Bill Nicholson (baseball)
| Bill Nicholson | |||
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| Outfielder | |||
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Born: December 11, 1914 Chestertown, Maryland |
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Died: March 8, 1996 (aged 81) Chestertown, Maryland |
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| MLB debut | |||
| June 13, 1936, for the Philadelphia Athletics | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| September 19, 1953, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .268 | ||
| Home runs | 235 | ||
| Runs batted in | 948 | ||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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William Beck "Swish" Nicholson (December 11, 1914 – March 8, 1996) was a right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Athletics (1936), Chicago Cubs (1939–1948) and Philadelphia Phillies (1949–1953). A native of Chestertown, Maryland, where he attended Washington College, he batted left-handed and threw right-handed.
In 1944, Nicholson received an intentional walk with the bases loaded. He is listed as one of only six players in major league history to do it. The others are Abner Dalrymple (1881), Nap Lajoie (1901), Del Bissonette (1928), Barry Bonds (1998) and Josh Hamilton (2008).
In a 16-year career, Nicholson posted a .268 batting average with 235 home runs and 948 RBI in 1677 games.
At 6 feet tall and 205 pounds, he was an imposing figure at the plate. While awaiting each pitch, he would loosen up with determined practice swings, ending each with his bat aimed at the pitcher, and holding that pose for several seconds. With each practice swing, the fans would chant "Swish."
Nicknamed "Swish" because of his mighty swing, which often missed the ball, Nicholson twice led the National League in home runs and RBI. He played briefly in the American League for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1936, then spent two years in the minors before joining the Chicago Cubs in 1939.
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