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{{Short description|Croatian-American basketball player and coach (1902–1979)}}
{{Short description|Croatian-American basketball player and coach (1902–1979)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Nat Hickey
| name = Nat Hickey
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| height_in = 11
| height_in = 11
| weight_lb = 180
| weight_lb = 180
| high_school = [[Hoboken High School|Hoboken]] (Hoboken, New Jersey)
| high_school = [[Hoboken High School|Hoboken]] ([[Hoboken, New Jersey]])
| career_start = 1921
| career_start = 1921
| career_end = 1948
| career_end = 1948
| career_position = [[Guard (basketball)|Guard]] / [[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]
| career_position = [[Guard (basketball)|Guard]] / [[Forward (basketball)|forward]]
| career_number = 11
| career_number = 11
| coach_start = 1944
| coach_start = 1944
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| team11 = [[Indianapolis Kautskys]]
| team11 = [[Indianapolis Kautskys]]
| years12 = 1946–1948
| years12 = 1946–1948
| team12 = [[Atlanta Hawks|Buffalo Braves / Tri-Cities Blackhawks]]
| team12 = [[Atlanta Hawks|Buffalo Bisons / Tri-Cities Blackhawks]]
| years13 = [[1947–48 BAA season|1948]]
| years13 = [[1947–48 BAA season|1948]]
| team13 = [[Providence Steamrollers]]
| team13 = [[Providence Steamrollers]]
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| cteam2 = [[Indianapolis Kautskys]]
| cteam2 = [[Indianapolis Kautskys]]
| cyears3 = 1946–1948
| cyears3 = 1946–1948
| cteam3 = [[Tri-Cities Blackhawks]]
| cteam3 = [[Atlanta Hawks|Buffalo Bisons / Tri-Cities Blackhawks]]
| cyears4 = [[1947–48 BAA season|1948]]
| cyears4 = [[1947–48 BAA season|1948]]
| cteam4 = [[Providence Steamrollers]] (interim HC)
| cteam4 = [[Providence Steamrollers]] (interim HC)
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* [[American Basketball League (1925–55)|ABL]] champion (1926)
* [[American Basketball League (1925–55)|ABL]] champion (1926)
}}
}}
'''Nicholas J.''' "'''Nat'''" '''Hickey''' (born '''Nicola Zarnecich'''; 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 [[List of oldest and youngest National Basketball Association players#Oldest players|the oldest player in NBA history]].
'''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 [[List of oldest and youngest National Basketball Association players#Oldest players|the oldest player in NBA history]], a mark he still holds today.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Hickey was born '''Nicola Zarnecich''' on the Croatian island of [[Korčula]] (then [[Kingdom of Dalmatia]], [[Austro-Hungary]]).<ref name=cr>{{cite book |last1=Ryan |first1=Craig |title=Magnificent Failure |publisher=Smithsonian Books |location=Washington and London |page=12}}</ref> He attended [[Hoboken High School]] in [[Hoboken, New Jersey]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Nat Hickey, Former Cage Ace, Back on Wood |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/450055212/ |access-date=August 2, 2020 |work=Pottsville Republican |date=December 29, 1944 |page=4}}</ref>
Hickey was born '''Nicola Zarnecić''' on the Croatian island of [[Korčula]] (then [[Kingdom of Dalmatia]], [[Austro-Hungary]]).<ref name=cr>{{cite book |last1=Ryan |first1=Craig |title=Magnificent Failure |publisher=Smithsonian Books |location=Washington and London |page=12}}</ref> He attended [[Hoboken High School]] in [[Hoboken, New Jersey]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Nat Hickey, Former Cage Ace, Back on Wood |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/450055212/ |access-date=August 2, 2020 |work=Pottsville Republican |date=December 29, 1944 |page=4}}</ref>


==Professional basketball career==
==Basketball==
As a 5'11" [[guard (basketball)|guard]]/[[forward (basketball)|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 (1925-1955)|American Basketball League]] and the [[Pittsburgh Raiders]], [[Indianapolis Kautskys]], and [[Tri-Cities Blackhawks]] of the [[National Basketball League (United States)|National Basketball League]].
As a 5'11" [[guard (basketball)|guard]]/[[forward (basketball)|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 (1925-1955)|American Basketball League]] and the [[Pittsburgh Raiders]], [[Indianapolis Kautskys]], and [[Tri-Cities Blackhawks]] of the [[National Basketball League (United States)|National Basketball League]].


