James Edison Picken (August 7, 1903 – April 2, 1975) was an early American professional basketball and minor league baseball player.[1][2] He was born in East Liverpool, Ohio but grew up in Collingswood, New Jersey.[2] Picken's basketball career during the 1920s and 1930s saw him spend time in the original American Basketball League, the Eastern Basketball League, and the Metropolitan Basketball League.[2][3] His younger brother, Eddie Picken, was also a professional basketball player.[4][5]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 7, 1903 East Liverpool, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | April 2, 1975 (aged 71) Moorestown, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Listed height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Listed weight | 165 lb (75 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Collingswood (Collingswood, New Jersey) |
| College | Dartmouth (1924–1927) |
| Position | Forward |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1927–1928 | Albany Senators |
| 1927–1929 | Hudson |
| 1928–1929 | Paterson Whirlwinds |
| 1928–1930 | Bristol Endees |
| 1931–1932 | Bridgeton Moose |
| 1932–1933 | Paterson Continentals |
| 1932–1933 | Bridgeton Gems |
| 1932–1933 | Philadelphia WPEN |
| 1933–1934 | Camden Brewers |
| 1934–1935 | Camden |
| 1937–1938 | Elizabeth |
| As coach: | |
| 1927–1931 | Troy HS |
| 1931–1940 | Audubon HS |
| 1941–19?? | Clifford Scott HS |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As player:
| |
Picken attended Collingswood High School and then Dartmouth College, where he lettered in football, soccer, basketball, and baseball.[2] Immediately after college he played for the Easton Farmers in the Eastern Shore League during the 1927 season, but quit after one year.[2] He had only managed a .196 batting average in 51 at bats,[1] so he decided to focus on playing professional basketball as well as becoming a schoolteacher.[2] Over the years he coached high school football, basketball, and baseball at various high schools in New York and New Jersey.[2] While coaching Audubon High School's football team, he won three conference championships in nine years.[2]
A resident of Moorestown, New Jersey,[6] Picken died there on April 2, 1975.[2]
References
edit- General
- Courier-Post (Cherry Hill, New Jersey), April 4, 1975. Retrieved on August 8, 2019.
- The Record (Troy, New York), April 9, 1975. Retrieved on August 8, 2019.
- Specific
- ^ a b "James Picken minor league stats". baseball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Jim Picken". Peach Basket Society. December 14, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
- ^ "Jim Picken". Pro Basketball Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
- ^ "1931–32 Camden roster". Pro Basketball Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
- ^ "Eddie Picken". Pro Basketball Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
- ^ Frambes, Doug. "Jimmy Picken, Ex-Star and Coach, Back in S.J. to Stay", Courier-Post, October 20, 1971. Accessed August 9, 2019. "Living in happy retirement in a beautiful new home in colonial Moorestown is a gentleman who belies the immortal words of author Thomas Wolfe."
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