Nelson Briles

Nelson Briles (August 5, 1943 – February 13, 2005) was a right-handed pitcher who played Major League Baseball from 1965 through 1978. Born in Dorris, California and raised in Chico, he attended Santa Clara University before signing with the St. Louis Cardinals as an amateur free agent in 1963. Known for his slider and precise control, Briles earned World Series championship rings with two franchises — the Cardinals in 1967 and the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1971. He began his career in the Cardinals' bullpen before developing into a reliable starter across stops that included Kansas City, Texas, and Baltimore.