===Providence Steamrollers (1948)===
In the second year after the formation of the [[National Basketball Association|Basketball Association of America]] (the forerunner to the NBA), Hickey served 29 games as head coach of the [[Providence Steamrollers]] during the [[1947-48 BAA season|1947–48 season]]. Hickey's team posted a 4–25 record during his tenure. He activated himself as a player on January 27, 1948, three days before his 46th birthday, and appeared in two games. He attempted six field goals – making none – and committed five personal fouls. He scored two points off of foul shots.<ref>{{cite book |last=Sachare|first=Alex | title = The Official NBA basketball encyclopedia|edition=1994|year=1994| publisher = [[Villard (imprint)|Villard Books]]| page= 577}}</ref> All of the shots occurred in his debut game as a player against the [[St. Louis Bombers]]. While he also played a day later against the [[New York Knicks|New York Knickerbockers]], he did not record anything in that game. As a result of these games, Hickey still holds the record for [[List of oldest and youngest National Basketball Association players#Oldest players|the oldest player in NBA history]] at 45 years and 363 days.<ref name="usatoday.com.Hickey">{{cite web |date= April 2, 2007|url = https://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/mavericks/2007-04-02-willis_N.htm|title = Mavericks make motivated Willis, 44, NBA's oldest player|publisher = [[USA Today]]| access-date = May 15, 2010 | last=Boeck| first= Greg }}</ref>
On January 1, 1948, Hickey was appointed as head coach of the [[Providence Steamrollers]] of the [[Basketball Association of America]] (BAA).<ref name=abj>{{cite news |title=Nat Hickey Named Steamroller Pilot |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal/15299647/ |access-date=July 10, 2024 |work=The Akron Beacon Journal |date=January 1, 1948 |page=26 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He replaced the previous coach, [[Hank Soar]],<ref name=dac>{{cite news |title=Roller Cage Post Taken By Loeffler |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-roller-cage-post/151039851/ |access-date=July 10, 2024 |work=Democrat and Chronicle |date=April 29, 1948 |page=26 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> who had accumulated a 2–17 record.<ref name=abj /> 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.<ref name=bde>{{cite news |title=Hickey Weighs Return to Wars Against Knicks |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle/15299665/ |access-date=July 10, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |date=January 28, 1948 |page=15 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> On January 27, he appeared in a game against the [[St. Louis Bombers]] and recorded two points from [[free throw]]s.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bombers Rip Hickey Coached Five, 94-61 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-bombers-rip-hickey-coached/151039857/ |access-date=July 10, 2024 |work=The Dispatch |date=January 28, 1948 |page=21 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>


On January 28, Hickey played three minutes in a game against the [[New York Knicks]] and committed four fouls.<ref name=es>{{cite news |title=Pro Basket Ball Now Sissified, Says Hickey |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-star-pro-basket-ball-now-sissifi/151039863/ |access-date=July 10, 2024 |work=Evening Star |date=January 30, 1948 |page=17 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> 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 rookie [[Carl Braun (basketball)|Carl Braun]] who was the youngest professional basketball player.<ref name=es /> He was lampooned after his Knicks appearance in an article by the [[Associated Press]] which dismissed him as an "old geezer" and "ancient pro."<ref name=es /> 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."<ref name=es />
⚫
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.<ref name=tig>{{cite news |title=Johnstown Clippers Disbanded After Death of Karmarkovich; Joll Escapes Auto Injury |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/14407398/ |access-date=August 2, 2020 |work=The Indiana Gazette |date=January 12, 1951 |page=15}}</ref> Clippers player George Karmarkovich, a 24-year-old who was considered the team's biggest star, was ejected from the car and killed.<ref name=tig /><ref name=tcn>{{cite news |title=Drivers Exonerated In Highway Death of George Karmarkovich |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43652285/george-karmarkovich-death/ |access-date=August 2, 2020 |work=The Cumberland News |date=March 9, 1951}}</ref> The Clippers were disbanded the following day and Hickey did not return to coaching.<ref name=tig /> Hickey was found to not be responsible for Karmarkovich's death.<ref name=tcn />


