Dick Nen – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Dick Nen only played seven seasons in the big leagues, but his story has all the grit and determination you’d expect from someone who fought to make it in professional baseball. Born Richard Leroy Nen in South Gate, California, back in 1939, he managed to carve out a solid career during the 1960s—even though breaking into the majors wasn’t easy for most players in that era.

Nen appeared in 367 major league games from 1963 to 1970. He hit .224 with 21 home runs and 107 RBIs, suiting up for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Washington Senators, and Chicago Cubs. His most unforgettable moment? It came in his very first major league game, when he smacked a clutch, game-tying home run against the St. Louis Cardinals. That homer played a big role in the Dodgers’ 1963 pennant chase.

Maybe Nen’s stats don’t leap off the page, but his career really reflects what so many players experienced during one of baseball’s most competitive eras. He battled through the minors, broke through with the Dodgers, and then became a steady hand with the Washington Senators. It’s a window into what life as a pro ballplayer looked like in the 1960s.

Early Life and Path to the Majors

Dick Nen was born on September 24, 1939, in South Gate, California. He honed his baseball skills through high school and college, eventually signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1961.

His journey to pro ball started at Phineas Banning High School. He kept developing at Los Angeles Harbor College and California State University, Long Beach.

Family Background and Upbringing

Richard Leroy Nen grew up in South Gate, a working-class city in Los Angeles County. He spent his childhood in Southern California during the 1940s and 1950s.

He later became the father of Robb Nen, who would follow his path to the major leagues. Robb found success as a relief pitcher in the 1990s and 2000s, so the Nen baseball legacy stretched over two generations.

Growing up in the Los Angeles area, Dick was right in the middle of baseball country. With the Dodgers and Angels nearby, young players like him had plenty of inspiration and strong youth programs to join.

High School and College Baseball

Nen attended Phineas Banning High School in Wilmington, California. That’s where he really started to shine as a left-handed first baseman.

After high school, he moved on to Los Angeles Harbor College. The community college gave him a chance to sharpen his hitting and fielding.

He later transferred to California State University, Long Beach. Playing for the university’s baseball team exposed him to top-level competition and coaching.

Signing with the Dodgers Organization

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Nen in 1961. For a local kid, joining the Dodgers must’ve felt like a dream.

Nen’s first pro season in 1961 was eye-popping. He tore up the Class C California League, leading the league with 32 home runs and 144 RBIs, and he batted .351.

That debut proved he belonged in pro baseball. His power and steady play grabbed the attention of Dodgers management, and it set him up for a shot at the majors.

After his rookie year, the Dodgers promoted him to Triple-A Spokane. He spent two seasons there before finally getting the call to join the Dodgers in September 1963.

Major League Debut and Initial Impact

Dick Nen made his major league debut on September 18, 1963, with the Los Angeles Dodgers. That game turned out to be one of the most memorable first appearances in baseball history.

His clutch home run in a crucial pennant race game left a mark, even though he didn’t get much playing time.

Debut with Los Angeles Dodgers

Nen joined the Dodgers on September 18, 1963, at age 23. He’d just wrapped up a strong season in the Pacific Coast League, batting .288 and helping Spokane win a division title.

The timing couldn’t have been better for the Dodgers. They were locked in a tight National League pennant race with the St. Louis Cardinals, who’d won 19 of their last 20 games.

Nen flew straight from the minors to St. Louis. He barely made it to the team hotel before catching the bus to Busch Stadium for his first game.

Manager Walter Alston sent Nen up as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning against Bob Gibson. He lined out that first time, but the real drama was still to come.

Notable Rookie Season Highlights

Nen’s biggest rookie moment happened in the ninth inning of that debut. With the Cardinals up 5-4, he hammered a home run off reliever Ron Taylor on an 0-1 pitch, tying the game 5-5.

That homer turned out to be Nen’s only hit as a Dodger and the only hit of his 1963 season. He finished 1-for-8, batting .125 in seven games, but that one swing mattered.

