Trot Nixon

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There were a couple of times—my first at-bat and coming out of the game. It really was, because this is the only organization I've ever known. There was [ sic ] definitely a couple of times out there that I did want to break down. I really did care about this organization. I did care about this town. I think this town has been unbelievable for my family and me. Absolutely unbelievable. I think there's a lot of guys in this organization who feel the same way.

— Trot Nixon, [7] The Patriot Ledger

After the 2006 season, the Red Sox did not offer Nixon salary arbitration as the team pursued and eventually signed free agent J. D. Drew and had a fourth outfielder, Wily Mo Peña, on the roster. [8]

Cleveland Indians

Nixon with the Cleveland Indians in 2007 Trot Nixon 2007.jpg
Nixon with the Cleveland Indians in 2007

In January 2007, Nixon signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Cleveland Indians. Instead of wearing number 7 as he had in Boston, Nixon chose number 33. The decision was made in part by his son Chase, based on the fact that Nixon turned 33 years old that April.

Arizona Diamondbacks

In February 2008, he signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Arizona Diamondbacks and was subsequently sent to their Triple-A affiliate the Tucson Sidewinders. [9]

New York Mets

On June 13, 2008, Nixon was acquired by the New York Mets from the Diamondbacks for cash considerations and a player to be named later. The Mets acquired him to replace injured outfielder Moisés Alou. He was added to the Mets roster on June 15, replacing outfielder Chris Aguila who was designated for assignment. [10] [11] The same day he was activated, Nixon started in right field against the Texas Rangers. [12] However, he finished the season on the disabled list.

Milwaukee Brewers

On December 18, 2008, Nixon signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. He was put onto the inactive roster. After his release from the Brewers in March 2009, Nixon retired from baseball.

Legacy

In 1092 games over 12 seasons, Nixon posted a .274 batting average (995-for-3627) with 579 runs, 222 doubles, 28 triples, 137 home runs, 555 RBI, 30 stolen bases, 504 bases on balls, .364 on-base percentage and .464 slugging percentage. Defensively, he recorded a .983 fielding percentage primarily as a right fielder but also has played at center and left field. In 42 postseason games, he was productive, batting .283 (39-for-138) with 18 runs, 11 doubles, 6 home runs, 25 RBI and 14 walks. [3]

Nixon was often described as a "Dirt Dog", and nicknamed "the Dirt Dog" or the "original dirt dog". [13] [14] [15] [16]

[17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] He was known for wearing a hat covered in dirt, as well as a dirty batting helmet. [22] [23] [24] [25]

The area in Connecticut between Boston and New York City, has been referred to as the "Munson–Nixon line", a play on the Mason–Dixon line, after Nixon and former Yankee Thurman Munson. [26] [27] Steve Rushin, who coined the term in a 2003 Sports Illustrated article, has pinpointed the line as running north of New Haven, south of Hartford, and along the width of central Connecticut. [28] [29]

In 2010, Red Sox manager Terry Francona compared rookie Red Sox outfielder Ryan Kalish's intensity and aggressiveness to Nixon's. [30] [31]

In October 2018, Nixon threw out the ceremonial first pitch of the American League Division Series to Dustin Pedroia, and collected donations outside of Fenway Park for Hurricane Florence victims. [32]

In 2020, Nixon was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. [33] He was inducted in the Red Sox Hall of Fame in May 2024. [34]

Personal life

Nixon became an evangelical Christian in 1993. Nixon said he relied on his faith as a calming influence on the field. [35]

Nixon is married to his wife, Kathryn, with whom he has two sons, Chase (born September 11, 2001) and Luke (born October 1, 2004). He was flying back to Boston to be at Chase's birth when air traffic was halted due to the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. [36]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "TheWolfpackCentral - NCSU football experienced an event-filled offseason 25 years ago". August 15, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Trot Nixon Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  3. 1 2 Trot Nixon (Baseball Reference)
  4. ↑ Trot Nixon loses grip on bat, sends it flying past Ryan Rupe, November 5, 2013, archived from the original on December 21, 2021, retrieved August 18, 2019
  5. ↑ Writer, PAUL DOYLE; Courant Staff (May 15, 2002). "NIXON ILL; APPEAL DROPPED". courant.com. Retrieved August 18, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ "ESPN.com: MLB - Boston's Nixon, Castillo hit with suspensions". a.espncdn.com. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Title Unknown". The Patriot Ledger . Archived from the original on June 3, 2009.
  8. ↑ Edes, Gordon (December 2, 2006). "No arbitration for Nixon". The Boston Globe.
  9. ↑ "Time running out for ex-Red Sox right fielder Trot Nixon". Boston Herald. May 27, 2008. Retrieved May 27, 2008.
  10. ↑ "Nixon traded, and promoted, to Mets". Boston Globe. June 14, 2008. Retrieved June 17, 2008.
  11. ↑ "New York Mets Transactions: June 2008". MLB.com . June 15, 2008. Retrieved June 17, 2008.
  12. ↑ "Mets' rally falls short in first game of doubleheader". ESPN. June 16, 2008. Archived from the original on June 18, 2008. Retrieved June 17, 2008.
  13. ↑ "Red Sox to induct three World Series champs into Hall of Fame". NBC Sports Boston. December 18, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  14. ↑ Finn, Chad. "Sports Q: Who is the most overrated athlete in Boston sports history?". www.boston.com. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Trot Nixon Talks Red Sox-Yankees Rivalry". iHeart. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  16. ↑ Willis, David (January 25, 2015). "The Dirt Dog". Eagle-Tribune. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Trot Nixon Will Throw Out First Pitch For Red Sox Ahead Of ALDS Game 1 - CBS Boston". www.cbsnews.com. October 3, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  18. ↑ Sweeney, Chris (March 3, 2016). "Four Historic Red Sox Artifacts You Can See at Fenway". Boston Magazine. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  19. ↑ Smith, Christopher (December 18, 2023). "Dustin Pedroia elected to Red Sox Hall of Fame with 'Dirt Dog,' WS closer". masslive. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  20. ↑ Dzen, Gary. "Manny Machado Pulls a Trot Nixon, Throws Bat". www.boston.com. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  21. ↑ Vanni, Olivia (October 15, 2008). "JoJo, Trot Nixon bring no luck". Boston Herald. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  22. 1 2 Finn, Chad. "Who was a better player for the Red Sox, J.D. Drew or Trot Nixon?". www.boston.com. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  23. ↑ Finn, Chad. "A tribute to Derek Lowe (and his shoes)". www.boston.com. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  24. ↑ Finn, Chad. "Sports Q: Who is the most overrated athlete in Boston sports history?". www.boston.com. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  25. ↑ Cannella, Stephen. "Hats Out of Hell". Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  26. ↑ "A State Divided: Connecticut Town Sits On 'Munson-Nixon' Line Separating Yankees, Red Sox Fandom - CBS New York". www.cbsnews.com. October 5, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  27. ↑ Putterman, Alex; Courant, Hartford (October 4, 2018). "Red Sox-Yankees ALDS Matchup Heightens Tension Along Connecticut's Disputed Dividing Line". Hartford Courant. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  28. ↑ Dickey, Jack (September 19, 2018). "Meet the town evenly divided between Yankees and Red Sox fans". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  29. ↑ Giratikanon, Tom; Katz, Josh; Leonhardt, David; Quealy, Kevin (April 24, 2014). "Up Close on Baseball's Borders". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  30. ↑ Joe Haggerty (March 12, 2010). "Red Sox notes: Buchholz pushed back to Saturday". Necn.com. Retrieved March 16, 2011.
  31. ↑ Paul Kenyon and Daniel Barbarisi (August 1, 2010). "Red Sox journal: Kalish has a debut he'll never forget". The Providence Journal. Retrieved March 16, 2011.
  32. ↑ Thomas, Kevin (October 5, 2018). "Red Sox Notebook: Price hopes to snap dubious playoff streak". Portland Press Herald . Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  33. ↑ "Trot Nixon to be inducted in NC Sports Hall of Fame". WWAYTV3. January 22, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  34. ↑ Reed, Russ (December 20, 2023). "Pedroia, Papelbon, Nixon named to Red Sox Hall of Fame". WCVB. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  35. ↑ Hohler, Bob (August 31, 2005). "Faith binds many on Sox". The Boston Globe . Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  36. ↑ Browne, Ian (September 7, 2002). "Nixon's life changed on 9/11; Tragedy caused him to miss birth of his son". MLB.com . MLB Advanced Media, LP.
Trot Nixon
Trot Nixon.JPG
Nixon with the Red Sox in 2005
Right fielder
Born: (1974-04-11) April 11, 1974 (age 50)
Durham, North Carolina, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
September 21, 1996, for the Boston Red Sox
Last MLB appearance
June 28, 2008, for the New York Mets
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