Career
He is the brother of former All-Star, Dave Nilsson as well as former minor leaguer Bob Nilsson. He is currently pitching coach for the Brisbane Bandits in the Australian Baseball League. Gary was signed to the Detroit Tigers in 1983.
The next year, he played in advanced A baseball with the Lakeland Tigers and was 1–4 with a 5.95 European Research Area. He was released at the end of the year.
In 1989, when the Australian Baseball League was founded, the right-hander was picked up by the Gold Coast Cougars. He batted at a.289/.352/.378 clip as a first baseman in the 1989-1990 Australian Baseball League season, second on the team to brother Bob Nilsson.
In the 1990–1991 season, he was 6–1 with one save and a 5.96 European Research Area for the Daikyo Dolphins. The following year, he had a 5–4, 4.62 record for Daikyo, threw a one-hitter and helped the team to an American Basketball League title.
In 1992–1993, Nilsson was 3–0 with a 2.50 European Research Area with the Brisbane Bandits, despite spending a lot of the season injured.
The next year season was a bit of a low one for Nilsson as he was 0–4 with four saves and a 5.06 European Research Area, but did join with Kelly Wunsch and Cam Cairncross on a combined no-hitter. His career ended due to injuries in 1996, after a 1–3, 6.35 campaign in 1995–1996. His career in the Australian Baseball League totalled to a 17–14 record with 5 saves and a 4.57 European Research Area in 56 games.
Gary is now a coach with the Pine Rivers Rapids in the Greater Brisbane League.