Jack Nabors

Herman John Nabors

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 185 lb.

• Debut August 9, 1915
• Final Game April 16, 1917
• Born November 19, 1887 in Montevallo, AL USA
• Died October 29, 1923 in Wilton, AL USA

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Biographical Information

" . . . Jack Nabors, the sensational twirler . . . broke the world's record when he pitched a thirteen-inning hitless game against Talladega and did not allow a man to reach first base until the twelfth inning. The game was played three weeks ago and caused every major league club to seek his release. . . the Athletics got him for what is said to be the highest price ever paid for a Class D minor league player." - from the Evening Public Ledger (Philadelphia), July 13, 1915

"Connie Mack plans to use Jack Nabors as one of his regular pitchers (in 1917). . . Nabors did a bit better work than Elmer Myers . . . who was credited with being one of the league sensations . . . Mack is a man who gets down to bed-rock facts. Wherefore his faith and dependence in Nabors for the coming season." - from The Sporting Life, February 17, 1917

Poor Jack Nabors went 1-25 in the majors. He pitched for Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics after the team had largely been dismantled after their glory days of a few years before.

Jack was born in Montevallo, AL, south of Birmingham. The only other major leaguer born in Montevallo through 2010 has been Jim Hayes.

Jack was 27 when he came to the majors in August of 1915 after going 12-1 in the Georgia-Alabama League. The A's were on their way to losing 109 games that year, and Jack lost five of those games. Connie brought him back the next season, however, and Jack went 1-20 on a team that went 36-117. Stuffy McInnis was still on the team and could still hit, while 41-year-old Nap Lajoie struggled with the bat in his last major league season.

Jack's 3.47 ERA was better than the team's 3.92 ERA and he even beat teammate Elmer Myers who had a record of 14-23 but an ERA of 3.66.

Jack came back for two more games with the A's in 1917. He pitched in the minors for most of 1917 and also in 1918.

Nabors was the Opening Day pitcher in 1916 against pitcher Babe Ruth of the 1916 Red Sox. Source: The Babe Saves Boston's Season from The National Pastime Number 11, 1992.

Notable Achievements

• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 1 (1916)

Records Held

• Lowest winning percentage, season (minimum 20 decisions), .048, 1916

Related Sites

• Jack Nabors at the SABR Bio Project
• Find-A-Grave Memorial for Jack Nabors