ESPN later called Nen’s debut home run the 99th greatest homer of all time. The drama and timing made it unforgettable.

He didn’t qualify for NL Rookie of the Year since he barely played, but his teammates noticed his impact. They voted him a $1,000 bonus from the World Series winners’ share, which was a nice boost compared to his $7,000 salary.

Significance of 1963 Pennant Race

Nen’s home run helped the Dodgers sweep the Cardinals in three games, pushing their lead to four games. The Cardinals lost eight of their last ten after that.

That clutch hit came at a make-or-break moment. The Cardinals had pulled within a game of first place before the series, so every at-bat mattered.

The Dodgers went on to win the pennant and then swept the Yankees in the World Series. Nen didn’t make the World Series roster, but his contribution was huge.

That debut homer defined Nen’s career for a lot of fans. He played 367 games over six seasons, hit .224 with 21 home runs, but that one swing made him a part of Dodgers lore.

Washington Senators Tenure

Dick Nen spent most of his major league career with the Washington Senators from 1965 to 1970. He played under legendary managers Gil Hodges and Ted Williams, serving as the team’s main first baseman during some tough seasons.

Trade to Senators and Team Dynamics

The Washington Senators traded for Dick Nen after his short stint with the Dodgers in 1963. He joined the Senators in 1965 and quickly became part of their rebuilding plans.

In 1965, Nen started as the regular first baseman. Over the next few seasons, though, the team kept shuffling players at first base.

In 1966, Nen played more games at first than Ken Harrelson, but Harrelson ended up with more total innings there. The Senators just couldn’t settle on a lineup.

By 1967, Nen’s role shifted again. He played 110 games that year, but only 65 at first base as the team kept experimenting.

Playing Under Gil Hodges and Ted Williams

Nen got to play for two baseball legends during his time in Washington. Both Gil Hodges and Ted Williams managed him at different points.

That kind of leadership gave Nen valuable mentorship. Williams, especially, was known for his hitting advice.

The Senators were in the middle of some big changes organizationally. Having managers like Hodges and Williams brought some stability for players like Nen.

Performance Statistics with Senators

Nen’s batting average with the Senators showed just how tough it was to hit in the late 1960s. In 1967, he batted .218, which was pretty close to the team’s .223 average.

That era was basically a second dead-ball period. Offense was down everywhere, so Nen’s numbers weren’t unusual.

His RBI and home run totals in Washington made up most of his career stats—107 RBIs and 21 home runs in 367 games. The Senators gave him the most consistent playing time he’d ever get.

Nen stuck with Washington until 1970, playing his last major league game on June 28. Those years with the Senators were the heart of his baseball career.

Time with the Chicago Cubs

Dick Nen spent the 1968 season with the Chicago Cubs, his only year with the team. He backed up the legendary Ernie Banks during a key season for the Cubs organization.

Transition and Role with the Cubs

Nen joined the Cubs after three seasons with the Senators. Chicago brought him in to add depth at first base for the 1968 season.

His role was clear right from the start. He’d back up Ernie Banks, who was moving from shortstop to first base late in his career.

The Cubs were on the rise after their first winning season in 1967. They needed solid bench players ready to step in.

Nen’s experience in Washington made him a good fit. He’d played 110 games in 1967, 65 of them at first base.

Partnering with Ernie Banks

Teaming up with Ernie Banks was a big deal for Nen. Banks was 37 in 1968 and had just switched to first base.

With Nen on the roster, Banks could take a breather now and then, and the Cubs didn’t have to worry about defense at first. Nen’s presence let Banks focus on his hitting without playing every inning at first.

Banks still packed a punch in 1968, hitting over 30 home runs with Billy Williams right there beside him. That kind of power gave the Cubs lots of options.

Nen knew his job. He played steady defense and chipped in on offense when Banks needed a day off or the matchup called for it.

Summary of 1968 Season

The Cubs finished 84-78 in 1968, good enough for third place in the National League. That marked their second straight winning year under Leo Durocher.

