Career
As a 5"11" guard/forward in basketball, Hickey played from the 1920s through 1940s with multiple early professional teams, including the Original Celtics,the Cleveland Rosenblums of the American League and the Pittsburgh Raiders, Indianapolis Kautskys, and Tri-Cities Blackhawks of the National League. In the second year after the formation of the Association of America (the forerunner to the National Basketball Association), Hickey served 29 games as head coach of the Providence Steamrollers during the 1947-1948 season. Hickey"s team posted a 4–25 record during his tenure.
On January 28, 1948, two days before his 46th birthday, Hickey decided to activate himself as a player with the Steamrollers for one game.
He attempted six field goals – making none – and committed five personal fouls. He scored two points off of foul shots.
As a result of that one-game appearance, Hickey still holds the record for the oldest player in National Basketball Association history at 45 years and 363 days. 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.