Jeff Nelson #43

Resides in Carnation, Wash. with his wife, Colette and their four daughters: Chandler Grace (10/13/95), Gabrielle Victoria (8/25/97), Emily Elizabeth (6/14/99) and Alexandra Noel (12/16/00)...graduated from Cantonsville H.S. (MD) in 1984, where he was named All-Baltimore County...attended Cantonsville Community College...his uncle, Cole Nelson, played in the Washington Senators organization...received the 1992 "Star of the Future" award from the Maryland Professional Baseball Players Association at their annual "Tops in Sports" banquet...has refereed and coached youth basketball in the offseason.

2006

Signed a Minor League contract with the White Sox on May 2 and went to extended Spring Training. Joined the Major League club from Triple-A Charlotte on May 23. Was played on the 15-day disabled list on June 4 with an elbow injury, bringing an end to his season. Posted a 3.38 ERA in six games for the White Sox, striking out two and walking five over 2 2/3 innings.

2005

Has appeared in the postseason eight times, including winning four World Championships (all with NYY). Holds a 2.66 ERA (16 er /54.1 IP) in 55 combined postseason games.

Has more postseason holds (14) than any other pitcher since 1992.

Was selected as an All-Star in 2001 while with Seattle and pitched 1.0 inning in the All-Star game.

Holds the Mariners All-Time record with 383 appearances.

Enters the season ranked third among active pitchers with 176 holds (Mike Stanton 241, Paul Quantrill 179).

His 27.6% (165 IRSc / 597 IR) of inherited runners scored is 10th lowest among active pitchers since 1992.

2004

Appeared in just 29 games while making two stops on the disabled list, May 13-July 25 for right knee and right elbow surgery, and Aug. 1-31 with right elbow tedinitis...permitted just 2 of 17 inherited runners to score (11.8%)...first batters were 6x21 (.286)...held opponents to a .207 average, .167 (4x24) by lefties and .224 (13x58) by right-handers...posted 2.79 ERA (3 ER, 9.2 IP) through first 10 appearances...had a 12.15 ERA (9 ER/6.2 IP) over 9 appearances from May 4-Sept. 4, a stretch which included both DL stints...posted a 2.45 figure (2 ER, 7.1 IP) in last 10 outings...recorded save in only opportunity, April 24 vs. Seattle.

2003

Split the season between Seattle and the New York Yankees...combined to go 4-2, 3.74 (23 ER/55.1 IP) with 8 saves in 70 appearances...converted 8-14 save opportunities...threw less than one inning in 35 outings...began year with the Mariners and was 3-2, 3.35 with 7 saves in 46 appearances...went 7-11 in save opportunities...2-0, 3.37 in April with 2 saves...threw 2.0 innings allowing 2 hits and one run on April 3 in win at Oakland...1-0, 1.23 with a save in May...made 11 appearances in June and was 0-1, 1.04...acquired by New York on August 6 for Armando Benitez and cash...made 24 appearances for the Yankees and was 1-0, 4.58 (9 ER/17.2 IP) with one save...with the Yankees, opponents batted .246 (17-69), including left-handers hitting .261 (6-23, one HR) and right-handers .244 (11-46)...made first appearance with the Yankees on August 7 win vs. Texas and allowed one walk in 0.1 innings...won first game with New York on August 15 at Baltimore, allowing one hit in 0.2 innings...pitched a scoreless 12th inning for lone New York save on August 16 at Baltimore...struck out the side in his second Yankee appearance vs. Seattle...accomplished the same feat in consecutive games on September 9 vs. Detroit and September 12 vs. Tampa Bay...Mariners all-time leader with 383 appearances...enters the 2004 season ranked second among active pitchers with 158 holds (Mike Stanton, 190)...allowed 28.6% of his inherited runners to score which ranks 12th among active pitchers since 1992...has more postseason holds (14) than any other pitcher since 1992...has appeared in the postseason 8 years (1995-2003), winning 4 World Series championships...owns a 0.79 career ERA in the Division Series (2 ER, 22.2 IP) and a 2.65 career postseason ERA (16 ER, 54.1 IP)...made 8 postseason appearances and was 0-0, 2.57 in 7 innings...appeared in 5 games in 2001 playoffs, and did not allow a run in 5.1 IP... became the first pitcher in major league history to pitch in every game of a 4-game World Series...was 1-0, 7.04 in 2000 postseason but was scored on in just 2 of 8 appearances...worked 2 scoreless innings in 2 outings in ALDS vs. Oakland...won Game 4 of World Series, 3-2, with 1.1 scoreless innings at Shea Stadium... pitched in 9 games in 1999 postseason and did not allow a run...was 0-1 with a 4.26 ERA in 8 postseason appearances in 1998...lost Game 2 of ALCS vs. Cleveland, allowing 3 runs in 0.2 innings... pitched in 4 of the 5 games in the Division Series vs. Cleveland in 1997, tossing 4 shutout innings and stranding all 6 inherited runners... lost Game One of the Division Series, October 3 at New York...1-1, 2.61 in the 1996 postseason...tossed 3 shutout innings in Game 3 of the Division Series at Texas for his first career postseason win...lost Game 2 of the ALCS vs. Baltimore, allowing 3 runs over 1.1 innings...0-1 with a 2.08 ERA in 6 postseason appearances in 1995 with Seattle.

