Reid Nichols – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Thomas Reid Nichols played eight seasons in Major League Baseball as a center fielder and outfielder from 1980 to 1987, suiting up for three different teams. Born on August 5, 1958, in Ocala, Florida, Nichols built a respectable career as a utility outfielder, mostly remembered for his speed and sharp defensive instincts.

Reid Nichols wrapped up his professional baseball journey in 1987 after his final major league season with the Montreal Expos. He started his career when the Boston Red Sox drafted him in 1976.

Nichols carved out his place in the majors even though he never locked down a full-time starting role. He spent most of his career with the Boston Red Sox from 1980 to 1985, backing up stars like Jim Rice and Dwight Evans.

His path took him from the Chicago White Sox in 1985-1986 to Montreal for his last season, where he helped fill in after Tim Raines left as a free agent.

Nichols stood 5 feet 11 inches and weighed 165 pounds. He finished up with a .266 batting average, 22 home runs, and 131 RBIs over 540 games.

But his story isn’t just about stats—he went from a Florida high school prospect to making his mark in baseball’s front offices. From his early days in the Red Sox farm system to his later work in player development, Nichols left a lasting mark on the game long after he put away his cleats.

Early Life and Background

Thomas Reid Nichols was born on August 5, 1958, in Ocala, Florida. His parents encouraged his athletic growth from the start.

He first got into baseball at age 11 through Little League. Even without any organized sports experience, he showed natural talent right away.

Birth and Family

Thomas Reid Nichols came into the world on August 5, 1958, in Ocala, Florida. His parents, Leon and Judy (Cannon) Nichols, gave him a solid foundation for his future in sports.

Leon Nichols worked as an outboard motor mechanic, so the family enjoyed a middle-class life in central Florida. They lived near spring training facilities for several major league teams.

Even though professional baseball was close by, young Reid wasn’t immediately drawn to the sport. His dad’s mechanical mindset and work ethic would later shape the way Reid approached improving his baseball skills.

The family encouraged Reid to try sports once he realized he had a knack for it. Leon played a big part in Reid’s pro career when he signed his first contract—since Reid was still just 17.

First Exposure to Baseball

Reid Nichols started his baseball journey at age 11 after someone invited him to try out for the local Little League team. He’d never played organized sports before.

He showed his skills right away that first season. Reid not only made the team but also landed a spot on the league’s all-star team in his first year.

The Little League games happened at Grant Field in Dunedin, Florida. That field later became the Toronto Blue Jays’ spring training home starting in 1976.

In a 2020 interview, Nichols said, “The first professional baseball game I attended I was playing in.” That quote kind of says it all about how fast he moved from amateur to pro.

High School Baseball Journey

Reid kept developing his game at Forest High School in Ocala, where he played alongside future NFL linebacker Scott Brantley. Brantley eventually played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and even got scouted by MLB teams.

Coach Mike McGrath noticed Reid’s potential and set up important opportunities. He arranged a tryout for both Reid and Brantley with the Los Angeles Dodgers in Vero Beach, Florida.

McGrath also kept in touch with Red Sox scout George Digby. That connection turned out to be crucial, since Digby was instrumental in the Red Sox drafting Reid.

Reid’s high school performance caught the eye of college programs. He signed a letter of intent to play at Auburn University, but ultimately chose to go pro.

Entry into Professional Baseball

Thomas Reid Nichols jumped from high school baseball to the pros in 1976 when the Boston Red Sox picked him in the 12th round of the amateur draft. It took him four years in the minors to make the leap to the majors.

MLB Draft Selection

The Boston Red Sox picked Reid Nichols in the 12th round of the June 1976 amateur draft. He was still playing for Forest High School in Ocala at the time.

Nichols wasn’t really paying attention to the draft when he got a call telling him he’d been selected. He had already signed a letter of intent with Auburn University.

Since he was just 17, Nichols couldn’t sign the contract himself. His dad had to sign it for him.

