John W. "Candy" Nelson (March 14, 1849 – September 4, 1910) was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball.

A native of Maine, Nelson entered professional baseball in Brooklyn in 1867.

He made his major league debut in the National Association with the Troy Haymakers in 1872.

A couple of years later, major publications described him as owning a milk route in Brooklyn.

This biographical article relating to an American baseball shortstop is a stub.