Nick Swisher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nick Swisher |
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Swisher in 2011
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| Outfielder / First baseman | |||
| Born: November 25, 1980 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 3, 2004, for the Oakland Athletics | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 2, 2015, for the Atlanta Braves | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .249 | ||
| Home runs | 245 | ||
| Runs batted in | 803 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
Nicholas Thompson Swisher (born November 25, 1980) is a former American professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder and first baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB). Nick was a switch hitter, meaning he could bat from both sides of the plate, and he threw with his left hand.
He played for several teams, including the Oakland Athletics, Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, and Atlanta Braves. Nick Swisher won the 2009 World Series with the Yankees. He was also chosen as an All-Star in 2010. Swisher was known for hitting many home runs and being good at waiting for the right pitch. He hit at least 20 home runs in nine seasons in a row, from 2005 to 2013.
Nick's father, Steve Swisher, was also a professional baseball player. He played as a catcher in the National League during the 1970s and 1980s. Nick was born in Columbus, Ohio, but he grew up in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Before becoming a professional, he played college baseball for the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Athletics picked him in the 2002 MLB draft, and he started playing in the MLB in 2004.
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Early Life and Family
Nick Swisher was born in Columbus, Ohio. His father, Steve Swisher, was a former major league baseball player. Nick's parents got divorced when he was 11 years old. After that, he went to live with his grandparents in Parkersburg, West Virginia. They helped raise him during his teenage years.
Playing Baseball Before the Pros
High School Sports
Swisher went to Parkersburg High School. He was a talented athlete who played three different sports. He played football, baseball, and also earned a letter in basketball. In football, he was a strong safety. Many top college football teams, like the University of Notre Dame, wanted him to play for them. However, Nick decided to focus on baseball instead.
College Baseball at Ohio State
After high school, Nick was not chosen in the MLB Draft. He then went to Ohio State University. Only Ohio State and Ohio University had recruited him for baseball. He played for the Ohio State Buckeyes baseball team in the Big Ten Conference.
In 2000, Nick was named the Big Ten Conference Baseball Freshman of the Year. He hit .299 with 10 home runs and 48 runs batted in (RBI). He also played summer baseball for the Wareham Gatemen in the Cape Cod Baseball League. In 2001, he was chosen for the All-Big Ten team as a first baseman. He hit .322 with 56 RBI and led the league with 15 home runs. In 2002, he earned All-Big Ten honors again, this time as an outfielder. He batted .348 with 10 home runs and 52 RBI.
Professional Baseball Career
Getting Drafted and Playing in the Minor Leagues
The Oakland Athletics chose Nick Swisher in the first round of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft. He was the 16th player picked overall. The Athletics got this pick because Johnny Damon left their team to sign with the Boston Red Sox.
Nick Swisher and the Athletics' 2002 draft class are a big part of the book Moneyball by Michael Lewis. The book talks about how the Athletics used new ways to pick players, different from traditional baseball thinking. Swisher was one of the few players that both old-school scouts and the new "sabermetrics" system agreed on.
Swisher started his professional career in 2002 with the Vancouver Canadians. He then moved up to the Visalia Oaks. In 2003, he played for the Modesto A's and then the Midland RockHounds. He also played in the Arizona Fall League. In 2004, Nick played for the Sacramento River Cats. He hit 29 home runs and had 92 RBI. That year, he led all minor league players with 103 walks.
Major League Baseball Debut
Oakland Athletics (2004–2007)
Nick Swisher made his MLB debut with the Athletics in 2004, playing in 20 games. In 2005, he played in 131 games, hitting .236 with 21 home runs and 74 RBI. He finished sixth in the voting for the Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award in the American League.
In 2006, Swisher improved his hitting. He batted .254 with 35 home runs and 95 RBI, which were both career highs for him. He also got on base more often and hit for more power. Swisher played about half his games in left field and half at first base. During the season, he wrote a column for ESPN.com about his experiences as a young MLB player.
Swisher played in the postseason for the first time in 2006. The Athletics swept the Minnesota Twins in the first round. However, they lost to the Detroit Tigers in the next round.
In May 2007, Swisher signed a five-year contract extension with Oakland. In September 2007, he was involved in a small fight on the field after being hit by a pitch from a Texas Rangers pitcher. Both players were kicked out of the game, and Swisher was suspended for three games.
Chicago White Sox (2008)
On January 3, 2008, Swisher was traded to the Chicago White Sox. This trade was part of the Athletics' plan to rebuild their team. Even though he quickly became a fan favorite, he struggled with his hitting. He batted only .219, which was the lowest batting average in the major leagues that year. However, he still hit 24 home runs. Because of his struggles, the White Sox manager benched him for most of September. Swisher finished the 2008 season with a .219 batting average, 24 home runs, and 69 RBI in 153 games.
Despite his lower stats, Swisher was on the White Sox's postseason team. They played against the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2008 ALDS. The White Sox lost the series in four games.