2002

Held opposing batters to a .221 batting average (36-for-163)...stranded 22 of 28 inherited runners, retired 26 of 40 first batters faced...got first win of the year May 4 in 9-5 victory in New York, stranding three in the 8th and striking out two...on 15-day DL May 8-June 26 with loose bodies in right elbow...was 1-0 with 4.63 ERA in 12 games (11.2 IP) before injury...surgery to remove loose bodies was performed May 10 by Dr. Larry Pedegana, same surgery Nelson underwent in 1999...pitched 1.1 innings (28 pitches) with Everett on rehab assignment June 25, striking out four and giving up a double...in his first MLB game since May 5, pitched a scoreless inning on June 29 against Colorado...in seven straight games from April 20 to June 29, had scoreless appearances (6.0 IP, 7 K)...recorded first loss and blown save July 5 vs. Minnesota (2.0, 3, 5, 5, 2, 2), giving up a grand slam to Torii Hunter...pitched 3.2 scoreless innings over 4 appearances July 12-17...second loss and second blown save on July 21 at Anaheim (2.0, 3, 3, 3, 0, 2)...got second win on Aug. 1 vs. Cleveland (1.1 IP, 0 ER), his first appearance in six days...first save recorded on Aug. 8 at Toronto with 1.1 shutout innings...got win No. 3 in next appearance Aug. 10 at Chicago with 1.1 shutout innings and 3 strikeouts...in five consecutive games from Aug. 16-28, pitched 6.0 shutout innings...retired 17 consecutive batters faced before giving up a hit to first batter Aug. 31 vs. Kansas City...in 6-5, 11-inning victory pitched a strong 2.1 innings Sept. 16 against Texas, fanning a season-high five and allowing only one hit in his longest outing since April 11, 1997 with the Yankees...recorded second save Sept. 22 against Anaheim retiring all four batters faced in 1.1 shutout innings; was his 336th career appearance becoming all-time leader in games pitched in Mariners history, overtaking Mike Jackson (335).

2001

One of baseball's top setup men returned to the Mariners after five seasons in New York... held opposing batters to a .136 batting average, lowest among all MLB relievers ... recorded four saves, most since a career-high six in 1992 ... recorded first save April 15 at Anaheim, in Seattle's 7-5 win ... save No. 2 April 21 vs. Anaheim, 5-2 ... was scored on in just two of first 30 appearances, including allowing earned runs in just one of those 30 games ... had 10 straight hitless games, April 7-26 (8.2 IP) ... won 10-5 May 9 in Boston, his first win of the season ... win No. 2 May 15 vs. Chicago, 4-3... save No. 3 May 17 vs. Chicago, 5-1 ... was 2-0, 0.00 in 12 May appearances (11.0 IP) ... did not allow a hit to a first-batter faced over first 25 games, until June 1 vs. Tampa Bay, a single by Greg Vaughn ... got save No. 4 June 1 vs. Tampa Bay, in Seattle's 8-4 win ... had 17.1 scoreless innings April 28-June 8, before allowing three earned runs in 1.0 IP June 15 at San Diego ... took first loss, 11-9, June 17 at San Diego (1.2 IP, 2 ER) ... retired all six batters faced (5 K) in season-high 2.0 IP June 29 at Anaheim ... named to AL All-Star Team (replacing injured Mariano Rivera), his first All-Star appearance ... pitched one scoreless inning in All-Star Game (1 BB, 1 K) ... got win No. 4 July 18 at Kansas City, 2-0 ... was scored on in one of 10 July appearances, going 2-0, 0.87 (1 ER, 10.1 IP) ... struggled through August, going 0-1, 7.73 (8 ER, 9.1 IP), before rebounding with a 1.93 ERA in September (2 ER, 9.1 IP) ... allowed earned runs in just 12 of 69 games ... stranded 33 of 38 inherited runners ... retired 51 of 69 first-batters faced ... appeared in five games in 2001 playoffs and did not allow a run in 5.1 IP.