As a result of his appearance in the Knicks game, Hickey still holds the record for [[List of oldest and youngest National Basketball Association players#Oldest players|the oldest player in NBA history]] at 45 years and 363 days.<ref name="usatoday.com.Hickey">{{cite web |date= April 2, 2007|url = https://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/mavericks/2007-04-02-willis_N.htm|title = Mavericks make motivated Willis, 44, NBA's oldest player|publisher = [[USA Today]]| access-date = May 15, 2010 | last=Boeck| first= Greg }}</ref> He expressed a desire to play again,<ref name=es /> even being expected to play in a game against the [[Boston Celtics]] two days later,<ref>{{cite news |title=Nat Hickey Will Perform Tonight Against Celtics |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-nat-hickey-will-perform/151039879/ |access-date=July 10, 2024 |work=The Boston Globe |date=January 30, 1948 |page=30 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> but ultimately continued with only his coaching duties.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Menton |first1=Paul |title=Hickey Found Court No Place For Him |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-evening-sun-hickey-found-court-no-pl/151039847/ |access-date=July 10, 2024 |work=The Evening Sun |date=February 4, 1948 |page=43 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> The Steamrollers accumulated a 4–25 record under Hickey and he was replaced by [[Ken Loeffler]] at the end of the season.<ref name=dac />
==Baseball==

===Johnstown Clippers (1951)===
⚫
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.<ref name=tig>{{cite news |title=Johnstown Clippers Disbanded After Death of Karmarkovich; Joll Escapes Auto Injury |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indiana-gazette-johnstown-clippers-d/125648049/ |access-date=August 2, 2020 |work=The Indiana Gazette |date=January 12, 1951 |page=15}}</ref> Clippers player [[Chuck Karmarkovich|George "Chuck" Karmarkovich]], a 24-year-old who was considered the team's biggest star, was ejected from the car and killed.<ref name=tig /><ref name=tcn>{{cite news |title=Drivers Exonerated In Highway Death of George Karmarkovich |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43652285/george-karmarkovich-death/ |access-date=August 2, 2020 |work=The Cumberland News |date=March 9, 1951}}</ref> The Clippers were disbanded the following day and Hickey did not return to coaching.<ref name=tig /> Hickey was found to not be responsible for Karmarkovich's death.<ref name=tcn />

==Professional baseball career==
Aside from basketball, Hickey enjoyed a lengthy career in baseball, playing 15 minor league seasons and managing two.
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.<ref name=akin>{{Cite book| last = Akin | first = William E. | title = West Virginia Baseball: A History, 1865-2000 | publisher = McFarland | year = 2006 | page = 147 | isbn = 9780786425709}}</ref>
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.<ref name=akin>{{Cite book| last = Akin | first = William E. | title = West Virginia Baseball: A History, 1865-2000 | publisher = McFarland | year = 2006 | page = 147 | isbn = 9780786425709}}</ref>
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Hickey died on September 16, 1979, in [[Johnstown, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pacblack/interests/JT1975-79.pdf|title=Obituary Index|work=Johnstown Tribune-Democrat}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Nat Hickey BK |url=http://www.njsportsheroes.com/nathickeybk.html |website=NJ Sports Heroes |access-date=August 2, 2020}}</ref>
Hickey died on September 16, 1979, in [[Johnstown, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pacblack/interests/JT1975-79.pdf|title=Obituary Index|work=Johnstown Tribune-Democrat}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Nat Hickey BK |url=http://www.njsportsheroes.com/nathickeybk.html |website=NJ Sports Heroes |access-date=August 2, 2020}}</ref>


