Dave Wickersham (#288)

Dave Wickersham was signed in 1955 by the Pirates. For 5 seasons, he pitched in the Pirates minor-league system before being selected by the Athletics in the November 1959 minor-league draft.

After spending most of 1960 with the Athletics' double-A team in Shreveport, he made his major-league debut on September 18th. 1961 found him back in Shreveport for 57 games, but he also pitched in 17 games (all in relief) for the Athletics.

In 1962 Dave was in the big leagues fulltime. He compiled a record of 11-4 while pitching in 30 games (2/3 of them in relief). In 1963 he was their #1 starter, leading the team in wins, starts and innings pitched, while posting a record of 12-15.



Fortunately for Dave, his 1963 exploits was good enough to earn a ticket out of Kansas City. In November 1963, he was traded to the Tigers with second baseman Jerry Lumpe and pitcher Ed Rakow for outfielder Rocky Colavito and pitcher Bob Anderson.

Dave pitched for the Tigers for 4 aseasons, In 1964, he was the Tigers' #1 starter, leading the staff with a 19-12 record, and tops in starts and innings pitched. After 1964, each season he started less and relieved more, so that by 1967, only 4 of his 36 appearances were starts.

Unfortunately for Wickersham, he was traded to the Pirates after the 1967 season for pitcher Dennis Ribant, so he missed the Tigers' world championship season of 1968. Instead, he divided his 1968 season between the Pirates and their triple-A team in Columbus, Ohio.

After one season with the Pirates, Dave was sold to the expansion Kansas City Royals, and spent most of the 1969 season pitching out of their bullpen. He also pitched 10 games for the Royals' triple-A team in Omaha.


Well, that wraps up the 1968 cards for veterans with 10 or more years who retired in the late 1960s. You can see the entire list here.