Clyde Nelson

Clyde Nelson

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 190 lb.

• Debut 1943
• Final Game 1948
• Born September 1, 1921 in Bradenton, FL USA
• Died July 26, 1949 in Philadelphia, PA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Clyde Nelson was a Negro League infielder of the 1940s.

Nelson got a look from the Indianapolis ABCs in 1939 then did not surface again until 1944, when he became the starting third baseman for the Chicago American Giants (although the stats previously attributed to the otherwise unknown Ed Nelson in 1943 are likely his). He hit .231 in '44 and his five homers tied Alec Radcliffe for second in the Negro American League, two behind leader Tommy Sampson. Clyde batted .273 in 1945. He was 6 for 12 with a double and a homer in the California Winter League.

In 1946, the 24-year-old batted .327, third in the NAL behind Buck O'Neil and Willard Brown. He also stole 12 bases, good for fourth behind Sam Jethroe, Herb Souell and Brown. In the first 1946 East-West Game, he was 0 for 1 after replacing Radcliffe at third base for the West in a 6-3 loss.

Nelson moved to the Cleveland Buckeyes in 1947, hitting .333 as the cleanup man for the NAL champs. Cleveland went to the 1947 Negro World Series. Nelson moved to the bench in 1948 as León Kellman had taken over his spot at third base. Nelson's career ended with the 1949 Indianapolis Clowns. He died of a heart attack on July 26th that year shortly after completing a doubleheader at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, PA.

Notable Achievements

• NAL All-Star (1946)
• NAL Home Runs Leader (1946)

Sources

• The Complete Book of Baseball's Negro Leagues by John Holway
• The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues by James Riley
• Black Baseball's National Showcase by Larry Lester
• The California Winter League by William McNeil