Conrad “Nick” Carter was born at Oatlands on May 19th, 1879 to George Carter II and Katherine Powell. He was the youngest of four with two sisters and one brother. Though it is uncertain when he learned to play, his love of baseball clearly came early on in life. As a teenager attending Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire, he pitched for their baseball team.
Nick excelled at pitching and had an illustrious college career at the University of Virginia. In a game against Washington and Lee, he was recorded as having “pitched a steady game.” Against Cornell, Nick was “the feature of the game.” While in college, he also began playing in the minor leagues. In the summer of 1899, he played for the Dayton Veterans and the Wheeling Stogies. In 1905, 1906, and 1907, he played for the Syracuse Stars and was exceedingly popular among the fans.
In 1908, baseball manager Connie Mack scouted Nick while he was playing for Syracuse in the New York State League. He played one season with the Philadelphia Athletics before returning to the minors. In 1914, the major league team the Brooklyn Federals offered Nick a contract. Declining for unknown reasons, Nick and his wife, Elizabeth, moved to Maryland in the 1920’s to run a farm. The pitcher never gave up his love for baseball, continuing to manage minor league teams.
Nick passed away on November 23rd, 1961. Shortly before his passing, he submitted his information to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was asked, “if you had to do it all over, would you play professional baseball again?” His reply was simple, “certainly would.”
