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RIP Jim Hickman, 1937-2016

G-Fafif Jun 26 2016 12:02 AM

We lose another Original Met, Jim Hickman, 79. He died Saturday, according to the Tennesseean. http://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/ ... /86379450/ Former Major League All-Star Jim HIckman, who was born and raised in Henning, Tenn., died Saturday. He was 79 and in hospice care. HIckman's son Joey is the longtime golf pro at Old Hickory Country Club. Jim Hickman was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1996. After six years in the minors HIckman, whose nickname was "Gentleman Jim," became an original member of the New York Mets in 1962. After five seasons in New York, Hickman went to the Los Angeles Dodgers (1968), Chicago Cubs (1968-73) and St. Louis Cardinals (1974). He was named an All-Star in 1970 when he hit .312 with 32 home runs and 100 RBIs. In the All-Star game Hickman drove in Pete Rose in a famous play where Rose steamrolled catcher Ray Fosse at the plate. The play gave the National League a 5-4 win. After his playing career Hickman served as the Reds minor league hitting coordinator from 1987-2006. The funeral will be at Garner Funreral Home in Ripley, Tenn., but the details are incomplete at this time.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 26 2016 12:04 PM Re: RIP Jim Hickman, 1937-2016

First Met to hit 3 homers in a game. First Met to wear 3 different uni numbers (9, 6, 27). Played all over the field. For a while was the club's All-Time HR king

MFS62 Jun 26 2016 12:46 PM Re: RIP Jim Hickman, 1937-2016

I had a home run baseball he hit to win a game at the Polo Grounds. I don't know where it is. I think one of my kids took it to play catch and lost it. I found out about it later. RIP Later

G-Fafif Jun 26 2016 02:02 PM Re: RIP Jim Hickman, 1937-2016

Two Mets have hit for the cycle and hit three home runs in one game: Jim Hickman and Johnny-Come-Back-Lately Jose Reyes. Reyes forged both his accomplishments in losses in 2006, a year the Mets won a division title. Hickman's achievements came in seasons when the Mets won 51 and 50 games, respectively -- and they won those games. Jim also hit the walkoff grand slam to end Roger Craig's losing streak. By all accounts, it wouldn't have been out of any park that wasn't the Polo Grounds, but play it where it lies. "For years Jim Hickman was one of the Mets' best players," Leonard Shecter wrote in 1970 (the same year Hickman became the last 1962 Met to make an All-Star team). "They didn't go anywhere until they got rid of him." Not a cruel summation: Hickman and Ron Hunt for Tommy Davis led to Davis and Jack Fisher for Tommie Agee and Al Weis.

Frayed Knot Jun 26 2016 02:48 PM Re: RIP Jim Hickman, 1937-2016

Was, at the end of the 1965 & '66 seasons, the top-rated Met ever in the CPF Ranking Project (or would have been through the magic of retrospective reconstruction). Currently hanging in at #83 all time, he sits behind only Ron Hunt & Jack Fisher (#'s 74 & 75) among players whose NYM careers pre-date the 1969 era. His August 1963 cycle came in order (first single, then double, etc.) which should get you extra credit although I'm not sure what exactly that credit would be.

Benjamin Grimm Jun 26 2016 02:56 PM Re: RIP Jim Hickman, 1937-2016

At a minimum, that feat should have earned him an AM Crunchwrap.

G-Fafif Jun 26 2016 05:27 PM Re: RIP Jim Hickman, 1937-2016

Remembered here in a little detail.

Zvon Jun 26 2016 11:56 PM Re: RIP Jim Hickman, 1937-2016

Frayed Knot wrote: Was, at the end of the 1965 & '66 seasons, the top-rated Met ever in the CPF Ranking Project (or would have been through the magic of retrospective reconstruction). Currently hanging in at #83 all time, he sits behind only Ron Hunt & Jack Fisher (#'s 74 & 75) among players whose NYM careers pre-date the 1969 era. His August 1963 cycle came in order (first single, then double, etc.) which should get you extra credit although I'm not sure what exactly that credit would be. A perfect cycle.