Jesse Owens Hickman (born February 18, 1939) is an American former professional baseball pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Athletics (1965–1966). The 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m), 186 pounds (84 kg) right-hander attended Louisiana Christian University.[1]
Hickman originally signed with the Philadelphia Phillies,[1] pitching the 1960 and 1961 seasons in their farm system.[2] After being selected by the Houston Colt .45s in the 1962 Expansion Draft,[1] he played in the Houston (1962–1964 Colts and 1965 Astros) minor league system.[2]
Hickman was traded to the Athletics with a player to be named later (infielder Ernie Fazio) for slugging first baseman Jim Gentile, on June 4, 1965.[1] The following night, Hickman made his Major League debut at home in relief against the Boston Red Sox.[1][3] Although he pitched a scoreless tenth inning, Hickman surrendered a home run to Red Sox closer Dick Radatz in the eleventh frame and took the 5–3 loss, Hickman‘s only big league decision.[1] The homer, Radatz' only MLB long ball,[4] cleared the deep left-field fence at Municipal Stadium.
Hickman appeared in 12 more MLB games during 1965 and 1966, striking out 16 men in 16+1⁄3 innings pitched, but yielding ten earned runs, nine hits, and nine bases on balls.[1] He retired from baseball after spending the 1967 season in the California Angels’ minor league system.[2]