Joe Hicks
From BR Bullpen
- Note: This page links to Joe Hicks, the major leaguer from 1959-1963. For other minor league Joe Hicks, click here.
William Joseph Hicks
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 180 lb.
- School University of Virginia
- Debut September 18, 1959
- Final Game September 29, 1963
- Born April 7, 1933 in Ivy, VA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Outfielder Joe Hicks, a graduate of the University of Virginia with a degree in education, arrived with the Chicago White Sox for a six-game trial in 1959. The left-hand swinger would spend five years (1959-1963) in the major leagues, but sliding back into the minors each year with the exception of 1962 when he spent the entire season in the "Show". Hicks had signed on with the White Sox as an amateur free agent before the 1953 season and spent his first year with the Madisonville Miners of the Kitty League and the Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the Western League and between the two he hit .385 with 17 homers.
Joe would have two more good years, hitting .349 for Colorado Springs in 1954 and .299 for the Memphis Chickasaws in 1955, sandwiched around two years in the United States Military Service in 1956 and 1957. On his return in 1958, the 25-year-old veteran would have a good season split between the Indianapolis Indians and Colorado Springs again, hitting a combined .355 with 9 homers in 137 games. Joe spent 151 games with the Indianapolis Indians in 1959, hit .314 with 11 dingers and it was now time to go to Comiskey Park, which Joe did. It was September 18, he appeared in 6 games went 3 for 7 and things were looking good for 1960.
Hicks went North with the White Sox out of spring training in 1960, appeared in 36 games, went 9 for 47 or .191, take your pick, and headed West for the San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League where he hit .303 in just 32 games. Change was coming and the Washington Senators drafted Hicks on December 14, 1960 in the expansion draft. Hicks would get into only 12 games for the Senators in 1961, hitting .172, and spent the rest of his year in Indianapolis where he hit .278 in 81 games. The Washington Senators finished in a dead heat for last place with the Kansas City Athletics with 61-100 records, 47.5 games back.
1962 was a make or break year for Hicks as well as the Senators and neither one lived up to the task. Joe appeared in 102 games, had six homers and hit but .221. Hicks did lead the American League in pinch-hitting appearances with 61, but had just nine hits off the bench for a .147 average. This was his first full year without a trip to the minors and he wouldn't get this chance again. The Senators were as bad as Hicks, as they fell to dead last with a 60-101 record.
In an attempt to make things better the Senators sold Hicks to the New York Mets on December 20, 1962. Joe appeared in 56 games with the Mets in 1963, hit .226 with five home runs and his days in the majors were over. Lifetime Joe was .221 with 12 home runs in 212 games. He finished out the season with the Buffalo Bisons of the International League where he hit .320 with 14 homers in 81 games. As for the Mets ... they went 51-111 in 1963. That's not the worst ever, but it's awful close.
Hicks would play three more seasons (1964-1966), all in the minors with the Buffalo Bisons. During these three seasons Joe hit .261 with 31 home runs. Hicks was now 33 years old and decided to end his eleven active seasons in professional baseball. His minor league career stats show he ended with a .313 batting average with 107 home runs in 971 games. After baseball Hicks became the director of athletic programs for the city of Charlottesville, VA.
