WVU Sports Hall of Fame

Inducted: 2017

Written by John Antonik

Charles Hickman played baseball in 1896, then coached the Mountaineers for four seasons after his 15-year professional baseball career.

Following his playing days as a pitcher at West Virginia, Hickman played for a professional baseball team in the Interstate League in New Castle, Pennsylvania, in 1896. His major league baseball career began in 1897 with the Boston Beaneaters (1897-1899). He then played for the New York Giants (1900-01), Boston Americans (1902), Cleveland Bluebirds (1902-04), Detroit Tigers (1904-05), Washington Senators (1905-07), Chicago White Sox (1907) and Cleveland Naps in 1908. He played with Toledo in the American Association in 1909-11.

Known for his power, he hit .369 in 1902 (third in the American League) and batted .330 in 1909. Six times during his career, he ranked among baseball’s top 10 in slugging percentage and home runs, hitting 12 in 1903 (second in the American League). Hickman led the American League in hits in 1902 with 193 and total bases with 288.

For his 12-year career, he hit .295 with 59 home runs and 614 RBI, playing every position but catcher. Hickman remains the most prominent player with WVU ties to have played in the major leagues.

Hickman had many nicknames while in baseball – Piano Legs, Cheerful Charley, Happy Hick and Handsome Charley.

Hickman then became a scout for Cleveland, holding the job for 14 years. From 1913 and 1915-17, he coached the WVU baseball team and posted a record of 56-25-1.

A native of Taylortown, Pennsylvania, Hickman entered politics in 1918 when he was elected recorder of Morgantown. He became mayor the same year and served in that office for three terms, retiring in 1921. He was mayor of Morgantown during the last part of World War I.

Hickman re-entered politics in 1928 when he was nominated and elected as a justice of the peace in the Morgan District. He served in that position for 18 months. On Jan. 1, 1933, Hickman was elected as sheriff of Monongalia County when the county was in The Great Depression.

Hickman died while in office as sheriff on April 19, 1934, at the age of 57, leaving behind a wife, Pearl, and children, Harriet and Charles Jr. His wife, Pearl, served out his term and was the first female sheriff in Monongalia County. His grandson, Jim Hess, was a letterman on the WVU golf team in the early 1960s.