Greg Bicknell
Encyclopedia
Greg Brent Bicknell is a former professional baseball
player who played in the minor leagues
with farm teams in the Toronto Blue Jays
and Seattle Mariners
organizations before becoming a regular on the independent baseball circuit with teams the California League
, Texas-Louisiana League, Western Baseball League
, Northern League and Golden Baseball League
.
in the 46th round of the 1987 amateur draft but went on to junior college. Two years later, was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 39th round of the 1989 amateur draft. He went 6-5 with a 4.19 ERA for the St. Catharines Blue Jays
that year. In 1990, he was 5-4 with a 3.65 ERA as a starter and reliever with the Myrtle Beach Blue Jays
. Returning to Myrtle Beach, he was 3-5 with a save and a 4.43 ERA in 1991, being used primarily in relief. He was taken by the Seattle Mariners in the minor league section of the 1991 Rule V Draft. In 1992, while pitching with the Peninsula Pilots
, he pitched 8 innings of a combined no-hitter and threw two complete game shutouts. He tied three other pitchers for the Carolina League lead in shutouts, was four strikeouts behind league leader John Cummings (140 in 179 IP for Greg) and was seventh in the circuit in ERA. At age 23/24, he was 6-6 with a save and 4.31 ERA in 12 starts and 12 relief appearances for the Jacksonville Suns
, reaching AA, the highest level he would ever get to in Organized Baseball. He walked only 28 in 94 innings that year.
of the California League, his third team in the league that year after San Bernardino and Stockton. In 9 starts for High Desert, he was smacked around badly to the tune of a 1-6, 8.61 line, allowing 79 hits in 46 innings and surrendering 13 home runs. He had a record of 34-35 in the minors to that point.
In 1998, he returned to the Dillas and led the league in starts and shutouts and was third in innings pitched (153), strikeouts (116), and wins. He had a 13-3, 4.53 record and was 8th in ERA. He made the league All-Star team.
in 2001. In 2001, he paced the circuit in wins (11), innings pitched (140.0) and strikeouts (121). He only lost 3 and he also saved two games. He walked only 27 batters, less than one every five innings. He made the WL All-Star team and was named the league pitcher of the year. In the season finale, though, he lost to the Long Beach Breakers.
(2002) and the Chinese Professional Baseball League
(2003). In 2002, Greg had a 6-11 record with one save and a 3.27 ERA for the Chianan Luka, walking an uncharacteristic 68 in 176 innings. In 2003, Bicknell was a horrendous 0-8 with a 5.05 ERA for First Financial Holdings Agan, walking 43 in 76 innings of work. Agan was 20-71-9 that year.
of the Northern League and led the league in wins (13) and complete games (5); he lost only 3 and his 3.56 ERA ranked ninth in the circuit. Returning to his usual level of control, he walked just 22 in 134 innings.
In 2005, while with the T-Bones, he set the modern Northern League season record with 16 wins against five losses. His 2.96 ERA was 7th in the Northern League. In 2006, however, Bicknell set the League's single season loss record with 13. He won 7, led the league with 164 2/3 innings and only gave up 33 walks.
He was slated to be a player/coach with Kansas City in 2007, but was picked up by the St. Joe Blacksnakes
of the American Association.
of the Golden Baseball League. In 2007, he appeared in only 3 games and compiled a 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA before heading to the Winnipeg Goldeyes
of the Northern League, where he made 5 appearances and had a record of 0-3 with a 4.91 ERA. In 17 appearances for the Outlaws in 2008, he had a 5-4 record with a 5.31 ERA.
His career record through 2008 was 141-103.
, with his wife Tina and daughter Rylee and still attends Outlaws games on a regular basis.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player who played in the minor leagues
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...
with farm teams in the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
and Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
organizations before becoming a regular on the independent baseball circuit with teams the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
, Texas-Louisiana League, Western Baseball League
Western Baseball League
The Western Baseball League was an independent baseball league based in the Western United States and Western Canada. It's member teams were not associated with any Major League Baseball teams. It operated from 1995 to 2002....
