Books and articles about Bill Nicholson

Whenever Nicholson took one of his tremendous swings, fans would yell, "Swish!" Started by Brooklyn fans, it was a sign of respect, because the big cut often resulted in a home run. Nicholson was struck out his share of times, as sluggers are; he led the league with a modest 83 strikeouts in 1947. The muscular outfielder struggled as Athletics property after signing out of Washington College. Sent to the minors, he was helped by Hall of Famer Kiki Cuyler, his manager at Chattanooga (Southern League) and later a Cub coach. Cuyler instructed him to open his stance, get set for each pitch, and stop lunging at the ball. During 1939, Nicholson's second straight season as a minor league home run champ, he was purchased by the Cubs.

SHOPPING » Look for Bill Nicholson books at BN.com » Look for Bill Nicholson books at Amazon.com Your purchases keep BaseballLibrary.com online. Thank you!

RELATED LINKS Submissions » One Man Can't Do It Alone: Sosa Proves That One-Man Shows Don't Bring Pennants by Tommy Szarka Around the Web » Without a song...success from suntimes.com » Bill Nicholson from baseball-reference.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

During talent-starved WWII Nicholson's batting feats became legend. He once hit a ball that just missed the Wrigley Field scoreboard; only Roberto Clemente came as close. After hitting four consecutive homers in a July 23, 1944 doubleheader at the Polo Grounds, he was intentionally walked with the bases loaded in the seventh inning, on orders from Giants manager Mel Ott. (Up 12-9 at the time, the Giants won 12-10.) He led the NL with 29 HR and 128 RBI in 1943 and with 33 HR and 122 RBI in 1944, when he scored a league-high 116 runs and lost MVP honors by one vote to Marty Marion.

