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David Clifford Wickersham
Detroit Tigers
Pitcher
Born: September 27, 1935, Erie, PA
Signed: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent before 1955 season
Major League Teams: Kansas City Athletics 1960-1963; Detroit Tigers 1964-1967; Pittsburgh Pirates 1968; Kansas City Royals 1969
Dave Wickersham began his career with the Athletics as a reliever, before converting to a starting pitcher full-time in 1963. He went 12-15 that season and was traded in November to the Tigers in the deal that sent Rocky Colavito (#380) to Kansas City. Wickersham enjoyed a career year in 1964, going 19-12 with a 3.44 ERA over 40 appearances with the Tigers. He set career highs in just about every pitching category, including wins, complete games (11), innings pitched (254) and strikeouts (164). He faltered a bit in 1965 and was the team's fourth starter behind Mickey Lolich (#335), Denny McLain (#236) and Hank Aguirre (#522). Working mostly out of the bullpen later in his career, he'd make at least 30 appearances in 1966 and 1967 with the Tigers and in 1969 with the expansion Royals. He'd retire with a career record of 68-57 over 283 big league games with a 3.66 ERA.
Wickersham is one of four players, along with Aurelio Monteagudo (#286), Moe Drabowsky (#439) and Ken Sanders to play for both the Kansas City Athletics and Royals. He's also one of four players to have his entire career span exactly each of the 10 seasons during the decade of the 1960s, along with Julio Gotay (#552), Phil Ortega (#152) and Charley Smith (#22).
Building the Set
December 4, 2021 from The Philly Show (Uncle Dick's Cards, Babylon, NY) - Card #400
You'll be seeing this particular passage on my 1965 Topps blog for quite some time as we added a whopping 97 cards to our set during the December Philadelphia Sports Collectors Show. If I'm ambitious and compose posts for five cards a week, I should be completely caught up by the end of May. If I'm not as ambitious, I might still be going through this stack by the time we hit July. Either way, I'll enjoy the process and I'm looking forward to taking my time. I've posted a complete summary of this fantastic show over at The Phillies Room.
The Card / Tigers Team Set
Wickersham already showed up in the set way back on the American League Pitching Leaders card (#9) thanks to his 19-win season in 1964. Flipping to the back, the three-hitter referenced came on May 10, 1964, and Wickersham was actually the losing pitcher in the game. The Orioles had scored a pair of unearned runs in the fourth inning as the result of an error by catcher Bill Freehan (#390). The write-up below the cartoon is interesting too. Wickersham would have had a 20-win season in 1964, but he was ejected from his last start against the Yankees on October 1st. He had apparently been trying to call time during an argument between first base umpire Bill Valentine and first baseman Norm Cash (#153), when Valentine prematurely tossed him. Lolich picked up the win instead when the Tigers scored three times in the top of the ninth inning.
December 4, 2021 from The Philly Show (Uncle Dick's Cards, Babylon, NY) - Card #400
You'll be seeing this particular passage on my 1965 Topps blog for quite some time as we added a whopping 97 cards to our set during the December Philadelphia Sports Collectors Show. If I'm ambitious and compose posts for five cards a week, I should be completely caught up by the end of May. If I'm not as ambitious, I might still be going through this stack by the time we hit July. Either way, I'll enjoy the process and I'm looking forward to taking my time. I've posted a complete summary of this fantastic show over at The Phillies Room.
Looking to kill some time while we were waiting for our number to be called for Doug's autograph from Jim Thome, I found a bargain bin of 1965 Topps cards at Uncle Dick's and I texted Doug that I'd be standing at the table where the dealers were wearing neon green shirts. This Wickersham card was one of 15 from that first batch of purchases, totaling $40, and it was a little less than $3 after the dealer discount. After getting the Thome autograph, and grabbing a slice of pizza from the "food court" upstairs, I'd settle in at Uncle Dick's for my second and biggest haul of the show.
The Card / Tigers Team Set
Wickersham already showed up in the set way back on the American League Pitching Leaders card (#9) thanks to his 19-win season in 1964. Flipping to the back, the three-hitter referenced came on May 10, 1964, and Wickersham was actually the losing pitcher in the game. The Orioles had scored a pair of unearned runs in the fourth inning as the result of an error by catcher Bill Freehan (#390). The write-up below the cartoon is interesting too. Wickersham would have had a 20-win season in 1964, but he was ejected from his last start against the Yankees on October 1st. He had apparently been trying to call time during an argument between first base umpire Bill Valentine and first baseman Norm Cash (#153), when Valentine prematurely tossed him. Lolich picked up the win instead when the Tigers scored three times in the top of the ninth inning.
Wickersham is in the harder to find 1965 Topps Transfers insert set, but he's not in the 1965 Topps Embossed insert set.
1965 Season
Wickersham was 9-14 in 1965 with a 3.78 ERA over 34 appearances, including 27 starts. He pitched eight complete games and a career-high three shutouts.
Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card: 1961 Topps #381
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (9): 1961-1969
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1978 TCMA The 1960s I #195
42 - Wickersham non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 12/29/21.
Sources:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
The Trading Card Database
1965 Season
Wickersham was 9-14 in 1965 with a 3.78 ERA over 34 appearances, including 27 starts. He pitched eight complete games and a career-high three shutouts.
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First Mainstream Card: 1961 Topps #381
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (9): 1961-1969
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1978 TCMA The 1960s I #195
42 - Wickersham non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 12/29/21.
Sources:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
The Trading Card Database
Wikipedia
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