Jerry Nelson

Gerald Joseph Nelson (Gerry)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 200 lb.

• Born April 1, 1934

Jerry Nelson pitched for nine years in the minor leagues, all but two of which he threw at least part of the season in AAA. Nelson was also a star in winter ball in 1958. Overall, he was 79-80 in the minors.

Jerry debuted with the 1955 Evansville Braves and went 2-5 with a 5.26 ERA. The next year, he was 8-3 with a 2.76 ERA for the Jacksonville Braves. In 1957, Nelson had a 3-3, 4.94 mark for the Atlanta Crackers and was 7-4 with a 3.21 ERA for the Wichita Braves in his AAA debut, allowing only 73 hits in 98 innings. That winter, he had 10-5, 1.51 record for Caguas-Rio Pedras and finished second to teammate Juan Pizarro in ERA in the Puerto Rican Winter League, beating out numerous future major leaguers. In the 1958 Caribbean Series, he did not allow an earned run in 18 innings but lost the decisive game six when his team made a crucial error in the ninth inning, letting in an unearned run.

Nelson spent most of 1958, though, with the AA Austin Senators and only had a 10-11, 4.03 mark. He briefly pitched with Wichita that season. In 1959, the right-handed hurler was just 3-9 with a 5.18 ERA in Atlanta and 0-4 with a 4.14 ERA for the Sacramento Solons.

Let go by the Braves, Jerry was picked up by the Chicago Cubs in 1961. He went 9-8 with a 3.91 ERA for the Houston Buffs that season. From 1962 through 1964, he threw for the Oklahoma City 89ers. In 1962, he had a 10-13, 3.96 record, followed by 14-8, 3.60 and 13-12, 3.77 lines the next two years to complete his career.