Posts tagged as “Otis Nixon”

• Drafted third overall by the Yankees in 1979 and debuted for New York in 1983.
• Acquired from New York along with George Frazier in exchange for Toby Harrah in February 1984.
• Opening Day left fielder in 1984 but could not hit. Finally send to minors on June 17 with .154 batting average.
• Primarily used as a pinch runner and defensive replacement in 1985 and 1986 but spent the entire season with the major league squad each year.
• Sent back to the minors in 1987 and played just 19 games with the Indians, going 1-17 at the plate.
• Arrested for cocaine possession in 1987, likely contributing to him not getting recalled later in the season. He would later miss the 1991 World Series with the Braves due to a drug suspension.
• Became a free agent after the 1987 season and signed with Montreal.
• Stole 57 bases for Cleveland but was also caught 26 times (68.6% success rate).
• Hit three home runs in 1985, his only three home runs with Cleveland. Did not hit another major league home run until 1990.
• In September 1985 against the eventual AL East Champion Blue Jays, Nixon hit an improbable two-run home run to break a 3-3 tie in the ninth inning off Toronto closer Tom Henke.