# Rich Nye
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{{short description|American baseball player (born 1944)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Rich Nye
|position=[Pitcher](/source/Pitcher)
|image=Rich Nye 1969.jpg
|caption=Nye in 1969
|bats=Left
|throws=Left
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1944|8|4}}
|birth_place=[Oakland, California](/source/Oakland%2C_California), U.S.
|death_date=
|death_place=
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=September 16
|debutyear=1966
|debutteam=Chicago Cubs
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=September 2
|finalyear=1970
|finalteam=Montreal Expos
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[Win–loss record](/source/Win%E2%80%93loss_record_(pitching))
|stat1value=26–31
|stat2label=[Earned run average](/source/Earned_run_average)
|stat2value=3.71
|stat3label=[Strikeouts](/source/Strikeouts)
|stat3value=267
|teams=
*[Chicago Cubs](/source/Chicago_Cubs) ({{baseball year|1966}}–{{baseball year|1969}})
*[St. Louis Cardinals](/source/St._Louis_Cardinals) ({{baseball year|1970}})
*[Montreal Expos](/source/Montreal_Expos) ({{baseball year|1970}})
}}
'''Richard Raymond Nye''' (born August 4, 1944) is an American former professional [baseball](/source/baseball) player who was a left-handed [pitcher](/source/pitcher)[{{cite magazine |last=Rumill |first=Ed |date=May 1968 |title=His Control's Nye Perfect |magazine=Baseball Digest}}] in the [Major Leagues](/source/Major_League_Baseball) from 1966–1970.[{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3883047.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105050630/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3883047.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 November 2012|title=Ex-Cub pitcher Rich Nye|author=Gold, Eddie|date=1 May 1988|work=Chicago Sun-Times|access-date=3 December 2010}}][{{cite book |last=Skipper |first=John C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vA4rtVacf-wC&q=rich+nye&pg=PA147 |title=Take me out to the Cubs game: 35 former ballplayers speak of losing at Wrigley |publisher=McFarland |year=2000 |isbn=0-7864-0810-3 |pages=256 |access-date=3 December 2010}}]
Nye was drafted by the Cubs in 1966 while still at the University of California, Berkeley. Nye went to their Class A team in [Caldwell, Idaho](/source/Caldwell%2C_Idaho) for a brief "spring training" and 3 weeks of action before being called up to the California Class A league to finish that minor league season; Chicago brought him to the majors in 1966 at the end of the season.[{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1997/03/09/for-rich-nye-life-after-the-cubs-is-really-for-the-birds/|title=For Rich Nye, Life After The Cubs Is Really For the Birds|date=9 March 1997|author=Mueller, Jim|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=22 March 2011}}] Nye received a degree in [civil engineering](/source/civil_engineering) from the [University of California at Berkeley](/source/University_of_California%2C_Berkeley) in the same year he was drafted.[{{cite magazine |last=Brosnan |first=Jim |date=June 1968 |title=Lip Service for the Cubs |magazine=Baseball Digest}}] He played for the [St. Louis Cardinals](/source/St._Louis_Cardinals),[{{Cite press release |title=Billy Gardner Jr. Returns to Blue Rocks |date=2004-01-12 |publisher=[Wilmington Blue Rocks](/source/Wilmington_Blue_Rocks) |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/billy-gardner-jr-returns-to-blue-rocks/n-2993042 |language=en-US |via=OurSports Central |access-date=2025-04-28}}] [Montreal Expos](/source/Montreal_Expos),[{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2XMlAAAAIBAJ&pg=6307,4342927&dq=rich+nye&hl=en|title=Rich Nye Is Sold By St. Louis Cards|date=16 May 1970|work=Gettysburg Times|access-date=3 December 2010}}] and [Chicago Cubs](/source/Chicago_Cubs).[{{cite web|url=http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/the-williams-santo-cubs-1966-1969|title=The Williams-Santo Cubs: 1966-1969|author=Treder, Steve|date=15 February 2005|work=Hardball Times|access-date=3 December 2010}}][{{cite news |date=14 June 1967 |title=Santo, Cubs Extend L.A. String to 8 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SyEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6688,2745161&dq=rich+nye&hl=en |access-date=3 December 2010 |work=St. Petersburg Times |via=Google News Archive |agency=Associated Press}}]
