Player Pages > Tricky Nichols > Player Stats

Pitching in an era when the rules required a delivery that came from below the belt, Fred Nichols developed one of the first "drop balls" in the game. Experimenting in his hometown of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and later perfecting it with New Haven of the National Association in 1875, Nichols earned the nickname "tricky" for his deceptive delivery. The delivery didn't translate into winning however, as Nichols posted a 28-73 mark over his six-year professional career.