==BAA career statistics==
==Career statistics==
{| class="toccolours" style="font-size: 90%; white-space: nowrap;"
{| class="toccolours" style="font-size: 90%; white-space: nowrap;"
|-
|-
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| style="background:#f2f2f2; border:1px solid black;"|   GP
| style="background:#f2f2f2; border:1px solid black;"|   GP
| Games played
| Games played
| style="background:#f2f2f2; border:1px solid black;"|  FGM 
| style="padding-right: 8px" | [[Field goal (basketball)|Field-goals]] made
|-
|-
| style="background:#f2f2f2; border:1px solid black;"|  FG% 
| style="background:#f2f2f2; border:1px solid black;"|  FG% 
| style="padding-right: 8px" | [[Field goal (basketball)|Field-goal]] percentage
| style="padding-right: 8px" | [[Field goal (basketball)|Field-goal]] percentage
| style="background:#f2f2f2; border:1px solid black;"|  FTM 
| [[Free throw|Free-throws]] made
|-
|-
| style="background:#f2f2f2; border:1px solid black;"|  FTA 
| [[Free throw|Free-throws]] attempted
| style="background:#f2f2f2; border:1px solid black;"|  FT% 
| style="background:#f2f2f2; border:1px solid black;"|  FT% 
| [[Free throw|Free-throw]] percentage
| [[Free throw|Free-throw]] percentage
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| style="background:#f2f2f2; border:1px solid black;"|  APG 
| style="background:#f2f2f2; border:1px solid black;"|  APG 
| [[Assist (basketball)|Assists]] per game
| [[Assist (basketball)|Assists]] per game
| style="background:#f2f2f2; border:1px solid black;"|  PTS 
| Points
|-
|-
| style="background:#f2f2f2; border:1px solid black;"|  PPG 
| style="background:#f2f2f2; border:1px solid black;"|  PPG 
| Points per game
| Points per game
| style="background-color: #F2F2F2; border: 1px solid black" |  '''Bold''' 
| Career high
⚫
|-
|}
|}


===Regular season===
===NBL===
Source<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/h/hickema01n.html|title=Nat Hickey NBL Stats|website=[[Basketball Reference]]|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=17 August 2023}}</ref>

====Regular season====
{{NBL (United States) player statistics start}}
⚫
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[National Basketball League (United States)|1944–45]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Pittsburgh Raiders|Pittsburgh]]
⚫
| 2 || 3 || 2 || || || 8 || 4.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[National Basketball League (United States)|1945–46]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Indianapolis Katuskys|Indianapolis]]
| '''13''' || '''30''' || '''13''' || || || '''73''' || '''5.6'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[National Basketball League (United States)|1946–47]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1946–47 Tri-Cities Blackhawks season|Tri-Cities]]
| 8 || 9 || 6 || '''12''' || .500 || 24 || 3.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[National Basketball League (United States)|1947–48]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1947–48 Tri-Cities Blackhawks season|Tri-Cities]]
| 3 || 1 || 1 || 1 || '''1.000''' || 3 || 1.0
|-
⚫
|style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 26 || 43 || 22 || 13 || .538 || 108 || 4.2
|}

===NBA===

====Regular season====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:right;"
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:right;"
|-
|-
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| style="text-align:left;"| [[1947–48 Providence Steamrollers season|Providence]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1947–48 Providence Steamrollers season|Providence]]
| 2 || .000 || .667 || .0 || 1.0
| 2 || .000 || .667 || .0 || 1.0
⚫
|-
⚫
|style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
⚫
| 2 || .000 || .667 || .0 || 1.0
⚫
|-
|}
|}

==Head coaching record==
{{NBA coach statistics legend}}
{{NBA coach statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1947–48 Providence Steamrollers season|Providence]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1947}}
| 29||4||25||{{Winning percentage|4|25}}|| style="text-align:center;"|4th in Eastern||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|Missed playoffs
{{s-end}}
Source<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/hickena01c.html|title=Nat Hickey: Coaching Record, Awards|website=[[Basketball Reference]]|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=8 January 2024}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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* {{Find a Grave}}
* {{Find a Grave}}


