Mr Dave Nilsson AM

In 1982 Dave Nilsson became the youngest player to win the coveted Helms Award in the Claxton Shield. The same year he was recruited by American major League organisation Milwaukee Brewers and made his Major League debut in 1992.

The native of Brisbane spent eight seasons in Major League Baseball with the Milwaukee Brewers. Nilsson’s final year with the club at only 29 years old was his best. He left only to represent his home country at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.

Nilsson has been a pioneer for baseball in Australia, representing both the Brewers and Australia and the first Aussie to ever participate in a Major League Baseball All-Star game. The catcher played for Team Australia when they brought home gold from the Intercontinental Cup in 1999, and he represented his country two times in the Olympic Games, earning a silver medal in 2004.