Jim Hicks--1969
One would think that when Jim Hicks
landed on the Cards 1969 Rookie Stars
card, he had made it. Predicted stardom
in recognition for his splendid summer of
'68, where the righty swinger hit a robust
.366 for Tulsa to lead the Pacific Coast
League in batting.
For Hicks it would be his fourth minor
league season of topping the .300 mark,
after starting his pro career in 1959.
Residing next to Joe Hague on the '69
card was his coming of age.
Except for when you look through your
1967 cards and find a half-smiling Hicks
in a White Sox uniform coming close to
hitting starting catcher Johnny Romano's
head. Hicks had actually made it several
years earlier.
Though, after hitting .222 in parts of
three seasons with the Pale Hose
beginning in 1964, it is easy to see how
Hicks was a forgotten man.
Editor's Note: Hicks would play in 19
games for the defending National
League Champion Cardinals, hitting .182
with a home run before being shipped to
the Angels for ageless outfielder Vic
Davalillo. Hicks would hit just .096 in 41
games during the 1969-70 campaigns,
before finishing his career with several
years of Triple-A ball in Hawaii, where he
continued to hit .300.
(10/15/10)
landed on the Cards 1969 Rookie Stars
card, he had made it. Predicted stardom
in recognition for his splendid summer of
'68, where the righty swinger hit a robust
.366 for Tulsa to lead the Pacific Coast
League in batting.
For Hicks it would be his fourth minor
league season of topping the .300 mark,
after starting his pro career in 1959.
Residing next to Joe Hague on the '69
card was his coming of age.
Except for when you look through your
1967 cards and find a half-smiling Hicks
in a White Sox uniform coming close to
hitting starting catcher Johnny Romano's
head. Hicks had actually made it several
years earlier.
Though, after hitting .222 in parts of
three seasons with the Pale Hose
beginning in 1964, it is easy to see how
Hicks was a forgotten man.
Editor's Note: Hicks would play in 19
games for the defending National
League Champion Cardinals, hitting .182
with a home run before being shipped to
the Angels for ageless outfielder Vic
Davalillo. Hicks would hit just .096 in 41
games during the 1969-70 campaigns,
before finishing his career with several
years of Triple-A ball in Hawaii, where he
continued to hit .300.
(10/15/10)
