Bob Nieman

Who was Bob Nieman?

Robert Charles Nieman was a Major League Baseball outfielder and right-handed batter who played for the St. Louis Browns, Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians and San Francisco Giants. He also played one season in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons.

Nieman was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. After attending Kent State University, he was signed by the Cincinnati Reds as an amateur free agent in 1948 and made his debut with the Browns.

On September 14 of 1951 at Fenway Park, Nieman hit two home runs in his first two major league at-bats. He became the first player in big league history to hit two homers in his first game. Bert Campaneris and Mark Quinn are the only others to accomplish the feat. Also, Nieman is one of two players in MLB history to hit HRs in each of his first two big league at bats. Keith McDonald, in 2000, is the other.

Nieman became an everyday St. Louis outfielder and later played regularly for the Tigers and Orioles. In his 1113-game career he batted .295, with 125 home runs, 544 RBI, 455 runs, 1018 hits, 180 doubles, 32 triples and 10 stolen bases. After retiring he served as a scout for the Indians, Dodgers, Athletics, White Sox and Yankees.