| Vern Bickford | |
|---|---|
 Bickford in 1954 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: August 17, 1920 Hellier, Kentucky, U.S. | |
| Died: May 6, 1960 (aged 39) Richmond, Virginia, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 24, 1948, for the Boston Braves | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| April 24, 1954, for the Baltimore Orioles | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 66–57 |
| Earned run average | 3.71 |
| Strikeouts | 450 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Vernon Edgell Bickford (August 17, 1920 – May 6, 1960) was an American professional baseball player. A right-handed starting pitcher, he played six seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston/Milwaukee Braves from 1948 to 1953 in the National League, and one game for the Baltimore Orioles of the American League in 1954.
Bickford was born in Kentucky but raised in West Virginia. He began his professional career in 1939 and, after serving in World War II, made the majors in 1949. Acquired by the Braves organization due to a flip of a coin, Bickford became one of the most promising National League pitchers during his playing career, earning All-Star honors in 1949 and leading the National League in complete games in 1950. However his career was soon shorted by multiple arm injuries, and he was out of baseball by 1955. After working an assortment of jobs, he was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 1960 and died after a three-month illness.
He is best known for throwing a no-hitter against the Brooklyn Dodgers on August 11, 1950. Although the slogan "Spahn and Sain, then two days of rain" is today widely mentioned when reference is made to the Braves' 1948 season, at the time it was actually, "Bickford, Spahn and Sain and then we pray for rain." His winning percentage of .688 that year, his rookie season, in which he did not really begin to pitch until well into the season, was higher than either that of Sain or Spahn.