Ricky Nelson, baseball player, 1983-1986

Ricky Nelson

Born: 5/8/1959 in Eloy, AZ, USA

Died: 11/19/2021 in Phoenix, AZ, USA

MLB Debut: 1983-05-17 | Final Game: 1986-08-02

Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 200 lbs

Full name: Ricky Lee Nelson

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Biography

Ricky Nelson, born in 1959, was a professional baseball player who carved out a niche in Major League Baseball during a career that spanned from 1983 to 1986. Primarily known as a position player, Nelson played a total of 123 games, showcasing his skills at the plate and on the basepaths. He recorded 79 hits, which included 6 home runs and 39 runs batted in, finishing his career with a batting average of .247. In addition to his offensive contributions, Nelson displayed speed on the bases, accumulating 8 stolen bases throughout his time in the league. Nelson’s career occurred during a transformative period in baseball as the sport was evolving with a greater emphasis on power hitting and athleticism. While he may not have been a household name, his tenure in Major League Baseball reflected the competitive spirit of the time and the challenges faced by players carving out their careers in an era marked by significant changes in the game. Nelson's contributions to his teams were characterized by a solid work ethic and versatility, embodying the qualities that many aspiring players sought to emulate.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
123 320 38 79 13 3 6 39 8 19 59 0.247 0.288 0.362 0.651 -423.1

Career AVG .247 vs. league average .259 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .288 vs. league average .324 across their career seasons — 11.1% below league average.

Career SLG .362 vs. league average .390 across their career seasons — 7.1% below league average.

Career OPS 0.651 vs. league average 0.714 across their career seasons — 8.9% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1983 SEA AL 98 291 32 74 13 3 5 36 7 17 50 0.254 .260 (-3%) .324 (-9%) .389 (-5%) .714 (-7%) -423.1
1984 SEA AL 9 15 2 3 0 0 1 2 0 2 4 0.200 — — — — 0.0
1985 SEA AL 6 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.000 — — — — 0.0
1986 SEA AL 10 12 2 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 4 0.167 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
OF 97 75 127 10 5 1

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1983 SEA OF 91 75 122 10 4 1
1984 SEA OF 2 0 2 0 0 0
1985 SEA OF 3 0 1 0 0 0
1986 SEA OF 1 0 2 0 1 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Left Field 47
Center Field 1
Right Field 55
Designated Hitter 8

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
Arizona State University Tempe AZ 1979, 1980, 1981