New York Yankees (2009–2012)
On November 13, 2008, the White Sox traded Swisher to the New York Yankees. The Yankees planned for him to be their starting first baseman. However, they later signed Mark Teixeira, who took that role. Swisher became a reserve player, meaning he would come off the bench to play outfield or first base.
On April 9, 2009, Swisher started his first game as a Yankee in right field. He had a great game, hitting a home run and tying his career high with five RBI. A few days later, he became the regular starting right fielder because another player got injured.
On April 13, 2009, Swisher even pitched one inning in a game against the Tampa Bay Rays. He allowed only one hit and one walk, and he struck out one batter. He was the first Yankees position player to pitch since 1997. Swisher finished his first season with the Yankees batting .249 with 29 home runs and 82 RBI in 150 games.
Swisher hit his first postseason home run in the 2009 World Series. The Yankees went on to win the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies in six games, giving Swisher his only championship title.
After struggling in the 2009 postseason, Swisher worked to improve his hitting for the 2010 season. In July 2010, he was chosen by fans to be an All-Star through the "Final Vote." He even made a fun commercial to encourage people to vote for him. Swisher also took part in the 2010 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby. He finished the 2010 season with a career-high .288 batting average, 29 home runs, and 89 RBI in 150 games.
In 2011, Swisher's offensive numbers were a little lower than in 2010, but he still hit .260. He was one of four Yankees players to hit at least 20 home runs that year. His fielding percentage in right field was one of the best in the American League.
In November 2012, Swisher decided not to accept a contract offer from the Yankees, making him a free agent.
Cleveland Indians (2013-2015)
On December 23, 2012, Swisher agreed to a four-year contract worth $56 million with the Cleveland Indians. The deal became official in January 2013. He quickly became popular with fans and even named a section of the stadium "Brohio."
The 2014 season was tough for Swisher because of injuries. He had career lows in batting average (.208), games played (97), and home runs (8). On June 19, 2014, he hit a "walk-off" grand slam (a home run with the bases loaded that wins the game) against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. This helped the Indians win 5-3 in 10 innings. In August, the Indians announced that Swisher needed surgery on both of his knees, which ended his season.
Swisher started the 2015 season on the disabled list, still recovering from his knee surgeries. He was activated in May and played mostly as a designated hitter. However, he was placed back on the disabled list in June due to inflammation in his left knee.
Atlanta Braves (2015)
On August 7, 2015, the Indians traded Swisher to the Atlanta Braves. He batted .195 in 46 games for the Braves. On March 28, 2016, the Braves released Swisher from his contract.
Second Time with the Yankees (Minor Leagues)
On April 14, 2016, Swisher signed a minor league contract to return to the Yankees organization. He played first base for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, a Class AAA team. He batted .255 with seven home runs in 55 games. Even though the Yankees had some injuries to their first basemen, they decided not to call Swisher up to the major leagues. On July 2, Swisher chose to leave his contract to be with his family after his second daughter was born. He officially announced his retirement from baseball on February 17, 2017. After retiring, he became a baseball analyst for Fox.
Personal Life
Family and Tributes
Nick Swisher's father, Steve Swisher, played in 509 major league games from 1974 to 1982.
Nick was very close to his grandmother, Betty Lorraine Swisher, who helped raise him. She passed away from brain cancer in 2005. Nick has a tattoo on his chest in her honor, with her initials surrounded by angel's wings and a halo. He often looked up to the sky to honor his parents and grandparents. After getting a hit, he would touch his lips and point to the sky for his grandmother. He also wrote her initials on the bottom of his bats and kissed them when he came to home plate.
To honor her even more, he grew his hair for eleven months and then donated it to "Pantene Beautiful Lengths." This program creates free wigs for cancer patients. In May 2007, his father helped him cut his hair. His website, nickswisher.net, is also dedicated to his grandmother. When his grandfather, Don, passed away in November 2008, Swisher started adding his initials to his bats as well.
Marriage and Appearances
In August 2009, it was reported that Swisher was dating actress JoAnna Garcia. They got engaged in May 2010 and were married on December 11, 2010, in Palm Beach, Florida. The couple has two daughters, born in May 2013 and June 2016.
In 2011, Swisher appeared as himself in two episodes of his wife's TV show, Better with You. He also appeared in an episode of How I Met Your Mother in February 2010.
Charity Music Album
On August 9, 2011, Swisher released a children's music album called Believe. A part of the money from the album sales was given to "Swish's Wishes." This charity helps children who are dealing with health problems. The album had 12 songs, and other musicians like Bernie Williams and Barry Zito were featured on it. All the songs on the album were cover songs that Swisher chose. The album reached #3 on the iTunes Children's Albums chart.
Awards and Honors
- Two-time All-Big Ten (2001, 2002)
- 2009 World Series Champion
- 2010 MLB All-Star
- The playing field at the Buckeyes' home baseball stadium is named in his honor: "Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium"
- Received the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award in 2014.
See also
In Spanish: Nick Swisher para niños
- List of second-generation Major League Baseball players
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- 2021 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting
