A Life in Baseball and Beyond
Chuck Nieson, a right‑handed pitcher who appeared in just two games for the Minnesota Twins in 1964, died on April 7 at Fairway View Neighborhoods in Ortonville, Minnesota. He was 83 years old.
Born in Hanford, California, on September 24, 1942, Nieson grew up excelling on the baseball diamond, earning recognition as one of the top players in the Hanford Little Leagues in 1955.
He starred for the VFW, posting a 6‑0 record and a .423 batting average, and later threw multiple no‑hitters for semi‑pro clubs such as the Tallow Works Tigers and the Humboldt Crabs, including a 7‑inning game in which he struck out 11 batters while walking four.
After graduating from Hanford High in 1960, he spent a year at Fresno State before signing with the Twins in 1962. He climbed through the minor leagues, compiling an 8‑6 record with a 3.85 ERA for the Fort Walton Beach Jets of the Alabama‑Florida League and later posting a 59‑75 record over eight professional seasons with a 3.90 ERA and 687 strikeouts.
Nieson made his major‑league debut in September 1964, just days before his 22nd birthday, and faced eight batters, striking out five of them. His career oddity — recording five of his six outs via strikeout — remains unique in major‑league history.
Following his playing days, he worked in the insurance industry for Hartford Life, appeared regularly at Old Timers Games, and stayed active in the baseball community until his retirement in 2006. He is survived by his wife Judy, their children Mark, Steve, Mike, Jay and Missy, and their families.