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Frank Wickware (March 8, 1888 – November 2, 1967), nicknamed "Rawhide" and "The Red Ant", was a baseball pitcher in the Negro leagues from 1909 to 1925.

Frank Wickware
Pitcher
Born: (1888-03-08)March 8, 1888 Coffeyville, Kansas
Died: November 2, 1967(1967-11-02) (aged 79) Schenectady, New York
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
1909, for the Dallas Giants
Last appearance
1925, for the New York Lincoln Giants
Teams
Dallas Giants (1909) Leland Giants (1909–1910)[1] Chicago American Giants (1911–1912) Brooklyn Royal Giants (1912–1914)[2] Schenectady Mohawk Giants (1913–1914)[3] Louisville White Sox (1914) Chicago American Giants (1914–1918)[4] Lincoln Stars (1915) [4] Indianapolis ABCs (1916) Jewell's ABCs (1917) Chicago Giants (1917) Detroit Stars (1919) Norfolk Stars (1920) Chicago American Giants (1920–1921) New York Lincoln Giants (1920) Canadian League (1921) St. Louis Giants Philadelphia Giants New York Lincoln Giants (1925)

In a nationally syndicated article written in 1915, it was said that Wickware "is another negro pitcher who would rank with the Walter Johnsons, Joe Woods or Grover Alexanders if he were a white man."[4] In the previous year, another article announced Wickware was striking out an average of 11 players per game, and in two games in a row struck out 34 batters.[3]

Wickware's signature pitch seems to be a curveball that appeared to be a beanball, but "his control is so perfect" that it was said he never "hit a batter in the head." But batters would jump away from the plate, only to have his curveball arch into place over the plate.[4]

His first wife Dottie[5] traveled with the team. However, Wickware married again, Elizabeth McCann on May 18, 1915 in Chicago. His new wife followed him on a trip to California that year.[6]

Wickware registered for the WWI Draft at the age of 29. He lists his birthplace as Girard, Kansas. And he lists his current address as 3450 Wabash in Chicago, Illinois. Wickware lists his occupation as base ball player, working for the American Giants of Chicago. He is listed as married and claims his wife and mother as dependents.[7]

At age 64, Wickware received votes listing him on the 1952 Pittsburgh Courier player-voted poll of the Negro leagues' best players ever.[8]

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference and Baseball-Reference Black Baseball stats and Seamheads
• Negro League Baseball Museum

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