Braves hero Otis Nixon reported missing by police in Georgia
Police in Woodstock, Ga. are seeking the public's help in locating Otis Nixon, a hero on multiple Atlanta Braves playoff teams who has struggled with addiction.
Nixon, 58, has not been seen since leaving his home Saturday morning to play a round of golf. Police said he did not arrive for his tee time.
Nixon played 17 years in the major leagues, most notably as a key contributor on the first three of 14 consecutive Atlanta Braves playoff teams. In 1991, he stole 72 bases and had a .371 on-base percentage for a Braves team that won the NL West one season after losing 95 games.
But drug use and brushes with the law imperiled Nixon's baseball career and his life since leaving the game in 1999. In 2013, he was arrested and charged with possession after rocks of cocaine and a crack pipe were found in his possession following a traffic stop.
He missed the 1991 postseason while serving a 60-day suspension for a positive cocaine test that Commissioner Fay Vincent said violated the terms of Nixon's aftercare program. He was subjected to extra drug testing at the time because of a 1987 arrest in connection with cocaine possession when he was a minor leaguer.
Nixon stole 620 bases in his career, which ranks 16th all time. and finished in the top 10 in steals in 11 seasons.