Jerry Nyman wasn't a big talker; Played in three ML seasons, coached in minors for longer

Jerry Nyman recounted his career to his hometown Logan Herald-Journal in 2003, a career that included time in three major league seasons and then a long career spent as a coach.

By that point, his connection to the game had spanned almost 40 years.

"Who wouldn't want to be me?" Nyman told The Herald-Journal, the paper noting a grin. "Baseball has been very, very good to me. It gave more to me than I ever gave to it."

Nyman's career in baseball began in 1965, signed by the White Sox as an undrafted free agent out of Brigham Young University. Nyman's name has also been spell Gerry Nyman.

Nyman started with the White Sox at single-A Sarasota. He made AA Evansville in 1967, then Chicago in 1968.

He got into eight games with the White Sox, starting seven. He went 2-1, with a 2.01 ERA.

In his second appearance, first start, Nyman threw a gem and he did it against the Yankees. He threw a complete-game, four-hit shutout.

He told The Associated Press after the game that he grew up hating the Yankees, "probably because in my kid days they were monopolizing the pennant and I'm always for the underdog."

Nyman returned to the White Sox for 1969. He got into 20 games that year and started 10. He had a 5.29 ERA. He then saw two more starts with the Padres in 1970 to round out his major league career. Nyman then played one more season in the minors.

By 1987, Nyman had started his coaching career, with independent Salinas. In 1990, he moved to the Pirates at Welland, serving as pitching coach and stayed there for 1991.

He arrived at short-season Eugene in 1996, then rookie Idaho Falls in 2003. He continued coaching through 2013, at single-A Lexington.

At Lexington, Nyman explained his approach to The Lexington Herald-Leader.

"I'm not a big talker," Nyman told The Herald-Leader. "I tell the pitchers when they get here the best pitching coach they've got is going to look at them in the mirror tonight when they take a shower and go to bed. I haven't done much with him because I haven't had to."

• Bakersfield Californian, Aug. 29, 1968: Jerry Nyman
• Logan Herald-Journal, Dec. 16, 2003: Former Cache Valley resident recounts life on the diamond
• Lexington Herald-Leader, June 17, 2013: Three Legends on SAL All-Star team

1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:3,294
Made the Majors:1,182-35.9%
Never Made Majors:2,112-64.1%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 488
10+ Seasons in the Minors:286