Dave Wickersham – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Dave Wickersham put together a solid decade in Major League Baseball during the 1960s, pitching for four different teams before retiring in 1969. He grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania, born in 1935, and turned himself into a reliable right-handed pitcher with a unique place in baseball history.

Wickersham is still one of only four players who wore jerseys for both Kansas City-based major league franchises, the Athletics and the Royals, starting and ending his career with those teams just six years apart. His path took him from the Kansas City Athletics to the Detroit Tigers, then briefly to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and finally to the expansion Kansas City Royals for his last season.

Across ten seasons, Wickersham posted a respectable 68-57 record with 638 strikeouts and a 3.66 ERA over 1,123 innings. His story really reflects the changes happening in baseball during the 1960s, from his early days in Pennsylvania high school sports to his best years with Detroit, where he came so close to a 20-win season—a milestone that always seems just out of reach for so many good pitchers.

Early Life and Background

David Clifford Wickersham came into the world on September 27, 1935, in Erie, Pennsylvania. He started building his baseball skills through high school and college sports.

He bounced between a few schools, working on his pitching abilities before stepping into professional baseball in the mid-1950s.

Birth and Family

David Clifford Wickersham was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, on September 27, 1935. He grew up during the Great Depression in a working-class family in western Pennsylvania.

His family supported him as he chased his athletic dreams. That Erie upbringing definitely instilled blue-collar values that stuck with him in his baseball career.

In 1964, David married Carol Sue Larson. They stayed together for 48 years until she passed away from cancer in 2012.

They raised four kids: Davey, Carey, Mandy, and Matthew.

Education and Amateur Baseball

Wickersham went to high school in East Springfield, where he played several sports. That athletic versatility shaped his coordination and competitive edge, which really helped in pro baseball.

After high school, he started at Taylor University to keep playing ball and get an education. Later, he transferred to Ohio University and pitched for the Ohio Bobcats for two years.

Those college years gave him a chance to hone his pitching against solid competition. Scouts took notice, and it set him up for the jump to professional baseball.

Path to Professional Baseball

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed Wickersham as an amateur free agent before the 1955 season. That moment kicked off his pro baseball life at age 19.

He spent six years in the minor leagues from 1955 to 1960, working on his pitching arsenal and gaining experience against tougher hitters.

The Kansas City Athletics grabbed him in the 1959 minor league draft. That move was a turning point, opening the door for him to finally reach the majors.

He made his MLB debut on September 18, 1960, just before turning 25. In his first game, he came in during a 9-2 loss to the Cleveland Indians, threw two innings, and struck out one batter.

Major League Baseball Career Overview

Dave Wickersham pitched for ten seasons in MLB from 1960 to 1969, playing for four different teams in both the American and National Leagues. He really made a mark in 1964 with the Detroit Tigers, winning 19 games and even getting a nod in MVP voting.

Debut and Teams Played For

Wickersham broke into the majors on September 18, 1960, with the Kansas City Athletics at age 24. He pitched two innings against Cleveland, gave up three hits, and struck out one.

He played for four teams during his big league run:

• Kansas City Athletics (1960-1963)
• Detroit Tigers (1964-1967)
• Pittsburgh Pirates (1968)
• Kansas City Royals (1969)

His career started and ended in Kansas City, though with two different teams. The Athletics left for Oakland after 1967, and the Royals started up in 1969.

Career Progression and Milestones

Wickersham’s role changed a lot over the years. He began as a reliever with Kansas City, making just five appearances in 1960 and posting a 1.08 ERA.

By 1963, he moved into the starting rotation for the Athletics. That year, he pitched 237.2 innings, started 34 games, and finished four of them.

His peak came with Detroit from 1964 to 1967. Over those four years, he went 40-34 with a 3.40 ERA. He took the mound 148 times for the Tigers, starting 81 games.

He wrapped up his career with 68 wins and 57 losses. His career ERA settled at 3.66 over 1,123 innings.

Notable Seasons and Performances

1964 was Wickersham’s standout year. With Detroit, he finished 19-12 with a 3.44 ERA and landed 30th in AL MVP voting.

That season, he set personal bests in several areas:

• 164 strikeouts
• 36 starts
• 11 complete games
• 254 innings pitched

Those 19 wins made up more than a quarter of his career total. He also showed solid control, walking just 81 batters in 254 innings.

In 1965, he threw three shutouts for Detroit, a personal high. His record was 9-14, but he kept a 3.78 ERA over 195.1 innings.

As his career went on, he shifted back to the bullpen. With Kansas City in 1969, he pitched in 34 games as a reliever and picked up five saves.

