Nelson Briles

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Nelson Briles bigraphy, stories - American baseball player

Nelson Briles : biography

August 5, 1943 – February 13, 2005

Nelson Kelley Briles (August 5, 1943 – February 13, 2005) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. A hard thrower whose best pitch was a slider, he exhibited excellent control. Briles batted and threw right-handed.

Kansas City Royals

Shortly after his trade to the Royals, Briles released the single "Hey Hank" b/w "Soft the Summer Wind Blows" on Capitol Records. "Hey Hank" was the pitcher’s plea to Hank Aaron that he try to hit home run number 715 off of somebody else (though Briles was now in the American League). Briles suffered set back after set back with the Royals. Just as the season was set to begin, he was placed on the disabled list with a sore right knee. After two appearances, he reinjured the knee, requiring surgery.

Likewise, his season was hampered by injuries. After missing the entire month of June, he returned on the Fourth of July, but was forced to leave his first game back with soreness in his elbow. He was forced out of his final start of the season on September 1 after three innings when his knee began acting up again. After the season, he was traded to the Texas Rangers for second baseman Dave Nelson.

Texas Rangers

Briles returned healthy to make 31 starts for the Rangers in . With a staff that also included Hall of Famers Gaylord Perry and Bert Blyleven, Rangers pitching kept them in first or near first place in the American League West through May. However, they ended the season at 76-86, and in fourth place. For his part, Briles went 11-9 with a 3.26 ERA to be named the team’s "Pitcher of the Year."

With Doyle Alexander and Dock Ellis added to the starting rotation in , Briles was relegated to the bullpen and fifth starter duties. He was traded just as the season was ending to the Baltimore Orioles.

Briles’ season with the Orioles was also hampered with injuries. Even when healthy, he was used very sparingly by Orioles manager Earl Weaver (54.1 innings pitched. By far a career low). He was placed on waivers January 17, .

Career stats

Seasons W L Pct. ERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER R HR BB K WP HBP Fld% Avg.
14 129 112 .535 3.44 452 279 64 17 22 2111.2 2141 807 929 186 547 1163 50 51 .966 .154

Briles had good reason to record "Hey Hank." Aaron had six career home runs off Briles in 67 at-bats, second only to Willie McCovey with seven.

St. Louis Cardinals

Born in Dorris, California, he grew up in Chico, California where he played baseball at Chico Senior High School and California State University, Chico. He transferring to Santa Clara University before signing with the St. Louis Cardinals as an amateur free agent in . He spent just one season in their farm system before joining the Cards in .

Though used primarily as a starting pitcher in with the Tulsa Oilers, Briles pitched out of the bullpen upon his arrival in the majors. He was 1-2 with a 3.29 earned run average and one save as a relief pitcher when he made his first start on September 25 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Though he pitched well (seven innings, one earned run), he was out-pitched by Sandy Koufax, and lost his first major league start. He was far less effective in his next start (six earned runs in seven innings pitched), however managed to win that one thanks to the nineteen runs his Cardinals teammates put on the board.

Briles suffered through a hard luck season, going 4-15 despite a relatively modest 3.21 ERA. He was 4-3 with a 3.55 ERA and six saves in when an injury to Bob Gibson (a broken leg suffered at the hands of a Roberto Clemente line drive) forced him into the starting rotation. He lost two of his first three starts, but then won his last nine decisions to end the season at 14-5 with a National League leading .737 winning percentage (the Cardinals also won his two no-decisions during that stretch). His 2.43 ERA was also best on the Cardinals staff.