{{Atlanta Hawks coach navbox}}
{{Providence Steamrollers coach navbox}}
{{Providence Steamrollers coach navbox}}
{{Cleveland Rosenblums 1925–26 ABL champions}}
{{Cleveland Rosenblums 1925–26 ABL champions}}
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[[Category:American men's basketball players]]
[[Category:American men's basketball players]]
[[Category:American people of Croatian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Croatian descent]]
[[Category:Basketball players from New Jersey]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Hudson County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Buffalo Bisons (NBL) players]]
[[Category:Chicago Bruins players]]
[[Category:Chicago Bruins players]]
[[Category:Cleveland Rosenblums players]]
[[Category:Cleveland Rosenblums players]]
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[[Category:Dayton Ducks players]]
[[Category:Dayton Ducks players]]
[[Category:Decatur Commodores players]]
[[Category:Decatur Commodores players]]
⚫
[[Category:Emigrants from Austria-Hungary to the United States]]
[[Category:Fitchburg (minor league baseball) players]]
[[Category:Fitchburg (minor league baseball) players]]
[[Category:Forwards (basketball)]]
[[Category:Forwards (basketball)]]
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[[Category:Johnstown Johnnies players]]
[[Category:Johnstown Johnnies players]]
[[Category:Minor league baseball managers]]
[[Category:Minor league baseball managers]]
[[Category:National Basketball Association players from Croatia]]
[[Category:NBA players from Croatia]]
[[Category:Original Celtics players]]
[[Category:Original Celtics players]]
[[Category:People from Korčula]]
[[Category:People from Korčula]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Raiders coaches]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Raiders players]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Raiders players]]
[[Category:Player-coaches]]
[[Category:Basketball player-coaches]]
[[Category:Providence Steamrollers coaches]]
[[Category:Providence Steamrollers coaches]]
[[Category:Providence Steamrollers players]]
[[Category:Providence Steamrollers players]]
[[Category:Reading Brooks players]]
[[Category:Reading Brooks players]]
[[Category:Scranton Miners players]]
[[Category:Scranton Miners players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Dubrovnik-Neretva County]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Hoboken, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Hoboken, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Tri-Cities Blackhawks coaches]]
[[Category:Tri-Cities Blackhawks players]]
[[Category:Tri-Cities Blackhawks players]]
[[Category:Waynesboro Villagers players]]
[[Category:Waynesboro Villagers players]]
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[[Category:Williamsport Grays players]]
[[Category:Williamsport Grays players]]
[[Category:Worcester Boosters players]]
[[Category:Worcester Boosters players]]
⚫
[[Category:Emigrants from Austria-Hungary to the United States]]

Revision as of 23:07, 15 July 2024

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 Edit this at Wikidata at NBA.com
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at Basketball-Reference.com

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

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

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)

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 appeared in a game against the St. Louis Bombers and recorded two points from free throws.[6]

On January 28, Hickey played three minutes in a game against the New York Knicks and committed four fouls.[7] 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 rookie Carl Braun who was the youngest professional basketball player.[7] He was lampooned after his Knicks appearance in an article by the Associated Press which dismissed him as an "old geezer" and "ancient pro."[7] 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."[7]

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.[8] He expressed a desire to play again,[7] even being expected to play in a game against the Boston Celtics two days later,[9] but ultimately continued with only his coaching duties.[10] 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)

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.[11] Clippers player George "Chuck" Karmarkovich, a 24-year-old who was considered the team's biggest star, was ejected from the car and killed.[11][12] The Clippers were disbanded the following day and Hickey did not return to coaching.[11] Hickey was found to not be responsible for Karmarkovich's death.[12]

Professional baseball career

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.[13]

Hickey was inducted into the Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame in 1965 for his basketball and baseball achievements.[14]

Personal life

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

Hickey died on September 16, 1979, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.[15][16]

Career statistics

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

Source[17]

Regular season

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

Regular season

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

Head coaching record

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[18]

See also

References

  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. ^ a b c d e "Pro Basket Ball Now Sissified, Says Hickey". Evening Star. January 30, 1948. p. 17. Retrieved July 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Boeck, Greg (April 2, 2007). "Mavericks make motivated Willis, 44, NBA's oldest player". USA Today. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
  9. ^ "Nat Hickey Will Perform Tonight Against Celtics". The Boston Globe. January 30, 1948. p. 30. Retrieved July 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Menton, Paul (February 4, 1948). "Hickey Found Court No Place For Him". The Evening Sun. p. 43. Retrieved July 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ a b "Drivers Exonerated In Highway Death of George Karmarkovich". The Cumberland News. March 9, 1951. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  13. ^ Akin, William E. (2006). West Virginia Baseball: A History, 1865-2000. McFarland. p. 147. ISBN 9780786425709.
  14. ^ "Nicholas "Nat" Hickey". Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  15. ^ "Obituary Index" (PDF). Johnstown Tribune-Democrat.
  16. ^ "Nat Hickey BK". NJ Sports Heroes. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  17. ^ "Nat Hickey NBL Stats". Basketball Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  18. ^ "Nat Hickey: Coaching Record, Awards". Basketball Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
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