Nick Van Lue

Nick Lyndon Van Lue

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 2", Weight 175 lb.
• High School Carson High School
• Born December 6, 1946 in Vincennes, IN USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

First baseman Nick Van Lue could slug a home run and draw a walk, but never played above Single-A in 5 minor league seasons.

He was taken by the Milwaukee Braves in the 11th round of the 1965 amateur draft, a couple picks after pitcher Jim McAndrew, and slashed .242/.320/.288 with no home runs and 8 walks in 24 games for the Florida Rookie League Braves in his pro debut. He didn't play in 1966. In the Philadelphia Phillies system in 1967, he hit .301/.379/.486 with 16 home runs and 79 RBI in 96 games between two clubs. In 1968, he hit .275/.349/.496 with 23 home runs and 77 RBI in 123 games for the Spartanburg Phillies; his 25 doubles tied Dick Grant for the Western Carolinas League lead and he was second in home runs behind Zelman Jack's 24. The Kansas City Royals took him in the Triple-A phase of the 1968 Rule V Draft, though he spent 1969 with the Single-A Waterloo Hawks. He batted .289/.362/.457 with 13 home runs and 67 RBI that season. In 1970, he batted .217 with 10 home runs and 33 RBI in 84 games for the San Jose Bees to wrap up his career. Overall, Van Lue batted .272/.353/.453 with 62 home runs and 262 RBI in 445 games.

He later became head coach at Narbonne High School in Harbor City, CA and then served as head coach at El Camino College from 1992 to 2004. He also served as assistant coach at Los Angeles Harbor College, San Pedro High School and El Segundo High School.