Choosing to go pro meant giving up his college scholarship. Red Sox scout George Digby played a big role in the team’s decision to draft Nichols after seeing him play in high school.

Minor League Development

Nichols kicked off his pro career in 1976 with the Elmira Pioneers in the New York-Penn League. He hit .340 in 23 games for a team that finished 50-20.

He played alongside future major leaguers like Bruce Hurst, Wade Boggs, Chico Walker, and Glenn Hoffman. That team even won the league championship.

From 1977 to 1978, Nichols played for the Winter Haven Red Sox in Class A. He struggled a bit, batting .264 in 1977 and .247 in 1978.

In 1979, things turned around for him with the Winston-Salem Red Sox in the Carolina League. He stole 66 bases in 78 tries and led the league in runs, hits, total bases, and outfield assists.

Nichols hit .293 that year and put together a 30-game hitting streak. He finished second in Carolina League MVP voting behind Bob Dernier.

Signing with the Boston Red Sox

Nichols’ strong 1979 season earned him a spot at the Boston Red Sox 1980 spring training in Winter Haven, Florida. He caught the coaches’ attention by batting .400 in exhibition games.

The Red Sox sent him to their Triple-A team, the Pawtucket Red Sox, for the 1980 season. He hit .276 in the International League as he waited for his shot at the majors.

At one point, he slumped and was batting .188. “I went out and bought some cowboy boots and cowboy hat and I showed up to the stadium wearing it and decided it was time to have fun playing baseball again,” he said.

After that, his performance picked up. The Red Sox called him up in September 1980, and he made his major league debut on September 16 at Fenway Park against the Cleveland Indians.

Major League Career Overview

Reid Nichols played eight seasons in Major League Baseball from 1980 to 1987. He spent most of his career with the Boston Red Sox before finishing with short stints in Chicago and Montreal.

His career batting average was .266 with 22 home runs and 131 RBIs in 540 games.

Boston Red Sox Years

Nichols debuted in the majors on September 16, 1980, at Fenway Park against Cleveland. He got his first big league hit in the fourth inning, a single off Ross Grimsley.

He spent his first four full seasons with Boston from 1981 to 1984. Most of the time, he backed up outfielders like Jim Rice and Dwight Evans.

In 1982, Nichols had a breakout year, batting .302 in 265 plate appearances. He hit his first major league home run on May 28 against Seattle’s Floyd Bannister.

He seemed to have Seattle’s number. In August 1982, he hit three home runs in two games against the Mariners, including two game-winners off closer Bill Caudill.

Manager Ralph Houk liked Nichols’ versatility, telling The Sporting News, “Every time he’s played, he’s done well. And when he’s on the bench he’s an asset with his speed if I need a pinch runner.”

The Red Sox brought in Tony Armas before the 1983 season, which cut into Nichols’ playing time. Still, he played in 100 games and hit .285 that year.

Chicago White Sox Tenure

The Red Sox traded Nichols to the Chicago White Sox for pitcher Tim Lollar in July 1985. He finished his Boston career with a home run in his last at-bat on July 10 against Oakland.

With Chicago, Nichols played more regularly, appearing in 51 games for the rest of 1985. That was a big jump from the 21 games he’d played for Boston earlier that year.

On August 4, 1985, he caught the final out of Tom Seaver’s 300th career win. Yankees pinch-hitter Don Baylor flew out to Nichols in left field for the milestone.

The White Sox were in a rebuilding phase at the time. Manager Tony La Russa had already been fired in June when the team was struggling at 26-38.

Nichols batted .228 over 74 games with Chicago. The White Sox released him at the end of spring training in 1987.

Montreal Expos Season

A few days after Chicago let him go, Nichols signed with the Montreal Expos in 1987. The Expos brought him in as a temporary fill-in while Tim Raines was still a free agent.

Nichols enjoyed his time in Montreal. He later said, “There wasn’t as much pressure there. We had a good team that year and after the games, there would be 12 guys going out to dinner together.”

He played 77 games for the Expos and hit .265. His steady defense in the outfield helped the team.

