Game: 1958-07-04
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 195 lbs
Full name: Willard Lee Nixon
Biography
Willard Nixon, born in 1928, was a professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1950 until 1958. Known for his competitive spirit and determination on the mound, Nixon finished his career with a record of 69 wins and 72 losses, an earned run average (ERA) of 4.39, and a total of 616 strikeouts. His contributions to the game were marked by his ability to consistently challenge hitters and keep games competitive, despite the ups and downs reflected in his win-loss record.
Nixon's playing career unfolded during a transformative era in baseball, characterized by the growing influence of television and the increasing integration of the sport. As a right-handed pitcher, he was known for his versatility, managing to secure three saves in addition to his starting and relief appearances. While he may not have reached the heights of some of his contemporaries, Nixon remains a respected figure in baseball history, representing the dedication and resilience of pitchers who labored through the challenges of the game during the 1950s.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 69 | 72 | 225 | 177 | 51 | 9 | 3 | 1234.0 | 1277 | 602 | 90 | 530 | 616 | 4.39 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | BOS | AL | 8 | 6 | 22 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 101.3 | 126 | 68 | 58 | 57 | 6.04 | 251.3 |
| 1951 | BOS | AL | 7 | 4 | 33 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 125.0 | 136 | 68 | 56 | 70 | 4.90 | -254.9 |
| 1952 | BOS | AL | 5 | 4 | 23 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 103.7 | 115 | 56 | 61 | 50 | 4.86 | -2939.2 |
| 1953 | BOS | AL | 4 | 8 | 23 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 116.7 | 114 | 51 | 59 | 57 | 3.93 | 932.6 |
| 1954 | BOS | AL | 11 | 12 | 31 | 30 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 199.7 | 182 | 90 | 87 | 102 | 4.06 | 191.6 |
| 1955 | BOS | AL | 12 | 10 | 31 | 31 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 208.0 | 207 | 94 | 85 | 95 | 4.07 | 3530.2 |
| 1956 | BOS | AL | 9 | 8 | 23 | 22 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 145.3 | 142 | 68 | 57 | 74 | 4.21 | 1749.1 |
| 1957 | BOS | AL | 12 | 13 | 29 | 29 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 191.0 | 207 | 78 | 56 | 96 | 3.68 | 3538.0 |
| 1958 | BOS | AL | 1 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 43.3 | 48 | 29 | 11 | 15 | 6.02 | -857.4 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 239 | 459 | 42 | 111 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 41 | 0 | 42 | 97 | 0.242 | 0.305 | 0.296 | 0.601 | -719.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | BOS | AL | 22 | 36 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 0.139 | 0.0 |
| 1951 | BOS | AL | 34 | 45 | 7 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 0.289 | 0.0 |
| 1952 | BOS | AL | 33 | 53 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 0.208 | -216.7 |
| 1953 | BOS | AL | 23 | 42 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 0.190 | 0.0 |
| 1954 | BOS | AL | 31 | 68 | 6 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 17 | 0.265 | -27.0 |
| 1955 | BOS | AL | 31 | 69 | 7 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 20 | 0.261 | -57.5 |
| 1956 | BOS | AL | 23 | 54 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0.204 | -336.4 |
| 1957 | BOS | AL | 32 | 75 | 7 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 16 | 0.293 | -82.0 |
| 1958 | BOS | AL | 10 | 17 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0.294 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 225 | 120 | 74 | 217 | 7 | 27 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | BOS | P | 22 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 1 | 3 |
| 1951 | BOS | P | 33 | 0 | 2 | 23 | 1 | 1 |
| 1952 | BOS | P | 23 | 0 | 7 | 18 | 0 | 4 |
| 1953 | BOS | P | 23 | 0 | 7 | 18 | 2 | 1 |
| 1954 | BOS | P | 31 | 30 | 17 | 34 | 1 | 6 |
| 1955 | BOS | P | 31 | 31 | 18 | 43 | 1 | 3 |
| 1956 | BOS | P | 23 | 22 | 7 | 31 | 1 | 4 |
| 1957 | BOS | P | 29 | 29 | 8 | 28 | 0 | 4 |
| 1958 | BOS | P | 10 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 225 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University | Auburn | AL | 1947, 1948 |