Tommy Nelson

Tom Cousineau Nelson

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11½", Weight 180 lb.
• Debut April 17, 1945
• Final Game September 30, 1945
• Born May 1, 1917 in Chicago, IL USA
• Died September 24, 1973 in San Diego, CA USA

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Biographical Information

Infielder Tommy Nelson was in professional baseball for twelve seasons from 1938 to 1950. He would spend seven of those seasons in the minor leagues until 1945 before getting his one and only chance at the major leagues.

Tommy was affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians and the Cincinnati Reds organizations with different teams on his way up the ladder. Tom hit .325 with 10 homers for the 1940 Muskogee Reds of the class C Western Association in 139 games and probably had his best season with the Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association, when he hit .303 with 20 home runs in 146 games in 1944.

In September, 1944 Nelson was traded by the Brewers with Dick Culler to the Boston Braves for players to be named later. The Boston Braves sent Buck Etchison on October 14, 1944 and Carl Lindquist on February 6, 1945 to the Milwaukee team to complete the trade.

Nelson received his opportunity in the big leagues the following season, making his debut with the Boston Braves on April 17, 1945. Tommy spent the season with the Braves, appearing in 40 games and fielded well but hit at a .165 clip. Like so many other young men in this time period, it was one and out and he finished his career in the minors.

Tom spent the 1946 year with the American Association Columbus Red Birds and hit at a .307 mark with 74 RBI and appeared in 133 games. Nelson played three more years in the minors and finished out his career in 1950 as player-manager of the Medford Rogues of the class D Far West League along with Pete Jonas who came on when Nelson left the game for good.

Nelson's totals for his eleven minor league seasons showed him appearing in 1,122 games with 4,120 at-bats and 1,167 base-hits for a .283 career batting average. He also carried an .942 overall fielding percentage.

After baseball, Nelson owned and operated a hotel restaurant supply company. He died at Hillsdale Hospital in San Diego, CA on September 24, 1973, from injuries suffered in an accidental fall at his home four days earlier.