Pitching Achievements and Style

Dave Wickersham put together a steady ten-year career with a 68-57 record and 3.66 ERA in 283 games. His best year was 1964, when he won 19 games for Detroit and caught the attention of MVP voters.

Wins and Losses

Wickersham ended his career with 68 wins and 57 losses, good for a .544 winning percentage. That 1964 season with Detroit, when he went 19-12, was his high point.

The 1964 campaign really stands out. He posted a 3.44 ERA and got some MVP votes, which says a lot about his reliability that year.

He kept his win totals steady during his best years. He won 12 games in 1963 with the Athletics, then 19, 9, and 8 in the following Detroit seasons.

Career Win-Loss by Team:

• Detroit Tigers: 40-34 (.541)
• Kansas City Athletics: 25-20 (.556)
• Kansas City Royals: 2-3 (.400)
• Pittsburgh Pirates: 1-0 (1.000)

Innings Pitched and Durability

Wickersham pitched 1,123 innings in his career, averaging 188 innings per 162-game season. His most durable years came with Detroit from 1964 to 1967.

In 1964, he worked 254 innings in 40 appearances. He finished 11 games that year, his career best. The year before, with Kansas City, he logged 237.2 innings in 38 games.

His workload dropped in later years. By 1969 with the Royals, he pitched just 50 innings, all out of the bullpen. He appeared in 34 games but didn’t start any.

Over his career, he allowed 1,071 hits and 457 earned runs. He gave up 100 home runs total. His WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) sat at 1.296.

Shutouts and Key Games

Wickersham tossed five shutouts in his career, with three of them coming in 1965 with Detroit. That was his best year for going the distance.

He completed 29 games overall. Most of those came during his Detroit years from 1964 to 1966. In 1964, he had 11 complete games, making up nearly a third of his career total.

He also served as a reliever, finishing 73 games and collecting 19 saves, including five in his final season. That flexibility made him useful in a lot of situations.

Wickersham struck out 638 batters and walked 384. His top strikeout year was 1964, with 164. He kept a 1.66 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his career.

Pitching Techniques and Legacy

Wickersham stood 6-foot-3 and weighed 188 pounds, giving him a good frame for a pitcher. That size helped him get some leverage and keep his velocity up.

He mostly started games during his prime. His ERA+ of 101 shows he was a bit better than average for his time. In 1967, he posted his best ERA+ at 120.

His FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) was 3.74, almost matching his 3.66 ERA. That suggests he had solid control and wasn’t just getting lucky or unlucky.

Wickersham pitched through the end of baseball’s second deadball era into the start of the offensive boom. He adjusted his style, shifting from starter to reliever as needed in his last seasons.

Career Highlights with Kansas City Teams

Dave Wickersham spent half his major league career in Kansas City, making him part of a rare group to play for both the Athletics and Royals. He delivered as both a starter and a reliever, and he played a memorable role in the Royals’ inaugural season.

Kansas City Athletics Tenure

Wickersham kicked off his big league career with the Kansas City Athletics in 1960. The A’s picked him in the minor league draft after the 1959 season.

He got into five games as a rookie and earned two saves in those early outings.

In 1961, he worked mostly out of the bullpen. By 1962, he started splitting time between starting and relieving, winning 11 games even though he missed over two months with broken ribs.

His top season with the A’s came in 1963. He started 34 games, went 12-15, and posted a 4.09 ERA. He also threw one shutout that year.

After the 1963 season, the Athletics traded him to the Detroit Tigers in a five-player deal, ending his first Kansas City stint.

Return to Kansas City with the Royals

The Kansas City Royals bought Wickersham’s contract in October 1968. That move brought him back just in time for the expansion team’s first season.

He made the opening day roster for the Royals’ first-ever game against the Minnesota Twins on April 8, 1969.

The Royals pulled off a 4-3 win in 12 innings that day. Wickersham threw five innings of shutout relief to help lock it down.

He pitched in 34 games for the Royals that year, which turned out to be his last in the majors.

Memorable Moments in Kansas City

Wickersham’s most memorable Kansas City moment came in that very first Royals game. His five shutout innings played a big part in the team’s first-ever victory.

During his Athletics days, he built a reputation as a dependable pitcher. The team valued his ability to handle both starting and relieving duties.

The 1963 season really showed off his skills with the A’s. Starting 34 games proved the club trusted him.

By playing for both Kansas City franchises, Wickersham joined a pretty exclusive group. Only Moe Drabowsky, Aurelio Monteagudo, and Ken Sanders also did it.

