Mel Nelson

[William Malone]

Melvin Fredrick Nelson was born on May 30, 1936 in San Diego, California. 

The St. Louis Cardinals signed him as an amateur free agent in 1956. He began his professional baseball journey as an outfielder, but eventually transitioned to the mound while rising through the minor league ranks. Nelson made his Major League debut for the Cardinals in 1960, making one start and one relief appearance that season. He didn't reach the bigs again until 1963 with the Los Angeles Angels, going 2-3 with a 5.30 ERA and one save over 52.3 innings.

Nelson was released by the Angels early on in 1964, and he finished out that year in the Minnesota Twins minor league system. They called him up in 1965. Nelson made three starts and 25 relief appearances for the Twins that summer, going 0-4 with a 4.12 ERA and three saves. Minnesota reached the World Series, falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games. Nelson was on their playoff roster, but he did not enter any games.

He spent all of 1966 in Triple-A, and most of 1967 as well. Minnesota called him up for one big league appearance on September 15, 1967. Nelson allowed two runs in 0.1 innings.

St. Louis brought him back in 1968. Nelson finally pitched in a World Series game that fall, tossing a shutout inning in game six. The Detroit Tigers wound up winning the series in seven games.

Nelson had a successful scouting career after his playing days were over, working in several front offices between 1973 and 2006. He received World Series rings while working for the Oakland Athletics in 1989 and the New York Yankees in 1996. Nelson passed away in 2021.

View full player