152:. His mother abandoned him when he was 12 years old, and his father Charles "Tuttie" Payton raised him along with his younger sister Joanna in a trailer home. Payton taught Nash to hit as a child using old socks and bottle caps in lieu of baseballs. He was expelled from two schools for fighting, and later dropped out of school altogether after being suspended for a fight in the eighth grade. In 1994 at the age of 12, Nash played in the Dixie Youth Tournament, a
323:. The club voided his contract for unspecified legal reasons, believed to be a bar fight for which Nash was arrested. Nash was arrested again in 2005 for a parole violation, and was charged for drug possession, leading him to serve the full 10 years of his previously suspended jail sentence. Nash was released from prison in November 2013. He was arrested again, however, in 2015 on drug charges.
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According to Latino, Nash "couldn't read, couldn't write...Just wasn't ready to function in society...with an education and social skills of a kid about thirteen years old." Returning to
Louisiana after the 2001 season, Nash spent nearly nine months in jail in 2002 for aggravated and
312:, after allegedly having sex with a 15-year-old girl. After the aggravated rape charges were dropped, Nash agreed to a plea bargain and was given a 10-year suspended sentence. The Devil Rays released Nash in September 2002, the day after he was released from jail.
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whose hometown is
Hammond, watched the game, and made a note to look for Nash in the future, assuming he would be a star in high school. As he did not attend high school, however, Nash fell into obscurity and Latino spent seven years looking for him.
206:, the scout witnessed Toe hitting 400-foot (120 m) home runs from both sides of the plate, and throwing 93 miles per hour (150 km/h) from the mound. The Devil Rays brought Nash to their minor league camp in
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Toe Nash's life was tumultuous. He stopped going to school in the eighth grade. He worked odd jobs. When he could, he played baseball, sometimes on a former cow pasture. He hopes the Rays are his way to a better
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111:(now Rays) organization in 2001. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) and weighing 220 pounds (100 kg), Nash received his nickname due to his
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202:. At the age of 18, Latino found Nash playing in this semi-pro league, known as the Sugar Cane League, featuring amateurs and ex-minor leaguers. In a game in
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on June 27, 2014. The feature recounted the then 32-year-old Nash being reunited with Benny Latino, and his return to the Sugar Cane League.
632:"Toe's Big Feat: Troubled Teen Comes Out of Nowhere to Sign With Devil Rays: It Sounds Like a 'Natural,' but It's Not Exactly a Fairy Tale"
266:. Harold Reynolds also discussed Nash on television. Officials from other organizations felt that the story reminded them of the hoax of
214:. Nash pitched in the high 80s, topping out at 95 miles per hour (153 km/h). He also hit towering home runs, drawing comparisons to
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847:"Former baseball player Gregory 'Toe' Nash arrested; charges include failing to register as sex offender | NOLA.com"
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597:"The "legend" of Sorrento's Big Toe: "Toe" Nash takes somewhat bumpy path from U.S. 61 to professional baseball"
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126:. His life story seemed so improbable that baseball executives at first thought Nash was a hoax, similar to
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fields at age 16 along with his father. He played in exhibitions against local high schools and in a
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230:. He was assigned to their fall instructional league, where he played in the outfield alongside
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160:. Standing 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) and weighing 140 pounds (64 kg), he
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with the Devil Rays in 2001. They assigned him to extended spring training, and then to the
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750:. Gainesville, FL: New York Times Management Services. September 22, 2002. p. 8C.
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Despite legal troubles, including an arrest for felony robbery, Nash reported to
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analyst and former major league infielder, who invited him to a baseball camp in
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A high school dropout, Nash was discovered by the Devil Rays while playing in a
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In lieu of a high school education, Nash went to work in his cousin's
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in
February 2001. There, Nash worked out with MLB players, including
520:"Rays Hope He'll Toe Line: An Unlikely Prospect Has Bright Future"
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17 of 21 batters he faced with a 70-mile-per-hour (110 km/h)
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238:. Nash's agent, Larry Reynolds, introduced Nash to his brother
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794:. Associated Press. February 16, 2003. Archived from
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baseball league, and attended an open tryout for the
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818:"Police arrest ex-player on probation violation"
668:"Devil Rays find The Natural in the cane fields"
288:in 2001, playing alongside future major leaguer
222:for his power. After Nash went undrafted in the
882:Career statistics and player information from
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210:, for a workout in front of scouting director
134:, and the fictional Roy Hobbs character from
8:
909:Baseball players from Baton Rouge, Louisiana
824:. Baton Rouge, Louisiana. February 22, 2005
226:, the Devil Rays signed him for a $ 30,000
130:. Despite his natural ability, compared to
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934:21st-century African-American sportspeople
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342:"The Story of Toe Nash" was featured on
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744:"Devil Rays release troubled Toe Nash"
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315:After being released by the Rays, the
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611:from the original on August 31, 2015
91:(born February 16, 1982), nicknamed
713:Tompkin, Marc (February 13, 2001).
