Bob Nilsson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bob Nilsson |
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| Born: 23 February 1960 Brisbane, Queensland |
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2005 | ||
Robert "Bob" Nilsson is a famous Australian baseball player. He was known as one of the best "relievers" in Australian baseball history. A reliever is a pitcher who comes into the game after the starting pitcher.
Bob is the oldest of four brothers who all played baseball. His brother Dave Nilsson was the first Australian player to become an All-Star in MLB (Major League Baseball) in the United States. Bob's son, Jay Nilsson, also started his professional baseball career in 2006.
Bob Nilsson was the first Australian player in the modern era to sign a professional contract with an MLB team. He signed with the Cincinnati Reds in 1978. However, he did not play in the US minor leagues.
Contents
Bob's Baseball Journey
Starting in the Australian Baseball League
When the Australian Baseball League (ABL) began in 1989, Bob Nilsson quickly became a star. He played for the Gold Coast Dolphins. In his first season, he was a great hitter and also an excellent pitcher. He was chosen for the ABL All-Star team as the top relief pitcher.
Amazing Pitching Seasons
In the 1990–1991 season, Nilsson had an incredible year for the Daikyo Dolphins. He won 7 games and saved 7 games, with a very low ERA (Earned Run Average) of 0.27. ERA measures how many earned runs a pitcher gives up per nine innings. A low ERA means a pitcher is very good at preventing runs. He saved more than twice as many games as other top relievers. He was again named to the All-Star team.
The next year, 1991–1992, Bob continued to be a strong pitcher. He led the league in appearances, playing in 23 games. He helped his team, Daikyo, win a championship.
Playing for Different Teams
In 1992–1993, Bob played for the Brisbane Bandits. He still saved many games and led the league with 26 appearances.
He then joined the East Coast Cougars for the 1993–1994 season. He was again one of the top relievers in the league. In 1994–1995, he had another strong season, being named a first-team All-Star relief pitcher for the third time in his career.
Later Years and Retirement
Bob Nilsson continued to play in the Australian Baseball League for a few more seasons. He also played for the Australian national team in the 1997 Intercontinental Cup.
He retired after the 1997–1998 season. In total, Bob played in 194 games over eight ABL seasons. He holds the record for the most games pitched in Australian league history. He also has the most saves, which means he closed out many games for his teams.
After Baseball
After his professional baseball career, Bob Nilsson became a coach. He is a Level 2 National Accredited Coach. He has coached many junior baseball teams in Australia, including the Queensland Rams. He is currently the head coach for the Pine Hills Lightning.
Bob's sons, Jay and Ryan, and his nephew Daniel, all play for the Redcliffe Padres baseball team.
