# Nemo Gaines

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{{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](/source/Pitcher)
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1897|12|23}}
| birth_place = [Alexandria, Virginia](/source/Alexandria%2C_Virginia)
| death_date  = {{death date and age|1979|1|26|1897|12|23}}
| death_place = [Warrenton, Virginia](/source/Warrenton%2C_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](/source/Win%E2%80%93loss_record_(pitching))
| stat1value  = 0–0
| stat2label  = [Earned run average](/source/Earned_run_average)
| stat2value  = 0.00
| stat3label  = [Strikeout](/source/Strikeout)s
| stat3value  = 1
| teams       = 
*[Washington Senators](/source/Washington_Senators_(1901%E2%80%9360)) ({{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](/source/United_States_Navy) and played briefly as a [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) (MLB) [pitcher](/source/pitcher) with the [Washington Senators](/source/Washington_Senators_(1901%E2%80%9360)).

==Biography==
Gaines was born on December 23, 1897, in [Alexandria, Virginia](/source/Alexandria%2C_Virginia). He attended the [United States Naval Academy](/source/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](/source/San_Antonio_Express-News) |date=September 12, 2009 |accessdate=December 18, 2011}}</ref> He pitched for the [Navy Midshipmen baseball](/source/Navy_Midshipmen_baseball) team, [lettering](/source/letterman_(sports)) 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](/source/The_Baltimore_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](/source/Washington_Senators_(1901%E2%80%9360)) of [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) (MLB). In his MLB debut, he relieved [George Mogridge](/source/George_Mogridge) in a game against the [New York Yankees](/source/New_York_Yankees), facing [Bob Meusel](/source/Bob_Meusel), [Wally Pipp](/source/Wally_Pipp), [Aaron Ward](/source/Aaron_Ward_(baseball)) and [Wally Schang](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/innings_pitched) while giving up five [hits](/source/Hit_(baseball)), two [walks](/source/base_on_balls) and no [runs](/source/run_(baseball)). 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](/source/Mitch_Harris_(baseball)) made his big league debut with the [St. Louis Cardinals](/source/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](/source/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](/source/captain_(naval)). During World War II, Gaines served as U.S. [naval attaché](/source/Military_attach%C3%A9), stationed in [Peru](/source/Peru).<ref name=gaines/> He retired in 1946 to Virginia, where he raised [Hereford cattle](/source/Hereford_cattle) and opened a hardware store with his brother.<ref name=gaines/> He was a senior warden in the [Episcopal Church](/source/Episcopal_Church_(United_States)) at the time of his death.

Gaines died on January 26, 1979, in [Warrenton, Virginia](/source/Warrenton%2C_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](/source/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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Nemo Gaines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nemo_Gaines) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nemo_Gaines?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.