Nye was with the Cubs during the years [Leo Durocher](/source/Leo_Durocher) was manager and recalled learning when he was scheduled to pitch not from Durocher, but by reading the sports column.[ He was named Chicago's Rookie of the Year in 1968.][{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4204414.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105050638/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4204414.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 November 2012|title=Animal Instinct // Ex-Cub Nye Tends to Exotic Critters These Days|author=Gillespie, Mary|date=12 December 1993|work=Chicago Sun-Times|access-date=3 December 2010}}]
Nye played in the major leagues for over five years; his [baseball](/source/baseball) career came to an end due to injuries.[{{cite web|url=http://www.nessexotic.com/DrNye.php|title=Richard R. Nye, DVM|publisher=Ness Exotic Wellness Center|access-date=3 December 2010|archive-date=July 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721195611/http://nessexotic.com/DrNye.php|url-status=dead}}][{{cite web|url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/hoekstra/2008/07/when_excub_rich_nye_was_a_pup.html|title=When Ex-Cub Rich Nye Was a Pup|author=Hoekstra, Dave|date=17 July 2008|work=Chicago Sun-Times|access-date=3 December 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622031750/http://blogs.suntimes.com/hoekstra/2008/07/when_excub_rich_nye_was_a_pup.html|archive-date=22 June 2012}}]
Upon retiring, Rich initially used his civil engineering degree, working for a time on what was to become the [Willis Tower](/source/Willis_Tower) and became a [commodities trader](/source/Commodity) at the [Chicago Mercantile Exchange](/source/Chicago_Mercantile_Exchange).[
thumb|left|Rich Nye in 1968
A teammate of his with the 1971 Winnipeg Whips, Triple A affiliate of the Montreal Expos, was the father of major leaguer [John Olerud](/source/John_Olerud), who was in medical school while playing baseball. Looking for something that would be as inspirational to him as baseball was, the two discussed the possibilities and Nye learned he needed some undergraduate science credits to be a candidate for the University of Illinois' veterinary program.][ He entered the [University of Illinois](/source/University_of_Illinois_at_Urbana%E2%80%93Champaign) School of [Veterinary Medicine](/source/Veterinary_Medicine) in 1972, becoming a [veterinarian](/source/veterinarian) in 1976.][ He began practicing medicine at Niles Animal Hospital in [Niles, Illinois](/source/Niles%2C_Illinois).][{{cite web|url=http://www.aav.org/|title=Association of Avian Veterinarians|publisher=Association of Avian Veterinarians|access-date=3 December 2010}}]
Using his abilities in commodity trading to earn the money for starting his own practice, Nye and two other [exotic animal veterinarian](/source/exotic_animal_veterinarian)s founded Midwest Bird and Exotic Animal Hospital in [Westchester, Illinois](/source/Westchester%2C_Illinois) in 1985, which was the first exotic-only [specialist](/source/Veterinary_specialties) practice in the United States.[{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1525672.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105050645/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1525672.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 November 2012|title=Ex-Cub Nye takes on birds, not batters Veterinarian flourishes in 2nd career treating exotic animals |author=Smith, Zay N.|date=28 March 2004|work=Chicago Sun-Times|access-date=3 December 2010}}][{{cite web|url=http://www.midwestexotichospital.com/aboutUs.html|title=About Us|publisher=Midwest Bird and Exotic Animal Hospital|access-date=3 December 2010}}]
Nye and Dr. Susan Brown, a partner and the inspiration for starting the all-exotic practice, were married. Their practice grew to include five veterinarians and a large support staff; almost 20 years after the founding of the hospital, the couple sold it to two veterinarians on their staff in October 2004.[{{cite web|url=http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&C=34&A=683&S=0|title=About Dr. Susan Brown|publisher=Veterinary Partner|access-date=3 December 2010}}][{{cite web|url=http://www.midwestexotichospital.com/docStaff.html|title=Doctors and Staff|publisher=Midwest Bird and Exotic Animal Hospital|access-date=3 December 2010}}] The practice that Nye and Brown started outgrew its original home in Westchester;[ in 2005, it moved to its present location in [Elmwood Park, Illinois](/source/Elmwood_Park%2C_Illinois).][{{cite web|url=http://www.midwestexotichospital.com/index.html|title=Midwest Bird and Exotic Animal Hospital Home Page|access-date=3 December 2010}}]
He is the author of several veterinary textbook chapters on avian medicine, serves as a consultant, and had continued to see patients at Ness Exotic Wellness Center in [Lisle, Illinois](/source/Lisle%2C_Illinois) on a part-time basis