Nemo Gaines
Pitcher
Born: (1897-12-23)December 23, 1897
Alexandria, Virginia
Died: January 26, 1979(1979-01-26) (aged 81)
Warrenton, Virginia
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
June 26, 1921, for the Washington Senators
Last MLB appearance
July 16, 1921, for the Washington Senators
MLB statistics
Win–loss record0–0
Earned run average0.00
Strikeouts1
Teams

Willard Roland "Nemo" Gaines (December 23, 1897 – January 26, 1979) was an American military officer and baseball player. He served as an officer in the United States Navy and played briefly as a Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher with the Washington Senators.

Biography

Gaines was born on December 23, 1897, in Alexandria, Virginia. He attended the United States Naval Academy.[1] He pitched for the Navy Midshipmen baseball team, lettering from 1919 through 1921.[2][3] He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1921.[2]

Photo of Gaines in the 1921 US Naval Academy yearbook.

After graduating, he received a special leave from the Navy to pitch for the Washington Senators of Major League Baseball (MLB). In his MLB debut, he relieved George Mogridge in a game against the New York Yankees, facing Bob Meusel, Wally Pipp, Aaron Ward and Wally Schang.[1][4] On July 2, he pitched 1+2⁄3 innings against the Philadelphia Athletics.[5] He pitched another inning against the Athletics the next day.[6] His final appearance came on July 16 against the Cleveland Indians.[7] In total, Gaines appeared in four games for the Senators between June 26 and July 16, 1921, pitching 4+2⁄3 innings while giving up five hits, two walks and no runs. The Senators lost all four games he appeared in.[8] Gaines was the only Navy Midshipman to play in MLB until Mitch Harris made his big league debut with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2015.[9]

Gaines returned to the Navy after his brief stint in MLB. He served as an officer, reaching the rank of captain. During World War II, Gaines served as U.S. naval attaché, stationed in Peru.[1] He retired in 1946 to Virginia, where he raised Hereford cattle and opened a hardware store with his brother.[1] He was a senior warden in the Episcopal Church at the time of his death.

Gaines died on January 26, 1979, in Warrenton, Virginia, and was interred in Arlington National Cemetery.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Pils, Douglas (September 12, 2009). "Week in review/preview: Sacrificing talent for honor". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
  2. ^ a b "The United States Naval Academy Official Athletic Site – Baseball". Navysports.Com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
  3. ^ Sparrow, C. Edward (May 29, 1920). "ARMY AND NAVY NINES READY FOR BIG GAME: Uncle Sam's Wards Will Stage Their Seventeenth Baseball Battle Today At Annapolis WILHIDE WITH THE CADETS Rivals As Fit As Expert Hands Can Make Them For Important Diamond Classic--Veterans Will Perform For Both". The Sun. p. 9. Retrieved December 17, 2011. (subscription required)
  4. ^ "June 26, 1921 Washington Senators at New York Yankees Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference.com. June 26, 1921. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
  5. ^ "July 2, 1921 Philadelphia Athletics at Washington Senators Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference.com. July 2, 1921. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
  6. ^ "July 3, 1921 Philadelphia Athletics at Washington Senators Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference.com. July 3, 1921. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
  7. ^ "July 16, 1921 Washington Senators at Cleveland Indians Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference.com. July 16, 1921. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
  8. ^ "Nemo Gaines 1921 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
  9. ^ "Harris becomes first Navy grad to earn MLB win". MLB.com. May 6, 2015.
  10. ^ "W. R. Gaines, Retired Navy Captain". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. January 29, 1979. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.

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