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 was a super talented baseball player from Australia. He was known as one of the best "relievers" (pitchers who come into the game after the starting pitcher) in Australian baseball history. Bob was the oldest of four brothers. His brother Dave Nilsson became the first Australian to be an All-Star in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the USA! Bob's son, Jay Nilsson, also became a professional baseball player.
Bob made history himself by being the first Australian in the modern era to sign a professional contract with an MLB team, the Cincinnati Reds, back in 1978. Even though he didn't play in the US minor leagues, he became a huge star in Australia.
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Playing Baseball in Australia
When the Australian Baseball League started in 1989, Bob Nilsson was one of its first big stars. He played for the Gold Coast Dolphins.
Early Success
In his first season (1989–1990), Bob was great at both hitting and pitching. He was chosen as the top relief pitcher for the ABL All-Star team.
The next year (1990–1991), Nilsson had an amazing season for the Dolphins. He won 7 games and saved 7 others. He had a super low ERA (Earned Run Average) of 0.27. This means hardly any runs were scored against him! He was again named to the All-Star team.
Leading the League
In 1991–1992, Bob led the league in how many games he appeared in (23 games). He helped his team, Daikyo, win a championship!
He later played for the Brisbane Bandits and the East Coast Cougars. Bob often led the league in appearances as a pitcher. He was also one of the top players for "saves" (when a relief pitcher finishes a game and his team wins). He was named a first-team All-Star relief pitcher three times in his career.
Representing Australia
In 1997, Bob also played for the Australian national team in the Intercontinental Cup. He was one of the most frequent pitchers for Australia in that big competition.
Bob Nilsson retired after the 1997–1998 season. He played in the Australian Baseball League for eight seasons. Overall, he pitched in 194 games, which is more than anyone else in the league's history! He also holds the record for the most saves in Australian league history, with 53 saves.
Life After Baseball
After his professional baseball career, Bob Nilsson became a coach. He is a Level 2 National Accredited Coach. He has coached Australian junior baseball teams and the Queensland Rams. He also coaches other junior teams in Queensland and is currently the head coach for the Pine Hills Lightning.
Bob's sons, Jay and Ryan, and his nephew Daniel, also play baseball for the Redcliffe Padres.
