Ernest Nichols seemed destined for stardom. He was the subject of a bidding war before he ever pitched in a professional game. The San Francisco Chronicle said that his hometown San Francisco Seals wanted to sign him, but had a lot of competition:
“Parke Wilson wanted him for the Pacific Coast League in Seattle (the Siwashes), Matt Stanley recommended him to (Dan) Dugdale for the opposition team in Seattle (the Chinooks of the Pacific National League), and Spokane came along with a contract calling for a large figure and took Nichols away from the other bidders.”
Ernest Nichols
The 21-year-old, six-foot, 190 pound right-hander was in high demand after pitching for the amateur Reliance Athletic Club team of Oakland in Northern California’s Mid-Winter League, and an independent team in Vancouver in 1902. The Chronicle said:
“Speed and control were Nichols’ strong suit, and he had the remarkable record of thirty-five strikeouts in two consecutive games (with Vancouver).”
Upon joining the Spokane Indians Nichols immediately lived up to the hype. By mid July he had started 24 games, winning 20. During a one week stretch in June he beat the Tacoma Tigers four times. The Chronicle said Nichols, who supported his mother and sisters had his salary “raised voluntarily by the Indians.”
On July 20 Nichols and two teammates went swimming at the pool in Natatorium Park, park of the amusement park that also included the Indians’ ballpark. After swimming, the three began to watch a ballgame between two local teams. The Spokane Spokesman-Review said:
“(Nichols) complained of cramps. The three started to walk to catch a car. When a car arrived he was lifted aboard and speeded to Dr. Kimball’s office. The doctor saw that he was dead.”
He died of septic endocarditis. Two days later The Spokesman-Review said:
“The last sad rites were rendered to the remains of pitcher Ernest Nichols yesterday afternoon by his friends and associates who knew him intimately and by a great mass of the public who knew him only through his baseball fame. “
Nichols’ body was returned to San Francisco and plans were quickly made to play a benefit game in his honor in Spokane. The game between the Indians and the Butte Miners raised $1025.
In October of 1903 The Chronicle said:
“In all the league averages no box man is found with a record approaching that of the late Ernest Nichols, the San Francisco boy who won 20 out of a possible 24 games before death called him.”
Baseball History Daily 
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