The laid-back vibe in Montreal fit Nichols well. He liked the team chemistry and the lighter media attention compared to his earlier stops.

Retirement in 1987

The Montreal Expos released Nichols after the 1987 season. He played his final major league game on October 4, 1987, against the Chicago Cubs.

His eight-year run in the majors closed with a .266 average and 540 games played. He logged 63 doubles, 22 home runs, and 131 RBIs with a .716 OPS.

Nichols held a .990 fielding percentage in the outfield with 28 assists. His defense stayed solid throughout his career.

After leaving the majors, he played one last season in 1988 with the Triple-A Oklahoma City 89ers. He called it a career after that and moved on to other pursuits.

Performance and Statistics

Reid Nichols put together a career batting average of .266 with 22 home runs and 131 RBIs in 540 big league games. His defensive versatility let him play all over the outfield, though he mostly worked in center.

Career Batting Average

Nichols kept a steady .266 batting average during his MLB run from 1980 to 1987. His top offensive season was 1982, when he hit .302 with the Boston Red Sox in 92 games.

He improved after a rocky rookie year. In 1980, he batted just .222 in limited chances. By 1983, he’d become a reliable hitter, posting a .285 average.

His numbers shifted depending on the team. He hit .267 with Boston over six seasons, dropped to .260 with the White Sox, and finished at .265 in Montreal.

Home Runs Achieved

Nichols hit 22 home runs during his eight-year career, averaging about three per season.

His best year for homers came in 1982, when he hit seven for Boston. He followed that up with six in 1983.

Most of his home runs came with the Red Sox—15 out of 22. He hit just three with Chicago and four with Montreal in his last season.

Runs Batted In (RBI)

Over his career, Nichols racked up 131 RBI in 540 games. In 1982, he had his best RBI season, driving in 33 runs for Boston.

In 1983, he added 22 RBI while appearing in 100 games. That pretty much sums up his role—more of a supporting bat than a main offensive force.

His RBI numbers stayed on the modest side, but he delivered steady results. While with Boston, he tallied 78 RBI across six seasons.

During his two years in Chicago, he drove in 33 runs. Montreal saw him bring home 20 RBI in his last season.

Defensive Contributions

Nichols moved around the outfield, mainly playing center field, but he covered all three spots at times. Teams valued his defensive flexibility throughout his career.

As a rookie in 1980, he posted a .962 fielding percentage in center. His defensive numbers improved as he got more experience in the majors.

He played defense in 540 games, taking on plenty of outfield assignments. His range and steady glove really helped round out his game over eight years.

Life After Baseball

Thomas Reid Nichols jumped from player to executive, spending decades working with young talent and trying out new training ideas for several organizations. He got involved with camps for minority youth and helped build the careers of future big leaguers.

Coaching and Coordinating Roles

After his playing days ended in 1988, Nichols ran a fishing charter boat business for a bit before heading back to baseball. Turns out, running a business felt a little too stressful for him—“the customer is the boss,” as he put it.

Roland Hemond, who knew Nichols from his Chicago White Sox stint, brought him into the Baltimore Orioles organization. Nichols made a strong impression by returning some extra money that had been mistakenly reimbursed to him. He worked as a coach and field coordinator under Doug Melvin, who ran player personnel.

When Melvin left for the Texas Rangers in 1994, he took Nichols with him as farm director. Nichols later became the Rangers’ first-base and outfield coach in 2001.

In 2002, Nichols joined the Milwaukee Brewers as director of player development. He stayed with the Brewers for 13 years until he retired in 2015. He oversaw player progress through the minors and, sometimes, had to deliver the tough news to players who didn’t make the cut.

Contributions to Player Development

Nichols brought in fresh programs that went way beyond the usual baseball drills. While with the Texas Rangers, he created a career development program for young players that covered things like financial literacy, life planning, and social etiquette.

He even hired actors to put players through 18 different real-life scenarios. “If a player walks into a bar on a road trip, everyone knows who they are,” Nichols said. “It’s important they know how to handle themselves in that situation.”