2000

Again proved to be the top right-handed set-up man in baseball, going 8-4, 2.45 ERA in 73 appearances...his eight wins were a single-season career high...was 6th in the AL in games...was 4-0, 1.98 in April, becoming only the fifth AL pitcher to record four wins out of the bullpen in April (ML record is five by Atlanta's Cecil Upshaw in 1971)b&was scored on in just two of first 21 appearances through May 19 (3 ER, 23.1 IP)...lost 3-2 on May 20 in Cleveland, snapping a career-high seven-game win streak dating back to 8/30/99 vs. Oakland...was 2-1, 1.20 in May (2 ER, 15.0 IP)...made 500th career appearance July 5 vs. Baltimore...ejected Aug. 7 vs. Seattle by HP umpire Mark Carlson...earned his career-high eighth win Sept. 23 vs. Detroit, 13-8...prevented 36 of 47 inherited runners from scoring (77%)...held right-handed hitters to a .157 batting average (25x159), lowest among AL relievers...allowed just two home runs on the season (Chipper Jones, Edgar Martinez)...was 1-0, 7.04 in post-season, but was scored on in just two of eight appearances...worked two scoreless innings in two outings in ALDS vs. Oakland...won Game 4 of World Series, 3-2, with 1.1 scoreless innings at Shea Stadium.

1999

was 2-1 with a 4.15 ERA and one save in 39 appearances in 1999, making two trips to the DL...retired 26 of 39 first batters faced...prevented 28 of 36 inherited runners from scoring...his 39 appearances were the fewest in a season since he appeared in 28 games with Seattle...made 22 appearances after returning from the D.L. for a second time and was 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA and one save (14.2 IP, 4 ER)...earned his first victory of the season on April 13 vs. Baltimore (1.0 IP)...was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 3 with an inflamed right elbow...reinstated from the 15-day D.L. on May 20 and made his first appearance since May 2 on May 23 at Chicago, allowing 3 ER in 2.0 IP (1 H, 2 BB, 3 K)...was placed on the 15-day D.L. for second time on June 4 with inflammation of his right elbow...made four consecutive appearances (3.1 IP, 1 H, 5 K) before being placed on D.L....underwent arthroscopic surgery on June 8 to repair inflammatory tissue and a small bone spur in his right elbow...surgery was performed by team physician Dr. Stuart Hershon and Dr. Mel Rosenwasser at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital...made five rehab-assignment starts for the Gulf Coast League Yankees and single-A Tampa, tossing five scoreless innings (2 H, 3 BB, 8 K) before being reinstated from the 15-day D.L. on Aug. 11...earned his first save of the season on Aug. 20 at Minnesota; first save since 9/24/98 vs. Tampa Bay...appeared in six of seven games from Sept. 21-27, allowing one hit and one earned run with 5 K in 3.1 IP...pitched in a team-high nine games in post-season play and did not allow a run in that span (5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 K)...became the first pitcher in Major-League history to pitch in every game of a four-game Series.

1998

was 5-3, 3.79 ERA with three saves in 45 games in 1998...prevented 18 of 24 inherited runners from scoring (75%)...was suspended for two games for his involvement in a May 19 brawl vs. Baltimore...served suspension sat May 28-29 vs. Boston...placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 26 (retro to June 25) and transferred to the 60-day on Aug. 21 with a lower back sprain and pinched nerve...also suffered a fractured dislocation of the right pinky toe on July 6...missed 65 games due to injury...made two appearances (one start) in a rehab assignment at single-A Tampa, allowing an unearned run in two innings...reinstated from the 60-day disabled list on Sept. 4...earned his third save of the season in the New York's AL-record tying 111th victory on Sept. 24 vs. Tampa Bay...in nine appearances after his return from the disabled list, he tossed 6.2 innings without allowing a run...was 0-1 with a 4.26 ERA in eight post-season appearances...lost Game Two of ALCS vs. Cleveland, allowing three runs in two-thirds of an inningb&

1997

was third in the AL in 1997 with 77 appearances and a .191 opponents' batting averageb&prevented 42 of 53 inherited runners from scoring (79%), first in the AL...lefties hit .235 off him, righties hit just .168b& retired 25 straight batters over nine appearances before allowing a double to Paul Sorrento on July 26 vs. Seattleb&made his 75th appearance of the season on Sept. 20 vs. Toronto, breaking the club record for appearances in a season...pitched in four of the five games in the Division Series vs. Cleveland, tossing four shutout innings and stranding all six inherited runnersb&

1996

was 4-4, 4.36 in 1996, his first season with the Yankees...appeared in a team-high 73 games...recorded a save in his first appearance April 3 at Cleveland...earned a 13-10 victory on April 30 at Baltimore, the longest nine-inning game in Major-League history (4:21)...was 1-1, 2.61 in the postseason...tossed three shutout innings in Game Three of the Division Series at Texas for his first career post-season win...lost Game Two of the ALCS vs. Baltimore, allowing three runs over 1.1 inningsb&

