Nicholas Thompson Swisher was an outfielder and first baseman. Born in Columbus, OH, he was a switch hitter who threw left-handed. Nick played for the Oakland Athletics, Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians and Atlanta Braves. He won the 2009 World Series with the Yankees against the Philadelphia Phillies and was an All-Star in 2010.

A power hitter with excellent plate discipline, Swisher hit at least 20 home runs in each of nine consecutive seasons from 2005 to 2013, and reached 75 bases on balls on seven occasions in that span. In spite of his considerable power, he was being used as a lead-off batter by the Chicago White Sox in 2008, because he drew walks well. He was named to the 2010 AL All-Star Team.

Nick went through an elaborate ritual before each pitch while batting. He would step in and out of the batter's box, tuck his sleeve, adjust his batting helmet, look skyward, tap the plate with his bat, then set up to wait for the pitch. All the gestures were accomplished in exactly the same order. The sequence helped him to focus, and forced the pitcher to slow down, messing up his timing. While he used the full routine during his first few seasons with the Yankees, he shortened it in later years after remarks that he was unduly delaying the game with his ritual.

Swisher is the son of former MLB catcher Steve Swisher, who played for various National League baseball clubs in the 1970s and 1980s.

(excerpted from Baseball Almanac, BR Bullpen & Wikipedia)