Image from Old Judge card set	Joseph Nicholson Born: February 11, 1869 Died: July 3, 1927 Goto Baseball Reference for Joseph Nicholson p Majors: No
	Chicago Position: p First game: DNP Last game: # of games: 0	Signed before November 5, 1887 after playing with Hastings in 1887. Released by Chicago on May 16, 1888 without playing for Chicago. Signed by Minneapolis on May 18, 1888.
	Minneapolis Position: p First game: May 19, 1888 Last game: June 24, 1888 # of games: 10	Signed by Minneapolis on May 18, 1888 along with Gallagher after release by Chicago on May 16. The St. Paul Globe reported on June 26, 1888 that Manager Goodling released Nicholson and signed March in his place.

Jospeh Nicholson was signed by Sam Morton for the Chicago Maroons on November 2, 1887 (Chicago Tribune, November 3, 1887). At the time of his signing, it was reported he played for Hastings (Minnesota) in 1887. He pitched for the Maroons in "the first game of the season in Chicago", between the Maroons and the National League White Stockings, on April 14, 1888. Nicholson gave up thirteen hits and eleven runs, including home runs by Sullivan and Anson, but only two of those runs were earned. He pitched again for the Maroons on April 19 against Kalamazoo, the champions of the Tri-State League in 1887, allowing 23 runs (15 earned) in that start. It is not clear if he pitched again with the club during spring training, and he never pitched for them in a regular season game. He was released on May 16. He was signed by Minneapolis within a few days and promptly pitched a 4-0 victory over the Maroons on May 19, allowing only four hits while walking just one. It was his best start of the season for Minneapolis. Just over one month later he was released with a 3-6 record. He signed with Kalamazoo and finished the season with Grand Rapids.

Nicholson was a "Chicago boy", according to reports from the time. The 1888 Chicago Street Directory identifies Joseph Nicholson, ball player, living at 93 Wisconsin, along with Thomas, William and John Nicholson, while the Chicago Inter Ocean reported that Mrs. B. Nicholson died on April 9, 1888 at No. 93 Wisconsin. The 1880 Census identifies Bridget Nickelson (sic) with sons William, Thomas, John and Joseph, and daughters May, Lizzie and Lottie. Joseph Nicholson, son of Patrick and Bridget (McGuire) Nicholson, was born on February 11, 1869 in Chicago. After his short professional career he remained in Chicago; there is a Nicholson pitching for the Brands in the Chicago City League in 1890. He married Katherine O'Hara in 1894. They had three children (Ruth in 1895, Joseph in 1896, and Katherine in 1900). He died on July 3, 1927 at the age of 58.

Date	Pos	AB	R	BH	2B	3B	HR	SB	PO	A	E	BB	HPB	K
5-19-1888	p	4	0	1				0	0	3	1
5-24-1888	p	6	0	1				0	0	20	0
5-27-1888	p	4	0	1					2	5	1
5-28-1888	p	4	0	3					0	4	2
5-30-1888	p	4	0	0				0	1	4	4			1
6-3-1888	p	3	0	0					1	7	2			1
6-7-1888	p	4	0	3	1			0	1	8	5
6-11-1888	p	4	0	0				0	1	4	6
6-15-1888	p	3	0	0					0	5	0
6-24-1888	p	4	1	0				0	1	6	6
10 Games		40	1	9	1	0	0	0	7	66	27	0	0	2

Date	Pos	IP	H	R	ER	K	BB	HPB	WP
5-19-1888	p	9	4	0	0	1	1	0	0
5-24-1888	p	15	17	4	3	9	0	0	0
5-27-1888	p	9	14	7	3	3	2	0	0
5-28-1888	p	8	12	10	1	1	2	0	0
5-30-1888	p	9	16	11	8	0	4	0	0
6-3-1888	p	9	11	9	5	4	0	0	1
6-7-1888	p	8.2	14	10	7	3	5	0	0
6-11-1888	p	9	12	11	6	2	6	0	0
6-15-1888	p	9	7	2	2	1	0	0	3
6-24-1888	p	9	10	10	9	6	6	0	1
10 Games		94.2	117	74	44	30	26	0	5