Tricky Nichols

Frederick C. Nichols

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 7½", Weight 150 lb.

• Debut April 19, 1875
• Final Game July 11, 1882
• Born July 26, 1850 in Bridgeport, CT USA
• Died August 22, 1897 in Bridgeport, CT USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Tricky Nichols pitched six years in the National Association, the National League and the major-league American Association, with a record of 28-73. He was named "Tricky" because he was an early experimenter with changing the speed of his pitches.

Nichols was the main pitcher for the 1875 New Haven Elm Citys, going 4-29 on a team that went 7-40. The following season he pitched only one game in the new 1876 National League, but won that game, giving up only one earned run in nine innings. Prior to the 1877 season he pitched a gem in an exhibition game against Syracuse that was talked about for days.

He had his busiest season in 1877, going 18-23 in 350 innings for the St. Louis Brown Stockings as their main pitcher. His ERA was fourth-best in the league. The following year he was much less effective for the 1878 Providence Grays, with a high ERA as he was the # 2 pitcher on the team behind 18-year-old John Ward.

In late 1879 he was part of a team that went to Cuba to play a few games. The team was composed mostly of players from the 1879 Worcester Ruby Legs team which became in 1880 a major league team, so Nichols may have been with Worcester in 1879. In 1880, he came back to the majors for two games, both of which he lost, and in 1882 he went 1-12 during his only season in the American Association, playing for the Baltimore Orioles.

Nichols continued to pitch after that in the minor leagues. In 1887 he was with Denver, while in 1888 he was at Houston.

Notable Achievements

• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 2 (1875 & 1877)
• 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 1 (1877)