During a childhood farming accident, Wickman lost part of his index finger on his right hand, to which he credited much of the sinking motion on his sinker.\n', '

Wickman is from Abrams, Wisconsin. At Oconto Falls High School, Wickman played football, baseball and basketball, being named an All-State pick in basketball. After high school, he attended University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, and was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 1990 Major League Baseball draft (2nd round) and signed by area scout Mike Rizzo.[citation needed] In 1992, he was sent by Chicago to the New York Yankees in the same trade that brought Steve Sax to the White Sox.\n', '

Wickman\'s career with the Yankees began with a superb record of 20-5 in his first two seasons (1992–1993), including a 14-4 mark in 1993. In the strike-shortened 1994 season, Wickman appeared in an American League-high 53 games, all in relief, and posted a 3.09 ERA for the league-leading Yankees. Though he slumped to a 4.05 ERA in 1995, he rebounded to pitch three shutout innings in the Division Series against the Seattle Mariners. The Yankees lost that series in five games to Seattle.\n', '

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