Books and articles about Kid Nichols

A star from the moment he made his major league debut at age 20 in 1890, Kid Nichols topped the 25-victory mark in each of his first nine seasons, leading Boston's staff, and sparking his club to five National League championships. A durable overhand pitcher with a smooth delivery, he depended on control and a fastball reportedly equal to that of famed Giant righthander Amos Rusie. He went 27-19 his rookie season (leading the league with seven shutouts), then achieved seven consecutive seasons of 30 or more triumphs - a feat never matched. He recorded a career-high 35 victories in 1892 and paced the league in wins in 1896, '97, and '98. The workhorse threw at least 400 innings a season from 1890 through 1894. In six of the seven years that followed, he registered more than 300 innings.

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By 1898, Nichols was earning $2,400, the top salary permitted by the league. Although he never pitched a no-hitter, he came close on several occasions. He threw 48 shutouts and had 11 complete-game, 1-0 victories. One of his most memorable games came in his rookie season, when he faced Rusie and the Giants at the Polo Grounds. The teams battled in a scoreless tie until, with two out in the 13th inning, Mike Tiernan drove a Nichols fastball for a home run.

Following the 1901 season, Nichols bought a part interest in the Western Association's Kansas City team and served as the club's manager for 1902 and 1903 while also recording 48 victories as a pitcher. Returning to the majors, he pitched for and managed the Cardinals in 1904 and part of 1905. He won 21 games in '04, struck out 15 Brooklyn batters in a 17-inning game, and pitched two complete games in one day against the Reds. Released by St. Louis with the club in sixth place, he joined the Phillies for the remainder of the 1905 season. He retired after pitching only 11 innings in 1906.

Nichols subsequently formed a partnership with Joe Tinker, former Cub shortstop, and entered the motion-picture business. Later he coached the Missouri Valley College baseball team. While managing a bowling alley in Missouri, he was recognized as one of Kansas City's finest bowlers, winning the Class A Championship at age 64.

Nichols stands seventh all-time in victories (360) and fourth in complete games (533). With John Clarkson, Charles Radbourne, Tim Keefe, and Cy Young, he was one of the five premier 19th-century pitchers. He had the most remarkable and consistent record of all pitchers in their twenties; nine months and 23 days past his 30th birthday, he became the youngest pitcher to win 300 ML games. That record stands to this day. (JLE)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 19, 1898: Jake Beckley, Reds 1B, hits three consecutive triples off Kid Nichols in a 5–4 win over Boston. » April 19, 1900: In the NL opener at Boston, 10,000 fans watch the Phils win 19-17 in 10 innings, the highest scoring season opener in history. Boston scored nine runs, including a major-league record three by pinch hitters, in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game at 17 apiece. At one point, Philadelphia led 16-4. The record of three pinch runners will be matched four times in the 20th century, all in the 9th inning. Buck Freeman and Lave Cross match homers. Al Orth goes all the way for the Phils, while Vic Willis starts for Boston with Kid Nichols in relief. » July 7, 1900: Boston hurler Kid Nichols notches his 300th career victory, beating Chicago 11–4. The win comes two months before his 31st birthday, making him the youngest to ever reach the magic figure. » May 3, 1901: The Giants beat Boston, 2-1, as Christy Mathewson wins his 3rd straight, beating Kid Nichols, on a 3-hitter. Bobby Lowe, who has all of Boston's hits, scores the Beaneater's only run on a passed ball. » June 1, 1901: At the Polo Grounds, the first-place Giants top Boston Somersets' Kid Nichols, 2-1, behind Christy Mathewson's 5-hitter. Matty fans 10 Boston batters, much to the delight of the overflow crowd. He strikes out Gene DeMontreville in the 6th and when the bat sails out of the DeMontreville's hands on the 3rd strike, Matty tosses it to 1B to complete the play. » July 29, 1901: At the Polo Grounds, Boston's Kid Nichols and Christy Mathewson square off for a ten-inning shootout, with Boston prevailing, 5-4. Matty gives up 11 hits in bringing his record to 15-11. » August 1, 1901: Kid Nichols, in relief, and Christy Mathewson face each other for the 2nd time in three days, with Matty winning this outing. Nichols relieves in the 7th with the score, 5-5, but New York scores four runs to take a 9-5 lead. Boston retaliates with three runs to put Matty on the ropes, but he escapes with a 9-8 win. » August 13, 1901: Kid Nichols and Christy Mathewson face each other again and both throw shut out ball for nine innings. Boston finally scores three in the 10th to win, 3-0. Matty's record in the past month is 3-7. Nichols and Mathewson will go at each other tomorrow, in the 2nd game of two, with the match ending in an 11-inning 5-5 tie. » August 19, 1901: Kid Nichols and Christy Mathewson square off the 3rd time in seven days, with Nichols winning easily, 11-6. New York makes four errors, but a tired Matty is pasted for 13 hits while striking out just one. » September 11, 1903: The Cardinals Kid Nichols beats the Reds 4-2 in the first of two games. Encouraged, Nichols pitches the nitecap as well, but the Reds reach him for 14 hits to win 8-5. As manager, Nichols keeps himself in the game rather than waste another pitcher. » December 20, 1903: After a two-year absence from the majors, pitcher Kid Nichols signs as player/ manager of the Cardinals. He will win 21 himself, but the team will finish 4th. » May 7, 1904: In St, Louis, the first-place Giants provoke a protest in winning 2-1, with a pair in the 9th off starter Jack Taylor. John McGraw, pinch running after a single by Jack Warner, scores on a single by Roger Bresnahan. As McGraw rounded 3B, with 1B coach Gilbert following him, the entire Giant team collects along the 3B line yelling, St. Louis 1B Jake Beckley complains to the ump about it and, when one of the Giants dashes to home from the coach's box, Beckley fires to an uncovered home plate, thinking it is Bresnahan trying to score. Which he then does for the win. St. Louis manager Kid Nichols protests the game, claiming, correctly, that the players left the bench in violation of rule 56, section 17. The rule states: "if one or more members of the team at bat stand or collect around a base for which a base runner is trying, thereby confusing the fielding side and adding to the difficult of making such play, the base runner shall be declared out for the interference of his teammate or teammates." NL president Pulliam rejects the complaint and many fans and writers agree, saying the protest is unmanly, as noted by historian Benton Stark (The Year They Called off the World Series). » August 11, 1904: The Cardinals player-manager Kid Nichols strikes out 15 Brooklyn hitters in a 17-inning, 4–3, victory. » May 5, 1949: Charlie Gehringer, star 2B of the Tigers between 1925-41, is picked for the Hall of Fame. Two days later, the Old-Timers committee will select Kid Nichols and Three-Finger Brown.