Unpossible Autograph Friday- Bob Nieman

Bob had an amazing start to his Major League career with the St. Louis Browns in 1951 as he hit a home run in his first two big league at-bats. He was the first player to ever homer twice in his first game, let alone his first two at-bats, and it had to feel pretty nice. Since then, only three other players (Bert Campaneris 1964, Mark Quinn 1999, Keith McDonald 2000) have homered twice in their first game, and only one (McDonald) homered in his first two at-bats. Any time that you are one of only two people to have ever accomplished something in baseball's 120 + year history, you've done something right.

Bob played for seven different teams over his twelve years in the majors from 1951-62 and was a member of the Orioles franchise in both St. Louis (1951-52) and Baltimore (1956-59). He ended his career with a .295 batting average and consistently hit around .300 over the years. His best season was 1956, which he split between the White Sox & O's, when he his .320 and came in 7th in the MVP voting. 

After his playing days ended, Bob spent his remaining years as a scout for the Indians, Dodgers, A's & Yankees. He died on March 10, 1985 at only 58 years old, but I couldn't find his cause of death.  RIP Bob.