by Mark Langill
Nate Oliver, a member of two Dodger World Series championship teams in 1963 and 1965, along with a pennant-winning team in 1966, passed away on April 5 in Oakland. He was 84.
During his Dodger career from 1963 to 1967, the Florida native slashed .234/.296/.273/.568 in 329 games with one home run and 40 RBI.
Oliver appeared in one World Series game as a pinch runner in Game 4 of the 1966 World Series.
Prior to the 1968 season, the Dodgers traded Oliver and infielder Ron Hunt to the Giants in exchange for catcher Tom Haller.
Oliver played seven Major League seasons, finishing his big league career with the Yankees and Cubs in 1969.
During his playing career, Oliver was known for his singing. When the Dodgers staged a St. Patrick’s Day party in Vero Beach, Florida during training camp in 1964, Oliver’s singing was one of the evening highlights, along with instrumental performances by Maury Wills (banjo) and Tommy Davis (clavietta).
Oliver’s velvet voice came in handy when he was invited to play in the Dodgers’ 1990 Oldtimers Day exhibition. After playing in the game, Oliver was eating a sandwich in the clubhouse when he received an emergency request. Could he possibly substitute for the planned national anthem singer who was a last-minute scratch?
No pressure. Oliver was pinch-hitting for Ella Fitzgerald.
Without missing a beat, the former infielder took his place in center field and delivered, starting the afternoon on a high note.
During his career, Oliver also performed national anthems prior to games in Anaheim, Oakland and Cincinnati.
Former Dodger Nate Oliver passes away was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.