Although Nicholson helped the Cubs to the 1945 pennant, his failing eyesight resulted in a slip in production. He was aided somewhat when the seats in Wrigley's centerfield were blocked off. Cubs fans were furious when he was traded to the Phillies after the 1948 season for Harry "The Hat" Walker. After he became weak and lost weight, it was disclosed on Labor Day, 1950, that Nicholson was diabetic. He was unable to play in the World Series with his "Whiz Kids" teammates. He hung on until 1953, primarily as a pinch hitter. He retired with eight pinch homers, and as one of the game's toughest men to double up - he hit into double plays only once every 90.7 at-bats. (DB)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 23, 1901: In Chicago, the A's score two in the 9th to close to an 11-7 deficit with the White Stockings. Sox manager Clark Griffith relieves with the sacks filled and no outs and pays the supreme compliment to Philadelphia’s Nap Lajoie-he issues him an intentional walk. Griff then gets three ground outs and Chicago wins. Not until (possibly) Mel Ott, on the last day in 1929, and Swish Nicholson in 1944, will a batter be passed intentionally with the sacks filled. » April 15, 1941: Cubs SS Lou Stringer makes 4 errors in his debut, but the Chicago beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-4 behind Claude Passeau and a clutch HR by Bill Nicholson. » May 12, 1942: At Boston, the Cubs outslug the Braves, 9–8, as rookie Ed Hanyzewski wins his only game of the year. Bill Nicholson has a 2nd inning homer off loser Lou Tost, while Braves pitcher Jim Tobin hits a pinch homer. » May 13, 1942: Pitcher Jim Tobin of the Boston Braves slams three successive home runs to beat the Chicago Cubs, 6–5, at Braves Field, the only ML pitcher ever to accomplish this. His last, in the 8th, breaks a 4–4 tie. Hi Bithorn takes the loss. Bill Nicholson returns the compliment, clouting a 2-run homer off Tobin in the 6th inning, » August 15, 1942: Despite Bill Nicholson hitting three homers, two doubles and a single, the Cubs lose two games to the Pirates, 8–5 and 8–7, the nitecap in 11 innings. » August 22, 1942: Cubs catcher Clyde McCullough, SS Lennie Merullo, and 1B Phil Cavarretta combine on a triple play in the top of the 11th, and Bill Nicholson home runs in the bottom half of the inning, as the Chicago Cubs stun the Cincinnati Reds, 5–4. » August 27, 1942: With the score tied 4–4 in the 11th at Wrigley, the Reds load the bases with no outs. Chicago then turns a triple play—McCullough, Merullo, and Cavarretta. Bill Nicholson poles a homer in the bottom of the frame for a 5–4 win. » May 30, 1943: The Cubs play 32 games before hitting a home run, but today Bill Nicholson hits the two Cubs blasts of the year. both two-run homers, against the Braves' Al Javery. His first homer, in the 4th inning, comes in the club's 1,120th at bat of the season. The Cubs win, 5–1, with Paul Derringer the victor. The 2nd game is postponed. » July 30, 1943: Phil Cavarretta of the Chicago Cubs HRs off the RF foul pole against Johnny Allen of the Brooklyn Dodgers. The ball is retrieved, and Bill Nicholson hits the next pitch out of Wrigley Field. The result: one ball, one pitcher, two pitches, two HRs. The Cubs go on to beat the Dodgers 13-2. » July 23, 1944: After hitting four consecutive HRs in two games, Bill Nicholson of the Chicago Cubs is walked intentionally with the bases loaded in the seventh inning of the second game against the New York Giants. The Cubs rally to tie, but the Giants win 12-10. Nicholson has hit six HRs within 48 hours (one on Friday night, one on Saturday, and the 4 today). » December 21, 1944: National League averages show Brooklyn's Dixie Walker at the top of the hitters with a .357 mark, ahead of Stan Musial at .347. In an even closer vote than occurred in the American League, the NL MVP award goes to fielding wizard Marty Marion, who tallies one more vote than Cubs slugger Bill Nicholson (189). The Cardinals erred only 112 times and averaged .982, both better than previous records held by the 1940 Reds. Marion is the 3rd different Cardinal in three years to win the honor. » October 5, 1945: Claude Passeau of the Chicago Cubs pitches a one-hitter, beating the Detroit Tigers 3-0 in the 3rd game of the WS. Rudy York's 2nd-inning single spoils Passeau's no-hit bid. Bill Nicholson drives in the first run. » April 20, 1947: At St. Louis, Bill Nicholson clubs two homers, including a slam, and drives in six runs to lead the Cubs, 7–4, over the Cards. Swish's first RBI comes in the first inning when he's hit by a Howie Pollet pitch with the bases loaded. His slam in the 5th finishes Pollet's pitching. Johnny Schmitz is the winner. » August 8, 1947: At Wrigley Field, Bill Nicholson breaks up a pitching duel between Johnny Schmitz and Ewell Blackwell with an 11th inning solo homer. The Cubs whip the Reds, 2–1. Nicholson also scores the Cubs first run, an unearned tally. Chicago helps Schmitz out with a 7th inning triple play when Len Merullo snags a liner, steps on 2B, and fires to Eddie Waitkus. » April 24, 1948: The Cubs hit 4 home runs at home in a 6-2 win over the Phils. Bill Nicholson's HR, to the right of the Wrigley Field scoreboard, lands on Sheffield Avenue. It bounces off a building and allegedly lands on the hood of a southbound car. » September 3, 1951: In a Labor Day doubleheader at the Polo Grounds, the Phils Robin Roberts stops New York, 6–3, in the opener. The Giants blow a 3–0 1st inning lead when homers by Ashburn and Swish Nicholson bring the Phils back. Dave Koslo salvages a 2nd game, winning 3–1 over Niles Jordan. Willie Mays makes another rookie error in the 2nd. After an apparent inside-the-park home run, Phils 3B Tommy Brown appeals, and Mays is called out for failing to touch 3B. He is credited with a double. » September 8, 1978: In a 5–3 win at Wrigley Field, Phillies RF Bake McBride handles 11 chances, tying the National League mark for right fielders. It was last matched by the Cubs Swish Nicholson, in 1945, in the same park. » May 28, 1998: With Arizona leading the Giants, 8–6, in the bottom of the 9th with the bases loaded, manager Buck Showalter orders reliever Gregg Olson to intentionally walk Barry Bonds to bring home the Giants' 7th run. It is only the 4th bases–loaded intentional walk in major league history and the first since Swish Nicholson on July 23, 1944. » September 17, 2001: Bud Smith follows up his no-hitter with a 2–1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. The only run in seven innings against the Cards' budding young ace is unearned. Jeromy Burnitz of the Brewers comes within one fielding chance of joining Harry "Silk Stocking" Schafer (1877), Greasy Neale (1920), Casey Stengel (1920), Bill Nicholson (1945) and Bake McBride (1978) as the only N.L. right fielders to register 11 chances in a game. The major-league record is held by Tony Armas who handled 12 chances in an A.L. game in 1982.