Major League Baseball

Former MLB pitcher Kevin Hickey dies

Published May. 16, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Kevin Hickey, who served as White Sox batting practice pitcher after a long-shot major league career, died Wednesday at a Chicago hospital.

Hickey, 56, was found unresponsive April 5 in his hotel room in Dallas prior to the team's season opener against the Rangers. He was later transferred to Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, but remained unresponsive.

"Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of our teammate and colleague Kevin Hickey. RIP Kevin," the White Sox wrote on Twitter.

Hickey, who was immensely popular with players and fans, took an unusual path to the majors, where he became a lefty reliever.

Hickey did not play baseball in high school, and was discovered by a White Sox employee who saw him playing 16-inch softball at a park and invited him to a tryout. Hickey's team had won the World 16-inch Championship in 1976, and he spent some time in a semi-pro baseball league.

"Kevin Hickey was the ultimate long shot, the classic underdog," said former White Sox general manager Roland Hemond, who signed Hickey in 1977.

"You couldn't help but root for him. Kevin did the absolute most with every single opportunity he received and earned every bit of his success."

Hickey pitched for the White Sox from 1981-83 and for the Orioles from 1989-91. He had a career ERA of 3.91, with 17 saves in 232.2 innings.

The Chicago native rejoined the White Sox in 2004 as a pregame instructor and served as the lefty batting practice pitcher.

"No one wanted to win more, no one was more optimistic, no one cared more and no one took more pride in his job. He made all of us better," said first baseman Paul Konerko.