, Northern League and Golden Baseball League
Golden Baseball League
The Golden Baseball League, based in San Ramon, California, was an independent baseball league. It later merged with the Northern League and the United Baseball League to form the North American League in the western United States, western Canada and Mexico....
.
Minor League Baseball (1987-1993)
Pitcher Greg Bicknell has pitched professionally for 18 years after being a late draft selection. He was drafted by the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in the 46th round of the 1987 amateur draft but went on to junior college. Two years later, was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 39th round of the 1989 amateur draft. He went 6-5 with a 4.19 ERA for the St. Catharines Blue Jays
St. Catharines Blue Jays
The St. Catharines Blue Jays were a minor league baseball team that played at Community Park in St. Catharines, Ontario. They were the Short-Season A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays in the New York-Penn League. The team began play in 1986 as the Blue Jays, though were later renamed the St....
that year. In 1990, he was 5-4 with a 3.65 ERA as a starter and reliever with the Myrtle Beach Blue Jays
Myrtle Beach Blue Jays
The Myrtle Beach Blue Jays of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina began play in the South Atlantic League in 1986 after being relocated from Florence, South Carolina . They played at Coastal Carolina College's stadium and were a minor league club of the Toronto Blue Jays...
. Returning to Myrtle Beach, he was 3-5 with a save and a 4.43 ERA in 1991, being used primarily in relief. He was taken by the Seattle Mariners in the minor league section of the 1991 Rule V Draft. In 1992, while pitching with the Peninsula Pilots
Peninsula Pilots
The Peninsula Pilots are an amateur baseball team in the Coastal Plain League, collegiate summer baseball league. The team plays its home games at the War Memorial Stadium in Hampton, Virginia...
, he pitched 8 innings of a combined no-hitter and threw two complete game shutouts. He tied three other pitchers for the Carolina League lead in shutouts, was four strikeouts behind league leader John Cummings (140 in 179 IP for Greg) and was seventh in the circuit in ERA. At age 23/24, he was 6-6 with a save and 4.31 ERA in 12 starts and 12 relief appearances for the Jacksonville Suns
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
, reaching AA, the highest level he would ever get to in Organized Baseball. He walked only 28 in 94 innings that year.
1994: A wild year
1994 was an eventful season for Bicknell. He was released by the Mariners out of spring training and signed with the independent San Bernardino Spirit of the California League. He won his only game for San Bernardino before being picked up by the Milwaukee Brewers. He pitched two scoreless innings for the Stockton Ports. In his last crack at AA, he went 2-4 with 2 saves and a 6.17 ERA in 18 games for the El Paso Diablos, with a WHIP over 2. He was then released by the Brewers and signed with the independent High Desert MavericksHigh Desert Mavericks
The High Desert Mavericks are a minor league baseball team in Adelanto, California, USA. Their Major League parent club is the Seattle Mariners. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the California League and had been a farm team of the Kansas City Royals since 2005 before the switch...
of the California League, his third team in the league that year after San Bernardino and Stockton. In 9 starts for High Desert, he was smacked around badly to the tune of a 1-6, 8.61 line, allowing 79 hits in 46 innings and surrendering 13 home runs. He had a record of 34-35 in the minors to that point.
Texas-Louisiana League (1995-1998)
Thankfully for Bicknell, positions were opening up at this time for players who washed out of Organized Baseball with the formation of the independent leagues. He played the 1995 season with the Amarillo Dillas of the Texas-Louisiana League, going 10-6 with a 3.74 ERA. Greg was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays after the season, then released at the end of spring training in 1996, and returned to the Dillas. He split 1996 between Amarillo (4-6, 6.26) and the Lubbock Crickets (5-1, 4 Sv, 2.23) for a 9-7, 4.93 season. He threw 7 complete games with the Crickets in 1997, a year in which he went 9-9 with a 4.81 and was 10th in the TLL in ERA.In 1998, he returned to the Dillas and led the league in starts and shutouts and was third in innings pitched (153), strikeouts (116), and wins. He had a 13-3, 4.53 record and was 8th in ERA. He made the league All-Star team.
