Willard Nixon

Willard Nixon
Nixon in 1953.
Pitcher
Born: July 17, 1928 Taylorsville, Georgia
Died: December 10, 2000 (aged 72) Rome, Georgia
Batted: Left Threw: Right
MLB debut
July 7, 1950, for the Boston Red Sox
Last MLB appearance
July 4, 1958, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	69–72
Earned run average	4.39
Strikeouts	616
Innings pitched	1,234
Teams
Boston Red Sox (1950–1958)

Willard Lee Nixon (June 17, 1928 – December 10, 2000) was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Boston Red Sox between 1950 and 1958. Listed at 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and 195 pounds (88 kg), Nixon batted left-handed and threw right-handed.

The native of Taylorsville, Georgia, signed with the Red Sox as a free agent in 1948 out of Auburn University. In his nine-season career, he posted a 69–72 record with a 4.39 ERA and 616 strikeouts in 225 appearances, including 177 starts, 51 complete games, nine shutouts, three saves, and 1,234 innings pitched.

Nixon had a 12–10 mark with the 1955 Red Sox. Four of those wins came at the expense of the New York Yankees. From 1954 to 1955, Nixon beat the Yankees five straight times.

Nixon died in Rome, Georgia, at age 72.

Sources

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
• Baseball Almanac
• Retrosheet
• Historic Baseball
• The Deadball Era
• Georgia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum