Jerry Nops

Jeremiah H. Nops
born Fredrich Henry Nops

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Weight 168 lb.

• Debut September 7, 1896
• Final Game September 23, 1901
• Born June 23, 1875 in Toledo, OH USA
• Died March 26, 1937 in Camden, NJ USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Jerry Nops had an excellent year as a 22-year-old youngster on the famous Baltimore Orioles of the National League in 1897. He went 20-6 on a team that featured such stars as John McGraw, Willie Keeler, Hughie Jennings and Joe Kelley.

On May 17th that year, he not only pitched a shutout but also singled and doubled.

Nops's major league career lasted six years, long enough to play in the inaugural year of the new major league American League.

Prior to coming to the majors he pitched for the Wilmington Peaches. The book Honus Wagner: A Biography details Nops's exploits in several games against Paterson. Even before that, he had pitched for Toledo. The SABR biography of Lucky Wright also indicates that Nops played for an independent team in Cygnet, OH, near Toledo.

In 1904 he played for Providence, and then in the winter joined a group from Lynn, MA, who went to Cuba to play against Cuban teams. Source: Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History, 1878-1961.

The book John McGraw says McGraw suspended Nops for being hung over and losing a game against the historically bad Cleveland Spiders in 1899.

The book Baseball in Baltimore: The First 100 Years has a photo of the 1899 Orioles including Nops. He is a broad-shouldered young man who is perhaps a couple of inches shorter than some of the taller players he is standing near. Joe McGinnity, who is standing next to him, is a bit taller.

In May 1909, it was reported that Jerry was playing for Reading.

His brother Billy Nops also pitched in the minors.

"For a man, or a boy, if you choose, that has had so many things the matter with him as Jerry Nops, his pitching is wonderful. Colds, fevers, malaria, rheumatism, all fail to knock him out. He is having a wonderful first season in the National League." - from the Baltimore correspondent to Sporting Life, August 7, 1897

"In the Union League, Jerry Nops, of Elizabeth, shut out Philadelphia without a hit." - Sporting Life of January 23, 1909, remembering an event on May 18 of the previous year

Notable Achievements

• 20 Wins Seasons: 1 (1897)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 3 (1897-1899)