Bob Wickman

Bob Wickman
Wickman with the Braves in 2007
Pitcher
Born: February 6, 1969 (1969-02-06) (age 40) Green Bay, Wisconsin
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 24, 1992 for the New York Yankees
Last MLB appearance
September 30, 2007 for the Arizona Diamondbacks
Career statistics
Games pitched	835
Win-Loss record	63-61
Earned run average	3.57
Strikeouts	785
Saves	267
Teams
New York Yankees (1992–1996) Milwaukee Brewers (1996–2000) Cleveland Indians (2000–2006) Atlanta Braves (2006–2007) Arizona Diamondbacks (2007)
Career highlights and awards
2x All-Star selection (2000, 2005)

Robert Joe Wickman (born February 6, 1969 in Green Bay, Wisconsin) is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Wickman played for the New York Yankees (1992-1996), Milwaukee Brewers (1996-2000), Cleveland Indians (2000-2006), Atlanta Braves (2006-2007), and Arizona Diamondbacks (2007). He batted and threw right-handed.

During a childhood farming accident, Wickman lost part of his index finger on his right hand, to which he credited much of the sinking motion on his fastball.^[1]

School career

At Oconto Falls High School, Wickman played football, baseball and basketball, being named an All-State pick in basketball. After high school, he attended University of Wisconsin–Whitewater and was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 1990 Major League Baseball Draft (2nd round) and signed by area scout Mike Rizzo.^{[citation needed]} In 1992, he was sent by Chicago to the New York Yankees in the same trade that brought Steve Sax to the White Sox.

Major league career

Wickman as a closer of the Cleveland Indians in 2006.

On May 7, 2006, Bob Wickman became the Indians’ all-time franchise leader in saved games with 130, surpassing the record previously held by Doug Jones.^[2]

On July 20, 2006, Wickman was traded to the Atlanta Braves for Single-A Rome catcher Max Ramírez. Wickman then served as Atlanta's closer, recording his first save on July 24.

On September 20, 2006, Wickman signed a one-year $6.5 million contract extension to stay with the Atlanta Braves for the 2007 season.^[3]

On August 24, 2007, after giving up a walk-off grand slam to the Reds' Adam Dunn in extra innings, Wickman complained to manager Bobby Cox about pitching in non-save situations. Consequently, he was released.^[4]

On September 7, 2007, Wickman signed a contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, a move that signaled that he had backed off his disdain for non-save situations, given that the team had an established closer in Jose Valverde.^{[citation needed]} Wickman pitched in 8 games for the Diamondbacks, going 0-1 with a 1.35 ERA. He became a free agent after the season, subsequently retiring.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball saves champions
• List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bob Wickman

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
• Wickmans's Warriors - Official Bob Wickman Baseball Club