696:"The legend Of Toe Nash turns ugly"
694:Sapakoff, Gene (January 30, 2002).
607:, The Baton Rouge Sunday Advocate.
473:Heckert, Justin (January 6, 2003).
788:"Reds void contract with Toe Nash"
763:"Toe Nash joins Reds organization"
14:
919:African-American baseball players
761:Haft, Chris (December 19, 2002).
630:Wharton, David (March 12, 2001).
555:Duryea, Bill (January 28, 2001).
296:.240 with eight home runs and 29
184:Southeastern Louisiana University
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595:Guilbeau, Glenn (July 1, 2001).
383:Schaap, Jeremy (June 27, 2014).
224:2000 Major League Baseball Draft
601:Associated Press Sports Editors
431:Diaz, George (April 11, 2001).
715:"'Toe' Nash cleared to report"
518:Olson, Lisa (March 13, 2001).
1:
702:. Charleston, SC. p. 1C.
182:, a former college player at
914:Princeton Devil Rays players
292:. In his first season, Nash
884:Baseball Reference (Minors)
319:signed Nash in the 2002–03
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208:Princeton, West Virginia
16:American baseball player
835:(subscription required)
605:The Dallas Morning News
385:"SC Featured: Toe Nash"
337:John "Hot Rod" Williams
475:"Arrested Development"
331:Nash's cousin, former
105:minor league baseball
101:professional baseball
924:Baseball outfielders
721:. St. Petersburg, FL
719:St. Petersburg Times
700:The Post and Courier
666:(January 11, 2001).
565:. Hammond, Louisiana
562:St. Petersburg Times
557:"Beyond the pasture"
433:"Mr Toe's Wild Ride"
279:Princeton Devil Rays
174:Tampa Bay Devil Rays
109:Tampa Bay Devil Rays
525:New York Daily News
150:Sorrento, Louisiana
124:Sorrento, Louisiana
59:Sorrento, Louisiana
286:Appalachian League
200:Pittsburgh Pirates
158:Hammond, Louisiana
113:size 18 (US) shoes
103:player. He played
853:on March 2, 2015.
636:Los Angeles Times
485:ESPN The Magazine
196:semi-professional
120:semi-professional
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53:February 16, 1982
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826:. Retrieved
822:The Advocate
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399:the original
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349:SportsCenter
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302:games played
283:Rookie-level
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260:Eddie Murray
212:Dan Jennings
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180:Benny Latino
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89:Gregory Nash
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899:1982 births
390:espn.go.com
290:Jonny Gomes
264:Alvin Davis
256:Barry Bonds
248:Los Angeles
137:The Natural
893:Categories
641:August 31,
615:August 31,
356:References
268:Sidd Finch
252:Tony Gwynn
204:Tangipahoa
192:sugar cane
162:struck out
128:Sidd Finch
122:league in
49:1982-02-16
36:Outfielder
321:offseason
220:Babe Ruth
170:home runs
144:Biography
132:Babe Ruth
97:"Big Toe"
673:ESPN.com
609:Archived
494:June 25,
480:espn.com
327:Personal
166:fastball
28:Toe Nash
828:May 16,
792:MLB.com
767:MLB.com
679:May 16,
335:player
281:of the
218:legend
107:in the
74:Throws:
802:May 6,
772:May 6,
725:May 6,
531:May 6,
443:May 6,
300:in 47
262:, and
216:Yankee
70:Switch
576:life.
242:, an
177:scout
93:"Toe"
76:Right
68:Bats:
44:Born:
830:2012
804:2012
774:2012
727:2012
681:2012
643:2015
617:2015
571:2014
533:2012
496:2015
489:ESPN
445:2012
407:2014
395:ESPN
344:ESPN
244:ESPN
234:and
346:'s
333:NBA
294:hit
95:or
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