{{short description|American baseball player (1897-1979)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Infobox baseball biography | image = Nemo Gaines.jpg | image_size = 100px | name = Nemo Gaines | position = Pitcher | birth_date = {{Birth date|1897|12|23}} | birth_place = Alexandria, Virginia | death_date = {{death date and age|1979|1|26|1897|12|23}} | death_place = Warrenton, Virginia | bats = Left | throws = Left |debutleague = MLB | debutdate = June 26 | debutyear = 1921 | debutteam = Washington Senators |finalleague = MLB | finaldate = July 16 | finalyear = 1921 | finalteam = Washington Senators |statleague = MLB | stat1label = Win–loss record | stat1value = 0–0 | stat2label = Earned run average | stat2value = 0.00 | stat3label = Strikeouts | stat3value = 1 | teams = *Washington Senators ({{Baseball year|1921}}) | highlights = }} '''Willard Roland "Nemo" Gaines''' (December 23, 1897 – January 26, 1979) was an American military officer and baseball player. He served as an officer in the United States Navy and played briefly as a Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher with the Washington Senators.
==Biography== Gaines was born on December 23, 1897, in Alexandria, Virginia. He attended the United States Naval Academy.<ref name=gaines>{{cite news|last=Pils |first=Douglas |url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/article/Week-in-review-preview-Sacrificing-talent-for-847431.php |title=Week in review/preview: Sacrificing talent for honor |newspaper=San Antonio Express-News |date=September 12, 2009 |accessdate=December 18, 2011}}</ref> He pitched for the Navy Midshipmen baseball team, lettering from 1919 through 1921.<ref name=letter>{{cite web |url=http://www.navysports.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/letterwinners.html |title=The United States Naval Academy Official Athletic Site – Baseball |publisher=Navysports.Com |date= |accessdate=December 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701020321/http://www.navysports.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/letterwinners.html |archive-date=July 1, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1655426722.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=May+29%2C+1920&author=&pub=The+Sun+%281837-1985%29&desc=ARMY+AND+NAVY+NINES+READY+FOR+BIG+GAME&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712221817/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1655426722.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=May+29,+1920&author=&pub=The+Sun+(1837-1985)&desc=ARMY+AND+NAVY+NINES+READY+FOR+BIG+GAME&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 12, 2012|title=ARMY AND NAVY NINES READY FOR BIG GAME: Uncle Sam's Wards Will Stage Their Seventeenth Baseball Battle Today At Annapolis WILHIDE WITH THE CADETS Rivals As Fit As Expert Hands Can Make Them For Important Diamond Classic--Veterans Will Perform For Both|newspaper=The Sun|first=C. Edward|last=Sparrow|date=May 29, 1920|page=9|accessdate=December 17, 2011}} {{subscription required|date=December 2011}}</ref> He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1921.<ref name=letter/>
left|thumb|150px|Photo of Gaines in the 1921 US Naval Academy yearbook. After graduating, he received a special leave from the Navy to pitch for the Washington Senators of Major League Baseball (MLB). In his MLB debut, he relieved George Mogridge in a game against the New York Yankees, facing Bob Meusel, Wally Pipp, Aaron Ward and Wally Schang.<ref name=gaines/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA192106260.shtml |title=June 26, 1921 Washington Senators at New York Yankees Box Score and Play by Play |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date=June 26, 1921 |accessdate=December 18, 2011}}</ref> On July 2, he pitched {{frac|1|2|3}} innings against the Philadelphia Athletics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/WS1/WS1192107020.shtml |title=July 2, 1921 Philadelphia Athletics at Washington Senators Box Score and Play by Play |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date=July 2, 1921 |accessdate=December 18, 2011}}</ref> He pitched another inning against the Athletics the next day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/WS1/WS1192107030.shtml |title=July 3, 1921 Philadelphia Athletics at Washington Senators Box Score and Play by Play |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date=July 3, 1921 |accessdate=December 18, 2011}}</ref> His final appearance came on July 16 against the Cleveland Indians.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE192107160.shtml |title=July 16, 1921 Washington Senators at Cleveland Indians Box Score and Play by Play |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date=July 16, 1921 |accessdate=December 18, 2011}}</ref> In total, Gaines appeared in four games for the Senators between June 26 and July 16, 1921, pitching {{frac|4|2|3}} innings while giving up five hits, two walks and no runs. The Senators lost all four games he appeared in.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=gainene01&t=p&year=1921 |title=Nemo Gaines 1921 Pitching Gamelogs |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date= |accessdate=December 18, 2011}}</ref> Gaines was the only Navy Midshipman to play in MLB until Mitch Harris made his big league debut with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2015.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-reliever-mitch-harris-becomes-first-navy-grad-to-earn-mlb-win/c-122659960 | title=Harris becomes first Navy grad to earn MLB win | website=MLB.com | date=May 6, 2015 }}</ref>
Gaines returned to the Navy after his brief stint in MLB. He served as an officer, reaching the rank of captain. During World War II, Gaines served as U.S. naval attaché, stationed in Peru.<ref name=gaines/> He retired in 1946 to Virginia, where he raised Hereford cattle and opened a hardware store with his brother.<ref name=gaines/> He was a senior warden in the Episcopal Church at the time of his death.
Gaines died on January 26, 1979, in Warrenton, Virginia, and was interred in Arlington National Cemetery.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1979/01/29/w-r-gaines-retired-navy-captain/5a96bf72-dcfe-4d37-a64b-6db17867e662/ |title=W. R. Gaines, Retired Navy Captain |date=1979-01-29 |newspaper=The Washington Post |place=Washington, D.C. |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=1330888409}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Portal|Baseball}} {{baseballstats|mlb=|espn=|br=g/gainene01|fangraphs=|brm=|retro=}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaines, Nemo}} Category:1897 births Category:1979 deaths Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II Category:Baseball players from Alexandria, Virginia Category:Major League Baseball pitchers Category:Navy Midshipmen baseball players Category:Washington Senators (1901–1960) players Category:20th-century American sportsmen Category:United States Navy officers Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery