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Nat Hickey

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Nat Hickey
Hickey with the Original Celtics, c. 1941
Personal information
Born(1902-01-30)January 30, 1902
Korčula, Dalmatia, Austro-Hungary (now Croatia)
DiedSeptember 16, 1979(1979-09-16) (aged 77)
Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Listed height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Listed weight180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High schoolHoboken (Hoboken, New Jersey)
Playing career1921–1948
PositionGuard / forward
Number11
Coaching career1944–1951
Career history
As player:
1921–1922Hoboken St. Joseph's
1922–1923Eddie Holly's Majors
1922–1923New York Crescents
1923–1925Eddie Holly's Majors
1925–1929Cleveland Rosenblums
1929–1931Chicago Bruins
1931–1934Original Celtics
1934–1935Boston Trojans
1935–1942Original Celtics
1944–1945Pittsburgh Raiders
1945–1946Indianapolis Kautskys
1946–1948Buffalo Bisons / Tri-Cities Blackhawks
1948Providence Steamrollers
As coach:
1944–1945Pittsburgh Raiders
1945–1946Indianapolis Kautskys
1946–1948Buffalo Bisons / Tri-Cities Blackhawks
1948Providence Steamrollers (interim HC)
1950–1951Johnstown Clippers
Career highlights and awards
  • ABL champion (1926)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Nicholas J. "Nat" Hickey (born Nicola Zarnecić; January 30, 1902 – September 16, 1979) was a Croatian-American professional basketball coach/player and baseball player. He turned to coaching basketball after his retirement from playing full-time in 1942 but occasionally activated himself as a player for the teams he was coaching. In 1948, at the age of 45, Hickey played two games with the Providence Steamrollers of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) while serving as the team's head coach, making him the oldest player in NBA history, a mark he still holds today.

Early life

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Hickey was born Nicola Zarnecić on the Croatian island of Korčula (then Kingdom of Dalmatia, Austro-Hungary).[1] He attended Hoboken High School in Hoboken, New Jersey.[2]

Professional basketball career

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As a 5'11" guard/forward, Hickey played from the 1920s through 1940s with multiple early professional teams, including the Hoboken St. Joseph's, Eddie Holly's Majors, New York Crescents, Cleveland Rosenblums, the Chicago Bruins, Boston Trojans, Original Celtics of the American Basketball League and the Pittsburgh Raiders, Indianapolis Kautskys, and Tri-Cities Blackhawks of the National Basketball League.

Providence Steamrollers (1948)

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On January 1, 1948, Hickey was appointed as head coach of the Providence Steamrollers of the Basketball Association of America (BAA).[3] He replaced the previous coach, Hank Soar,[4] who had accumulated a 2–17 record.[3] On January 23, Hickey was placed on the active playing list for the Steamrollers and appeared in uniform for a game against the Washington Capitols the following night but did not play.[5] On January 27, he played in a game against the St. Louis Bombers and recorded two points from free throws.[6]

On January 28, the Steamrollers were five points behind in a game against the New York Knicks when Hickey checked himself in.[7] He played the last 3.5 minutes of the first half during which time he missed his only field goal attempt and committed four personal fouls.[8] The Knicks' margin ballooned to 19 points during Hickey's playing time and they eventually won the game 75–71.[8] Hickey was two days away from his 46th birthday and was believed to be the oldest active professional basketball player at the time; he played against the Knicks' 20-year-old Carl Braun who was the youngest professional basketball player.[9] He was lampooned after his Knicks appearance in an article by the Associated Press which ridiculed him as an "old geezer" and "ancient pro."[9] Hickey dismissed the criticism by stating that he only played because he believed he could help the team and said, "please don't think I'm simply playing to get some publicity as the oldest active pro basketball player."[9]

As a result of his appearance in the Knicks game, Hickey still holds the record for the oldest player in NBA history at 45 years and 363 days.[10] He expressed a desire to play again,[9] even being expected to play in a game against the Boston Celtics two days later,[11] but ultimately continued with only his coaching duties.[12] The Steamrollers accumulated a 4–25 record under Hickey and he was replaced by Ken Loeffler at the end of the season.[4]

Johnstown Clippers (1951)