1995

was 7-3, 2.17 with two saves in 62 relief appearances in 1995...was scored on in just 12 of 62 games...tied for sixth in the AL in appearances...went eight straight appearances without allowing a run from May 18-June 3 (10.2 IP)...earned his first save of the season, May 24 vs. Boston, tossing three scoreless innings in a 15-6 victory...went nine straight appearances without allowing a run from June 7-25 (11.0 IP)...streak ended on June 28 at Oakland, as he suffered his first defeat of the season in a 7-5 loss (2.0 IP, 2 ER)...struck out a career-high seven batters in three innings on July 18 at Detroit...posted a 0.00 ERA in July, tossing 15.0 shutout innings and lowering his ERA to 1.11 entering August...did not allow an earned run after Aug. 30, a 13-game streak to end the season (12.1 IP)...was 0-1 with a 2.08 ERA in six post-season appearances...lost Game One of the Division Series, Oct. 3 at New York...

1994

split the 1994 season between triple-A Calgary and Seattle...allowed 17 of 33 inherited runners to score ( 52%), but held opponents to .226 BA (righties hit .168)...allowed only one run in his first nine appearances (7.2 IP), but allowed 7 of 11 inherited runners to score and struggled with his control (5 HBP, 6 BB)...was optioned to Calgary on May 2...went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and three saves (8.1 IP) in the minors and was recalled on May 15...had a 2.25 ERA through June 8 (24.0 IP, 6 ER), but was optioned back to Calgary on June 10...recalled on July 15 for the remainder of the seasonb&

1993

in 1993, tied for third in the AL with 71 appearances and posted the second-highest total ever by a Mariners' righthander (Mike Jackson, 72 in 1991)...began the season at triple-A Calgary, going 1-0 with one save and a 1.17 ERA in five games...recalled on April 20...struck out a season-high six batters in 3.1 innings on April 25 vs. New York...on July 15 at Boston, he entered the game in the eighth inning and retired the first two batters before Billy Hatcher singled; with lefty Mike Greenwell up, Nelson moved to left field and Dennis Powell faced Greenwell (popped up to end the inning); Nelson then returned to the mound in the ninth inning of the 3-2 victory...recorded his only save of the season on July 26 vs. Minnesota...

1992

pitched impressively in 1992, his first Major League season, despite going 1-7...posted a 3.44 ERA and allowed 71 hits in 81.0 innings...finished ninth in AL with 66 appearances, the highest total ever by a Mariners' right-handed rookie...ranked second among AL rookie relievers in ERA...started the season at triple-A Calgary and was recalled on April 16...made his ML debut on April 16 at Chicago, pitching two innings of shutout relief...recorded his first ML save in an 8-2 victory vs. New York...had a string of 16.1 consecutive shutout innings over 11 appearances from Aug. 2-28...recorded first ML win on Aug. 16 vs. Minnesota...

1991

split the 1991 season between double-A Jacksonville and triple-A Calgary, going 7-4, 2.67 overall...led the entire Mariners' farm system with a combined 19 saves...began the year at Jacksonville, going, 4-0, 1.27 with 12 saves in 21 appearances...promoted to Calgary on June 19...was 3-4, 3.90 with seven saves in 28 games at Calgary...faced 259 batters on the season and gave up only one home run...pitched for Bayamon of the Puerto Rican League, going 4-0-6, 1.96 in 15 games...

1990

began 1990 at double-A Wiliamsport, but was outrighted to single-A Peninsula on June 25 after posting a 1-4 record and a 6.44 ERA in 10 starts...became a reliever and began to dominate the Carolina League, holding opponents to a .214 batting average...was second on Peninsula with six saves in just 11 relief appearances...

1989

spent all of 1989 at double-A Williamsport, going 7-5 with a 3.31 ERA in 15 starts...placed on disabled list on July 16 with an injured right hand and missed the remainder of the season...

1988

led single-A San Bernardino in games started (27) and was second in innings pitched (149.1) in 1988...

1987

was 3-7 with a 5.74 ERA in 17 appearances (16 starts) at single-A Salinas in 1987...

1986

pitched for single-A Bakersfield and Great Falls in 1986 , going 0-7 with a 6.87 ERA...walked 87 and struck out 38 in 73.1 IP...was selected by Seattle in the Rule V Draft on Dec. 9...

1985

struggled at Bradenton in 1985 going 0-5 with a 5.51 ERA in 14 appearances (seven starts)...allowed 72 hits in 47.1 IP...walked 32 and struck out 31...

1984

Selected by Los Angeles in the 22nd round of the June 1984 free-agent draft...pitched at Great Falls (rookie) and Bradenton (rookie), making 10 relief appearances...was 0-0 with a 1.35 ERA in nine games at Bradenton...