Dave Wickersham
Encyclopedia
David Clifford Wickersham (born September 27, 1935 in Erie, Pennsylvania
) is a former starting pitcher
in Major League Baseball
. From 1960
through 1969
, he played for the Kansas City Athletics
(1960–63), Detroit Tigers
(1964–67), Pittsburgh Pirates
(1968) and Kansas City Royals
(1969). Wickersham batted and threw right-handed. He debuted on September 18, 1960 and played his final game on July 26, 1969.
Wickersham was scouted
by Branch Rickey
and George Sisler
, being signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates
in 1955. He was acquired by the Kansas City Athletics in the 1959 minor league
draft. He pitched for the Athletics in part of two seasons from 1960-61. In 1962 he had a 11-4 mark and led American League
pitchers with a .733 winning percentage
,
and went 12-15 and 3.78 in 1963. At the end of that season, he was sent to the Detroit Tigers in the same trade that brought slugger Rocky Colavito
to the Athletics.
Wickersham enjoyed his most productive season for Detroit in 1964, when he went 19-12 with a 3.44 ERA
and posted career-numbers in strikeout
s (164), starts (36), complete games (11), appearances
(40) and innings pitched
(254.0), being considered in the American League MVP
vote. His 19 victories also was a career-mark,
missing a 20-win season only because of an ejection in his last start from a ballgame which was tied 1–1 in the 7th inning. Mickey Lolich
relieved
him and earned a 4–2 win. Wickersham was ejected after calling time out three times to try to keep a base runner from advancing as Norm Cash argued with the call by Bill Valentine. Wickersham, a born-again Christian, had never been ejected from any game all his life up to the time this took place. Valentine apparently deeply regretted the call for years, saying he had been "too impulsive" in his ejection; however, Wickersham wrote him a letter in 2004, reassuring the ump that he made the right call, in an attempt to relieve him of his burden http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=110&dat=20031112&id=Y5YKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WUwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6799,1021603.
Dave Wickersham signed his autograph with a Bible verse, Colossians 3:17: "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Wickersham also pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals.
In a 10-season career, Wickersham posted a 68-57 record with 638 strikeouts and a 3.66 ERA in 1123 innings, including 29 complete games, five shutout
s and 18 saves
.
Notably, Wickersham has been one of four players (fellow pitchers Aurelio Monteagudo
, Moe Drabowsky
and Ken Sanders being the other three) to play for both Kansas City-based major league teams, the Athletics and Royals.
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
) is a former starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. From 1960
1960 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Pittsburgh Pirates over New York Yankees ; Bobby Richardson, MVP*All-Star Game , July 11 at Municipal Stadium: National League, 5-3*All-Star Game , July 13 at Yankee Stadium: National League, 6-0...
through 1969
1969 in baseball
-Expansion:Four expansion teams joined Major League Baseball for this season: the San Diego Padres, the Kansas City Royals, the Seattle Pilots, and the first MLB team in Canada, the Montreal Expos. To accommodate the additional teams, the two leagues were split into two divisions of East and West...
, he played for the Kansas City Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
(1960–63), Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1964–67), Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
(1968) and Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
(1969). Wickersham batted and threw right-handed. He debuted on September 18, 1960 and played his final game on July 26, 1969.
Wickersham was scouted
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
by Branch Rickey
Branch Rickey
Wesley Branch Rickey was an innovative Major League Baseball executive elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967...
and George Sisler
George Sisler
George Harold Sisler , nicknamed "Gentleman George" and "Gorgeous George," was an American professional baseball player for 15 seasons, primarily as first baseman with the St. Louis Browns...
, being signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
in 1955. He was acquired by the Kansas City Athletics in the 1959 minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
draft. He pitched for the Athletics in part of two seasons from 1960-61. In 1962 he had a 11-4 mark and led American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
pitchers with a .733 winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
,
and went 12-15 and 3.78 in 1963. At the end of that season, he was sent to the Detroit Tigers in the same trade that brought slugger Rocky Colavito
Rocky Colavito
Rocco Domenico "Rocky" Colavito, Jr. is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball best known for his years with the Cleveland Indians. He wore a #6, #7 or #21 jersey during his MLB career...
to the Athletics.
Wickersham enjoyed his most productive season for Detroit in 1964, when he went 19-12 with a 3.44 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and posted career-numbers in strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s (164), starts (36), complete games (11), appearances
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
(40) and innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
(254.0), being considered in the American League MVP
MLB Most Valuable Player Award
The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award, given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America...
vote. His 19 victories also was a career-mark,
missing a 20-win season only because of an ejection in his last start from a ballgame which was tied 1–1 in the 7th inning. Mickey Lolich
Mickey Lolich
Michael Stephen Lolich is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1962 until 1979 who played the majority of his career with the Detroit Tigers.-Baseball career:...
relieved
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
him and earned a 4–2 win. Wickersham was ejected after calling time out three times to try to keep a base runner from advancing as Norm Cash argued with the call by Bill Valentine. Wickersham, a born-again Christian, had never been ejected from any game all his life up to the time this took place. Valentine apparently deeply regretted the call for years, saying he had been "too impulsive" in his ejection; however, Wickersham wrote him a letter in 2004, reassuring the ump that he made the right call, in an attempt to relieve him of his burden http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=110&dat=20031112&id=Y5YKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WUwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6799,1021603.
Dave Wickersham signed his autograph with a Bible verse, Colossians 3:17: "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Wickersham also pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals.
In a 10-season career, Wickersham posted a 68-57 record with 638 strikeouts and a 3.66 ERA in 1123 innings, including 29 complete games, five shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s and 18 saves
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
.
Notably, Wickersham has been one of four players (fellow pitchers Aurelio Monteagudo
Aurelio Monteagudo
Aurelio Faustino Monteagudo Cintra , nicknamed "Monty", was a right-handed screwball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball. He was the son of former big-leaguer René Monteagudo.-Career:Monteagudo was born in Caibarién, Villa Clara Province, Cuba...
, Moe Drabowsky
Moe Drabowsky
Myron Walter Drabowsky was a Polish-American right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago Cubs , Milwaukee Braves , Cincinnati Reds , Kansas City Athletics , Baltimore Orioles , Kansas City Royals , St...
and Ken Sanders being the other three) to play for both Kansas City-based major league teams, the Athletics and Royals.