His Kansas City career spanned different eras for the city. He saw the end of the Athletics and helped kick off the Royals’ story.

Detroit Tigers Years

Wickersham joined the Detroit Tigers in 1964 in a major trade and spent four productive seasons with them. That first year was his best—he nearly hit the 20-win mark—and he contributed as both a starter and reliever during his time in Detroit.

Trade to Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers picked up Dave Wickersham in November 1963, swinging a big trade with the Kansas City Athletics. They sent popular slugger Rocky Colavito to Kansas City, and got Wickersham, second baseman Jerry Lumpe, and right-hander Ed Rakow in return.

Detroit fans weren’t thrilled. Colavito had basically become a legend, smashing 139 home runs and driving in 430 runs over his last four seasons with the Tigers.

The Tigers wanted more pitching depth to stay competitive in the American League. Wickersham had shown promise with Kansas City from 1960 to 1963, so Detroit’s front office saw him as a good fit.

Best Year: The 1964 Season

Wickersham’s first year with Detroit turned out to be his best. He went 19-12 with a 3.44 ERA, even picking up some MVP votes along the way.

He made 40 appearances that season, starting 36 games and finishing 11 of them himself. Those 19 wins ended up being the most he’d ever get in a single season during his ten years in the majors.

Key 1964 Statistics:

• Record: 19-12
• ERA: 3.44
• Starts: 36
• Complete Games: 11

His strong season helped the Tigers compete in the AL standings. The team hadn’t seen a 20-game winner since Frank Lary went 23-9 in 1961.

Impactful Games and Team Role

Wickersham probably remembers October 1, 1964, more than any other game. He tried to win his 20th game against the New York Yankees, but things got weird.

The game was tied 1-1 in the seventh when a disputed call by first-base umpire Bill Valentine changed everything. Wickersham got tossed after he tapped the umpire’s shoulder during the argument.

He left the field in tears, never having been ejected before. “I was shocked,” Wickersham said years later. “I started walking toward our third-base dugout. I told him through tears, ‘He kicked me out.’”

The Tigers still won 4-2 with Mickey Lolich finishing it off, but Wickersham didn’t get credit for the win. Valentine later admitted he regretted the ejection and wouldn’t have made that call if he’d known about the 20-win chase.

During his four seasons in Detroit from 1964 to 1967, Wickersham put together a 40-34 record with a 3.40 ERA in 148 appearances. He moved from starter to reliever as his Tigers years went on, before the team traded him to Pittsburgh after 1967.

Post-Retirement and Personal Life

When his ten-year Major League Baseball career ended with the Kansas City Royals in 1969, Dave Wickersham stepped away from professional baseball. He stayed in touch with the sport, built a family, and found other interests until he passed away in 2022 at 86.

Life After Baseball

After MLB, Wickersham chose a quieter life, away from the crowds and cameras. He kept up with baseball through different activities and stayed close with old teammates and friends.

He became a customer of Life Priority, a company that featured him in their testimonials. They called him “a great friend” and “valued customer,” showing he made meaningful connections outside the game.

Wickersham kept sharing baseball stories and memories, especially about his time with both Kansas City teams. He did interviews and stayed involved with fans and baseball history.

He never forgot his Erie, Pennsylvania roots. He kept ties to his hometown and eventually landed in the Erie Sports Hall of Fame for his athletic accomplishments.

Legacy and Recognition

Wickersham holds a unique spot in Kansas City baseball history as one of just four players to appear for both the Athletics and Royals. That’s a rare distinction in the city’s baseball story.

His career numbers—68-57 record, 638 strikeouts, and a 3.66 ERA over 1,123 innings—show he was a solid pitcher in his decade in the majors. He finished with 29 complete games, five shutouts, and 19 saves.

The Erie Sports Hall of Fame honored his journey, from multi-sport high school star to a ten-year MLB veteran. He played at Ohio University before signing his pro contract, making his path pretty memorable.

Passing and Tributes

Dave Wickersham passed away on June 18, 2022, at 86 years old.

The Kansas City Royals shared the news and paid tribute to their former player.

The Royals put out a statement to honor Wickersham and offered their condolences. They made sure to mention his four kids—Carey, Davey, Mandy, and Matthew—acknowledging the family he left behind.

His death really signaled the end of an era for Kansas City baseball. Wickersham stood out as one of the last links between the Athletics and Royals, so losing him meant losing a rare perspective on the city’s baseball story.

Bill Valentine, the former umpire who once ejected Wickersham as he chased his 20th win in 1964, remembered him as “one of the nicest guys in baseball.”