Western Baseball League (1999-2001)
Greg moved to the Western League for the next three seasons. He pitched with the Reno Chukars (4-5, 1 Sv, 6.19) in 1999, the Feather River Fury in 2000 (9-6, 3.71, 8th in the WL in ERA), and the Chico HeatChico Heat
The Chico Heat were a professional independent baseball team operating in Chico, California in the Western Baseball League. They had no operating agreement with any Major League Baseball team. They were created by Chico Heat Professional Baseball LLC, with former supermarket entrepreneur Steve...
in 2001. In 2001, he paced the circuit in wins (11), innings pitched (140.0) and strikeouts (121). He only lost 3 and he also saved two games. He walked only 27 batters, less than one every five innings. He made the WL All-Star team and was named the league pitcher of the year. In the season finale, though, he lost to the Long Beach Breakers.
Taiwan (2002-2003)
Bicknell spent the next two seasons in the Taiwan Major LeagueTaiwan Major League
The Taiwan Major League was a professional baseball league in Taiwan that operated from 1996 to 2003. It was established by TV tycoon Chiu Fu-sheng after a row over CPBL broadcasting rights...
(2002) and the Chinese Professional Baseball League
Chinese Professional Baseball League
The Chinese Professional Baseball League , or CPBL, is the top-tier professional baseball league in Taiwan. The league was established in 1989. CPBL eventually absorbed the competing Taiwan Major League in 2003...
(2003). In 2002, Greg had a 6-11 record with one save and a 3.27 ERA for the Chianan Luka, walking an uncharacteristic 68 in 176 innings. In 2003, Bicknell was a horrendous 0-8 with a 5.05 ERA for First Financial Holdings Agan, walking 43 in 76 innings of work. Agan was 20-71-9 that year.
Kansas City T-Bones (2004-2007)
He returned to the States in 2004 with the Kansas City T-BonesKansas City T-Bones
The Kansas City T-Bones are a professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Kansas, in the United States. The T-Bones are a member of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the Northern League and led the league in wins (13) and complete games (5); he lost only 3 and his 3.56 ERA ranked ninth in the circuit. Returning to his usual level of control, he walked just 22 in 134 innings.
In 2005, while with the T-Bones, he set the modern Northern League season record with 16 wins against five losses. His 2.96 ERA was 7th in the Northern League. In 2006, however, Bicknell set the League's single season loss record with 13. He won 7, led the league with 164 2/3 innings and only gave up 33 walks.
He was slated to be a player/coach with Kansas City in 2007, but was picked up by the St. Joe Blacksnakes
St. Joe Blacksnakes
The St. Joe Blacksnakes, in Saint Joseph, Missouri, were a member of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.On December 16, 2005 the team announced that the primary owner would be Van Schley and that the field manager would be Chris Carminucci. On December 27, St. Joe...
of the American Association.
Chico Outlaws (2007-2008) & Winnipeg Goldeyes (2007)
Greg pitched one season for the Chico OutlawsChico Outlaws
The Chico Outlaws are a professional baseball team based in Chico, California, in the United States. The Outlaws are a member of the Western Division of the independent North American League, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
of the Golden Baseball League. In 2007, he appeared in only 3 games and compiled a 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA before heading to the Winnipeg Goldeyes
Winnipeg Goldeyes
The Winnipeg Goldeyes are a professional baseball team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in Canada. The Goldeyes play in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. From 1994 to 2010, the team was a member of the Northern League.The...
of the Northern League, where he made 5 appearances and had a record of 0-3 with a 4.91 ERA. In 17 appearances for the Outlaws in 2008, he had a 5-4 record with a 5.31 ERA.
His career record through 2008 was 141-103.
Personal
Bicknell currently lives in Durham, CaliforniaDurham, California
Durham is a census-designated place in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 5,518 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
, with his wife Tina and daughter Rylee and still attends Outlaws games on a regular basis.