Tom Nieto, baseball player, 1984-1990

Tom Nieto

Born: 10/27/1960 in Downey, CA, USA

MLB Debut: 1984-05-10 | Final Game: 1990-09-29

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 193 lbs

Full name: Thomas Andrew Nieto

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Biography

Tom Nieto, born in 1960, was a professional baseball player whose career spanned from May 10, 1984, to September 29, 1990. Primarily serving as a position player, Nieto played a total of 251 games in Major League Baseball. During his time in the league, he recorded 127 hits, 5 home runs, and 69 runs batted in, culminating in a batting average of .205. While his offensive numbers may not have stood out in a competitive era, Nieto was known for his defensive skills behind the plate, contributing to the success of his teams with his ability to manage pitchers and handle game situations. Nieto played for several teams during his career, including notable stints with the St. Louis Cardinals and the Minnesota Twins. He navigated an era characterized by evolving offensive strategies and a growing emphasis on power hitting. Although he may not have been a prolific hitter, his knowledge of the game and experience made him a valuable asset in the clubhouse, helping guide younger players. After his retirement, Nieto's contributions to the game continued as he engaged in coaching and mentoring, leaving a lasting impact in the baseball community.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
251 619 37 127 24 4 5 69 0 55 135 0.205 0.280 0.281 0.561 -2035.5

Career AVG .205 vs. league average .258 across their career seasons — 20.4% below league average.

Career OBP .280 vs. league average .324 across their career seasons — 13.5% below league average.

Career SLG .281 vs. league average .389 across their career seasons — 27.8% below league average.

Career OPS 0.561 vs. league average 0.713 across their career seasons — 21.3% 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
1984 STL NL 33 86 7 24 4 0 3 12 0 5 18 0.279 .259 (+7%) .322 (-3%) .384 (+12%) .707 (+5%) 39.5
1985 STL NL 95 253 15 57 10 2 0 34 0 26 37 0.225 .257 (-12%) .323 (-6%) .390 (-28%) .714 (-18%) -768.8
1986 WSN NL 30 65 5 13 3 1 1 7 0 6 21 0.200 .257 (-22%) .325 (-15%) .395 (-18%) .720 (-17%) -184.6
1987 MIN AL 41 105 7 21 7 1 1 12 0 8 24 0.200 .262 (-24%) .331 (-17%) .415 (-24%) .746 (-21%) -389.7
1988 MIN AL 24 60 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 17 0.067 .254 (-74%) .317 (-70%) .377 (-82%) .695 (-77%) -732.0
1989 PHI NL 11 20 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 6 7 0.150 — — — — 0.0
1990 PHI NL 17 30 1 5 0 0 0 4 0 3 11 0.167 — — — — 0.0

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
3 8 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 4 0.000

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1985 NLCS SLN 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0.000
1985 WS SLN 2 5 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0.000

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
C 249 201 1080 87 11 11

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1984 SLN C 32 28 135 18 1 0
1985 SLN C 95 80 384 28 4 3
1986 MON C 30 20 123 11 3 1
1987 MIN C 40 36 210 17 1 5
1988 MIN C 24 18 108 6 1 1
1989 PHI C 11 10 63 2 0 0
1990 PHI C 17 9 57 5 1 1

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Catcher 249
Designated Hitter 1

Salary History

Year Team League Salary
1989 PHI NL $115,000
1988 MIN AL $103,500
1986 MON NL $90,000
Total Career Earnings $308,500

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
Cerritos College Norwalk CA 1979, 1980
Oral Roberts University Tulsa OK 1981