BIRD's NEST

mlboffseason: Obit of the Day: “Better Stuff Than Anyone from 40 Feet” Kevin Hickey played parts of six seasons in major league baseball over ten years. And he got there because he hit four consecutive home runs off Chicago Sun Times columnist Mike Royko in a 16-inch softball game in 1977. Up till then Kevin Hickey’s life was disappointing. He had lost a basketball scholarship in high school due to drinking and poker playing. He was fired from his first real job after only 30 days. He was 21, jobless, divorced with two kids, and living at home without much of a future. Then he hit those homers. In the crowd was White Sox scout Joe Begani and he invited Hickey to an open tryout at Comiskey Park. When Hickey arrived and found there were 250 other guys trying to make the team, he nearly walked out. Instead Begani arranged for Hickey to pitch, and the next day the Sox signed him to a minor league contract  - for $500 a month with a $500 signing bonus. After three years in the minors, Hickey made the White Sox roster in 1981 and pitched in 124 games over three seasons. In 1983, as the Tony LaRussa-led Sox headed toward the American League West division pennant, Hickey blew out his shoulder. His career looked over. Then six years later Roland Hemond, former Sox general manager and now leading the Orioles, found him and signed him to another minor league deal. He worked his way back to the big leagues in 1989. He pitched with the O’s until they released him in the middle of the 1991 season. (Here are Hickey’s career stats.) Once again Hickey was rudderless. He worked as a greeter at Oriole Park at Camden Yards hoping for his next break. And it came in the guise of the casting director for the upcoming Major League II. Hickey was not only cast, but given a line, and befriended Charlie Sheen (to whom he sold his AAA championship ring) and Corbin Bernsen. Then nothing. Again. Until the White Sox found him at the 1983 White Sox team reunion and asked if he wanted to pitch batting practice. He agreed, tried out, and for the first time in two decades, Kevin Hickey was wearing a White Sox uniform again. Hickey would pitch batting practice and travel with the team for $30,000 a year. He loved it, and the White Sox loved him. After winning the 2005 World Series, the Sox players voted Hickey a full share of the bonus - ten times Hickey’s salary. (As a pro the most Hickey made was $250,000 in 1990.) On April 5, 2012, the day before Opening Day against the Texas Rangers, Hickey was found unconscious in his room. He had an apparent seizure. After six weeks in a coma, Hickey passed away. He was 56 years old. Additional source: baseball-reference.com (Image of Hickey, circa 1982-1983, is courtesy of rattleradio.mlbblogs.com.) Note: This was also posted on my other site, www.obitoftheday.com.

mlboffseason:

Obit of the Day: “Better Stuff Than Anyone from 40 Feet”

Kevin Hickey played parts of six seasons in major league baseball over ten years. And he got there because he hit four consecutive home runs off Chicago Sun Times columnist Mike Royko in a 16-inch softball game in 1977.

Up till then Kevin Hickey’s life was disappointing. He had lost a basketball scholarship in high school due to drinking and poker playing. He was fired from his first real job after only 30 days. He was 21, jobless, divorced with two kids, and living at home without much of a future.

Then he hit those homers. In the crowd was White Sox scout Joe Begani and he invited Hickey to an open tryout at Comiskey Park. When Hickey arrived and found there were 250 other guys trying to make the team, he nearly walked out. Instead Begani arranged for Hickey to pitch, and the next day the Sox signed him to a minor league contract  - for $500 a month with a $500 signing bonus.

After three years in the minors, Hickey made the White Sox roster in 1981 and pitched in 124 games over three seasons. In 1983, as the Tony LaRussa-led Sox headed toward the American League West division pennant, Hickey blew out his shoulder. His career looked over.

Then six years later Roland Hemond, former Sox general manager and now leading the Orioles, found him and signed him to another minor league deal. He worked his way back to the big leagues in 1989. He pitched with the O’s until they released him in the middle of the 1991 season. (Here are Hickey’s career stats.)

Once again Hickey was rudderless. He worked as a greeter at Oriole Park at Camden Yards hoping for his next break. And it came in the guise of the casting director for the upcoming Major League II. Hickey was not only cast, but given a line, and befriended Charlie Sheen (to whom he sold his AAA championship ring) and Corbin Bernsen.

Then nothing. Again. Until the White Sox found him at the 1983 White Sox team reunion and asked if he wanted to pitch batting practice. He agreed, tried out, and for the first time in two decades, Kevin Hickey was wearing a White Sox uniform again. Hickey would pitch batting practice and travel with the team for $30,000 a year. He loved it, and the White Sox loved him. After winning the 2005 World Series, the Sox players voted Hickey a full share of the bonus - ten times Hickey’s salary. (As a pro the most Hickey made was $250,000 in 1990.)

On April 5, 2012, the day before Opening Day against the Texas Rangers, Hickey was found unconscious in his room. He had an apparent seizure. After six weeks in a coma, Hickey passed away. He was 56 years old.

Additional source: baseball-reference.com

(Image of Hickey, circa 1982-1983, is courtesy of rattleradio.mlbblogs.com.)

Note: This was also posted on my other site, www.obitoftheday.com.

braiker:

Christopher Walken reads Where the Wild Things Are

forever-childish:

For people who missed it, Childish Gambino performed on The Switch last week where he performed four new songs. (Our mixtape can be found HERE)

Here is the entire performance for all of you to see. It’s pretty energizing.

theclearlydope:

Clearly Made My Day: These kids are going to be alright.

thedailywhat:

Badass Dad of the Day: “It has become a morning habit to sing ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ on the way to school in the morning,” says Best Dad Ever. “Depending on traffic, we can usually start the song as we pull out of the driveway, and pull into the school just as the song ends.”

[reddit]

wish my family traveled together this well.

If you want a job, and you’re not as good as the next guy, then work longer than the next guy. Work faster. Be there before him — because talented people show up late, and sometimes shit needs to get done.

—Kevin Costner, May 2012, Esquire