Nen hit 2 home runs as a Cub. His batting average held steady at .224, matching his career mark.

That season was a turning point for the Cubs. Ferguson Jenkins won 20 games, and Glenn Beckert picked up his first Gold Glove.

For Nen, 1968 with the Cubs was his last season in the National League. He went back to the Senators in 1970, played his final big league games, and then retired.

Career Statistics and Achievements

Dick Nen put together a modest but respectable record over his six-season Major League Baseball career from 1963 to 1970. His career batting average of .224 shows how tough things could be as a utility player. Still, he managed 21 home runs and 107 RBIs, proving he could contribute when given the chance.

Career Batting Average and Offensive Metrics

Dick Nen finished his major league career with a .224 batting average over 367 games. In 1965, playing for the Washington Senators, he put together his best offensive season, hitting .260 in 69 games.

That year, he also recorded his highest on-base percentage at .312 and slugged .370. Nen’s offensive production bounced around from season to season, and in 1968 with the Chicago Cubs, he struggled, batting only .181 in 81 games.

Nen often struggled with plate discipline. He struck out 152 times, drawing just 77 walks over his six seasons. His .288 on-base percentage and .335 slugging percentage put him below the league average for first basemen back then.

Home Runs and RBI Overview

Dick Nen hit 21 home runs and drove in 107 runs during his MLB career. His power peaked in 1965 and 1966 with Washington, smacking six homers in each of those seasons.

In 1965, he drove in 31 runs while getting regular playing time. The next year, he matched his home run total with six, but his RBIs dipped to 30.

As the years went on, Nen’s power faded. In 1968 with Chicago, he managed just two homers and 16 RBIs across 81 games. By his last season in 1970, he barely played—just six games for Washington, and he didn’t hit a home run.

Fielding Positions and Defensive Impact

Dick Nen spent most of his career at first base, logging 263 games at the position. He played solid defense, finishing with a .992 fielding percentage at first.

His busiest defensive season came with Washington, where he handled 584 chances in 1965 and posted a .993 fielding percentage. Nen turned 153 double plays in his career, showing he could handle the glove work around the bag.

He occasionally tried other spots, even making a brief appearance in left field in 1967. That versatility kept him around a bit longer, but first base was always his main home in the majors.

Life After Major League Baseball

Dick Nen didn’t walk away from baseball after leaving the majors in 1970. He kept playing in the minor leagues for two more seasons. His biggest impact on the game might have come through his son Robb Nen, who became a standout major league relief pitcher.

Final Years in AAA and Retirement

After his last big league game with the Washington Senators on June 28, 1970, Dick Nen didn’t call it quits right away. He decided to keep playing in the minors for two more years.

Nen played through the 1972 minor league season before finally retiring from professional baseball. That gave him a pro career that lasted over a decade, starting when he first signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1961.

During those final years, Nen probably played at the AAA level, which is the highest rung in the minors. AAA rosters usually have a mix of ex-major leaguers trying to get back and younger guys knocking on the door.

For Nen, the move from the majors to retirement wasn’t sudden. Instead of stopping cold after leaving the big leagues, he chose to keep playing at the top minor league level he could.

Legacy and Connection to Robb Nen

Dick Nen’s biggest legacy in baseball? It’s probably his son, Robb Nen, who turned into a star major league relief pitcher. Robb kicked off his MLB career with the Florida Marlins in the early ’90s, then worked his way up to become one of the top closers in the game.

Robb’s career really outshined his father’s time in the majors. He made three All-Star teams and played a huge role in getting the San Francisco Giants to the World Series in 2002.

Dick shaped his son’s baseball journey in a way that’s pretty rare—a father and son both making their mark in the pros. While Dick played mostly first base during his six seasons in the majors, Robb thrived as a relief pitcher.

People kept talking about the Nen family in baseball well into the 2000s, thanks to Robb’s achievements. Because of this, Dick Nen’s baseball legacy lived on long after his own playing days ended in the minors back in 1972.