The Wall Street Journal picked up on the program, running a front-page story about it on March 2, 1998: “Pro Team Covers All It Bases With Rookie Education Course.”

While with Milwaukee, Nichols played a part in developing future stars like Ryan Braun, Khris Davis, Scooter Gennett, and Prince Fielder. He wanted to make “the bridge from the minor leagues to the major leagues as smooth as possible.”

Nichols let first-year players stick with the skills that got them drafted. “We try to let the players go as far as they can go, doing what they’ve been doing,” he said. “They’ve obviously done something to get drafted and we don’t want to interfere with that unless we need to.”

Other Post-Retirement Ventures

After leaving the Brewers in 2015, Nichols worked with USA Baseball and Major League Baseball, running camps for minority youth. These camps happened in Vero Beach, Florida, during the spring and summer.

The program split kids by age groups: 13-15 year olds in week one, 16-18 year olds in week two. Nichols started out coaching, then took over running the whole operation, handling logistics and staff.

“I really enjoyed coaching,” Nichols said. “It’s the same successful feeling as playing when you see someone get what you’re teaching them.”

He spent three years with the camp before retiring for good in 2018. By 2020, Nichols was living with his wife Elaine in Goodyear, Arizona, spending his days hunting, golfing, and fishing.

He has three daughters from a previous marriage: Amanda, Erin, and Kendall. Over his 30-year post-baseball career, he influenced a lot of young players, both on and off the field.

Legacy and Impact

Reid Nichols left his mark on baseball through his flexibility as a player and his long commitment to developing young talent. His impact stretched beyond the field, into community work and mentorship that helped shape the next generation.

Influence on Teams

Nichols proved his value to all three major league teams he played for. With the Boston Red Sox from 1980-1985, he served as a reliable backup outfielder who could step in wherever needed.

He had some memorable moments, like his two-homer game against the Seattle Mariners on August 24, 1982—including a game-winner in the 10th inning.

The Chicago White Sox picked up Nichols in 1985 for pitcher Tim Lollar. He got to witness some history there, catching the final out of Tom Seaver’s 300th career win on August 4, 1985.

Nichols really enjoyed his time with the Montreal Expos in 1987. He filled in while Tim Raines was unsigned, and he liked the close-knit team atmosphere in Montreal, where players would often go out to dinner together.

After his playing days, Nichols made his biggest impact in player development. He spent 13 years with the Milwaukee Brewers, helping bring along future stars like Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, and Khris Davis.

Recognition in Baseball

Nichols earned respect throughout the game for his professionalism and his creative approach to player development. His career development program with the Texas Rangers even got national attention from the Wall Street Journal in 1998.

The program taught young players about money and how to act off the field. Nichols used actors to set up real-world situations players might face. This new approach helped players make the jump from the minors to the majors more easily.

He believed in letting players develop naturally. “We try to let the players go as far as they can go, doing what they’ve been doing,” Nichols said in a 2014 interview.

Baseball executives valued his honesty and integrity. Roland Hemond hired him after Nichols returned extra money that the White Sox had accidentally reimbursed.

Nichols became the first former Forest High School student to reach the majors. Two others from his school followed: Johnathan Johnson and Keyvius Sampson.

Community and Personal Life

After he retired from baseball operations in 2015, Nichols spent three years working with USA Baseball and Major League Baseball. He helped run camps for minority youth ages 13 to 18 in Vero Beach, Florida.

These camps gave young players a shot at real professional instruction. Nichols started out coaching and, before long, he ran the whole operation.

“I really enjoyed coaching,” Nichols said. “It’s the same successful feeling as playing when you see someone get what you’re teaching them.”

He settled down in Goodyear, Arizona with his wife, Elaine. In retirement, he hunts, golfs, and fishes whenever he gets the chance.

Nichols has three daughters from a previous marriage: Amanda, Erin, and Kendall.

Even after his playing days, Nichols kept helping young people. He always believed in giving players honest feedback, even if the truth was tough to hear.