Major League Baseball Player. He did something that had never been done before in a big-league game. On September 14, 1951, as a member of the St. Louis Browns, he hit homers in his first two big-league at-bats, both coming off Boston southpaw Mickey McDermott at Fenway Park. The right-handed-hitting outfielder played 12 years with the Browns (1951 to 1952), the Detroit Tigers (1953 to 1954), the Chicago White Sox (1955 to 1956), the Baltimore Orioles (1956 to 1959), the St. Louis Cardinals (1960 to 1961), the Cleveland Indians (1961 to 1962) and the San Francisco Giants in 1962. The Browns traded him along with infielder Owen Friend and outfielder J.W. Porter to the Tigers on December 4, 1952 for outfielder Johnny Groth and pitchers Virgil Trucks and Hal White. The Tigers shipped him with first baseman Walt Dropo and pitcher Ted Gray on December 6, 1954 to the White Sox for first basemen Ferris Fain and Jack Phillips and pitcher Leo Cristante. He was on the move again on May 21, 1956 as the White Sox peddled him along with third baseman George Kell and pitchers Mike Fornieles and Connie Johnson to the Orioles for pitcher Jim Wilson and outfielder Dave Philley. The Orioles shipped him to Cardinals on December 2, 1959 for outfielder-catcher Gene Green and a minor leaguer. The Cardinals peddled him to the Indians on May 10, 1961 for second baseman Joe Morgan (he later was the manager of the Boston Red Sox), pitcher Mike Lee and cash. He was sold to the Giants on April 29, 1962. Nieman's lifetime totals were .295 with 180 doubles, 125 homers and 544 runs batted in. He died of a heart attack.
Major League Baseball Player. He did something that had never been done before in a big-league game. On September 14, 1951, as a member of the St. Louis Browns, he hit homers in his first two big-league at-bats, both coming off Boston southpaw Mickey McDermott at Fenway Park. The right-handed-hitting outfielder played 12 years with the Browns (1951 to 1952), the Detroit Tigers (1953 to 1954), the Chicago White Sox (1955 to 1956), the Baltimore Orioles (1956 to 1959), the St. Louis Cardinals (1960 to 1961), the Cleveland Indians (1961 to 1962) and the San Francisco Giants in 1962. The Browns traded him along with infielder Owen Friend and outfielder J.W. Porter to the Tigers on December 4, 1952 for outfielder Johnny Groth and pitchers Virgil Trucks and Hal White. The Tigers shipped him with first baseman Walt Dropo and pitcher Ted Gray on December 6, 1954 to the White Sox for first basemen Ferris Fain and Jack Phillips and pitcher Leo Cristante. He was on the move again on May 21, 1956 as the White Sox peddled him along with third baseman George Kell and pitchers Mike Fornieles and Connie Johnson to the Orioles for pitcher Jim Wilson and outfielder Dave Philley. The Orioles shipped him to Cardinals on December 2, 1959 for outfielder-catcher Gene Green and a minor leaguer. The Cardinals peddled him to the Indians on May 10, 1961 for second baseman Joe Morgan (he later was the manager of the Boston Red Sox), pitcher Mike Lee and cash. He was sold to the Giants on April 29, 1962. Nieman's lifetime totals were .295 with 180 doubles, 125 homers and 544 runs batted in. He died of a heart attack.
Bio by: Ron Coons
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