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Hickey became the coach of the Johnstown Clippers of the All-American Basketball League during the 1950–51 season. On January 11, 1951, Hickey was driving the team back to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, after a game in Wheeling, West Virginia, when he lost control of his car on the Lincoln Highway and crashed.[13] Clippers player George "Chuck" Karmarkovich, a 24-year-old who was considered the team's biggest star, was ejected from the car and killed.[13][14] Hickey claimed that it was his first accident in 29 years of driving.[15] The Clippers were disbanded the following day and Hickey did not return to coaching.[13] Hickey was found to not be responsible for Karmarkovich's death.[14]

Professional baseball career

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Aside from basketball, Hickey enjoyed a lengthy career in baseball, playing 15 minor league seasons and managing two. Hickey managed and played several seasons of minor league baseball as an outfielder. Notably, he was baseball Hall of Famer Stan Musial's first minor league manager with the Williamson Colts in 1938.[16]

Hickey was inducted into the Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame in 1965 for his basketball and baseball achievements.[17]

Personal life

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Hickey was a cousin of parachute jumper Nick Piantanida.[1]

Hickey died on September 16, 1979, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.[18][19]

Career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played  FGM  Field-goals made
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  FTM  Free-throws made
 FTA  Free-throws attempted  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 APG  Assists per game  PTS  Points
 PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBL

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Source[20]

Regular season

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Year Team GP FGM FTM FTA FT% PTS PPG
1944–45 Pittsburgh 2 3 2 8 4.0
1945–46 Indianapolis 13 30 13 73 5.6
1946–47 Tri-Cities 8 9 6 12 .500 24 3.0
1947–48 Tri-Cities 3 1 1 1 1.000 3 1.0
Career 26 43 22 13 .538 108 4.2

NBA

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Regular season

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Year Team GP FG% FT% APG PPG
1947–48 Providence 2 .000 .667 .0 1.0

Head coaching record

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Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %
Team Year G W L W–L% Finish PG PW PL PW–L% Result
Providence 1947–48 29 4 25 .138 4th in Eastern — — — — Missed playoffs

Source[21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Ryan, Craig. Magnificent Failure. Washington and London: Smithsonian Books. p. 12.
  2. ^ "Nat Hickey, Former Cage Ace, Back on Wood". Pottsville Republican. December 29, 1944. p. 4. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Nat Hickey Named Steamroller Pilot". The Akron Beacon Journal. January 1, 1948. p. 26. Retrieved July 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b "Roller Cage Post Taken By Loeffler". Democrat and Chronicle. April 29, 1948. p. 26. Retrieved July 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Hickey Weighs Return to Wars Against Knicks". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. January 28, 1948. p. 15. Retrieved July 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Bombers Rip Hickey Coached Five, 94-61". The Dispatch. January 28, 1948. p. 21. Retrieved July 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Sports in Brief". Mount Vernon Argus. January 29, 1948. p. 20. Retrieved July 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b "Knicks Tied for Lead In Pro Basket Race". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. January 29, 1948. p. 17. Retrieved July 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b c d "Pro Basket Ball Now Sissified, Says Hickey". Evening Star. January 30, 1948. p. 17. Retrieved July 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Boeck, Greg (April 2, 2007). "Mavericks make motivated Willis, 44, NBA's oldest player". USA Today. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
  11. ^ "Nat Hickey Will Perform Tonight Against Celtics". The Boston Globe. January 30, 1948. p. 30. Retrieved July 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Menton, Paul (February 4, 1948). "Hickey Found Court No Place For Him". The Evening Sun. p. 43. Retrieved July 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ a b c "Johnstown Clippers Disbanded After Death of Karmarkovich; Joll Escapes Auto Injury". The Indiana Gazette. January 12, 1951. p. 15. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  14. ^ a b "Drivers Exonerated In Highway Death of George Karmarkovich". The Cumberland News. March 9, 1951. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  15. ^ "Chuck Karmarkovich Dies Of Auto Crash Injuries". Altoona Tribune. January 12, 1951. p. 9. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Akin, William E. (2006). West Virginia Baseball: A History, 1865-2000. McFarland. p. 147. ISBN 9780786425709.
  17. ^ "Nicholas "Nat" Hickey". Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  18. ^ "Obituary Index" (PDF). Johnstown Tribune-Democrat.
  19. ^ "Nat Hickey BK". NJ Sports Heroes. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  20. ^ "Nat Hickey NBL Stats". Basketball Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  21. ^ "Nat Hickey: Coaching Record, Awards". Basketball Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
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