01/14/2005 7:52 AM - KANSAS CITY – Righthanded starting pitcher Greg Bicknell signed a 2005 contract to be a player-coach for the Kansas City T-Bones, the team announced Thursday.

Bicknell, 35, is a veteran of sixteen seasons of professional baseball. Originally signed as a 39th round draft pick of the Toronto Blue Jays in 1989, Bicknell advanced to Class AA before joining the ranks of independent baseball. Bicknell took a two-year hiatus in 2002-03 to pitch for First Financial Agan in the Taiwan Major League, but returned stateside for the 2004 season.

A late addition to the 2004 squad, Bicknell did not join the T-Bones until June 10, when he started against Gary. Despite missing the first three weeks of the season, Bicknell posted a 13-3 record for Kansas City, striking out 106 and walking only 22 in 134 innings of work. He ended the regular season with five complete games in his last eleven starts, allowing just 26 ER in 85.0 IP (2.75 ERA). It was in the playoffs that Bicknell was most memorable, however, outdueling Schaumburg ace Hank Woodman in the South Division playoff opener, a 2-0 T-Bones win.

As well, Bicknell served as pitching coach for the T-Bones in the last month of the season and will resume those duties in 2005. “Bick was a huge part of our second half resurgence,” said T-Bones Manager “Dirty” Al Gallagher. “With his significant professional experience, we think he can help some of our younger pitchers reach their goals.”

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