Subject(s): Bill Nicholson Sport: Baseball Location: Chestertown, MD Unveiled: 3/10/1992 Sculptor: Ken Herlihy Material: Bronze Status: In Situ Inscription(s): Plaque 1: WILLIAM BECK NICHOLSON. "SWISH". PHILADELPHIA A.L., 1936. CHICAGO N.L., 1939–1948. PHILADELPHIA N.L., 1948–1953. BORN CHESTERTOWN, KENT COUNTY, EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND, 1914. GRADUATE OF WASHINGTON COLLEGE 1936. FEARED AND RESPECTED OUTFIELDER WITH FINE ARM WHO PLAYED THE NATIONAL GAME OF BASEBALL WITH GREAT DETERMINATION. LED NATIONAL LEAGUE IN HOME RUNS, RBI 1943, 1944, RUNNER-UP FOR MVP 1944. 235 CAREER HOME RUNS, HAD 8 CAREER GRAND SLAMS, TIED A MAJOR LEAGUE RECORD FOR FOUR HOME RUNS IN A DOUBLEHEADER AND FOUR HOME RUNS IN FOUR CONSECUTIVE TIMES AT BAT. THE ACCOLADE "SWISH" BEGAN AT STORIED EBBETTS FIELD, BROOKLYN AND SPREAD TO EVERY BALL PARK. LEGEND HAS IT THAT ONLY BILL NICHOLSON AND BABE RUTH HAVE EVER BEEN WALKED INTENTIONALLY WITH THE BASES LOADED. COUNTRY BOY WHO WORKED HARD TO BECOME A MAJOR LEAGUER AND STAR, EVER HELPFUL TO ROOKIES. RETIRED HERE IN 1953. Plaque 2: THIS STATUE OF A BASEBALL GREAT IS PLACED HERE AS A TRIBUTE TO THE MAN, AS AN INSPIRATION TO THE NATION'S YOUTH AND AS A REMINDER THAT SPORT IS IMPORTANT TO THE AMERICAN DREAM. FUNDS FOR THE STATUE WERE PROVIDED THROUGH THE GENEROUS DONATIONS OF ALLETTA LAIRD DOWNS, THE HENRY SILLIMAN FAMILY, MR. AND MRS. ADRIAN HOPPER AND BY MANY OF BILL NICHOLSON'S FRIENDS AND FANS. THEIR THOUGHTFULNESS IS HEREBY RECOGNIZED AND APPLAUDED. Links: None