Fred Hickman

Frederick Hickman (October 17, 1956 – November 9, 2022) was an American sports broadcaster with CNN, TBS, YES Network, and ESPN. He was later an anchor and managing editor for the evening newscast of the African-American cable news channel Black News Channel. Hickman was an original co-host of the CNN show Sports Tonight in 1980. and was a New York Sports Emmy Award Winner in 2004.

Early life and education Hickman was born on October 17, 1956, in Springfield, Illinois, to George Henry and Louise Winifred Hickman. then attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa from 1974 to 1978, where he earned a B.S. in sociology. While there he worked at the low power KCOE-FM radio station.

Career In 1977, Hickman began his professional radio broadcasting career as a news anchor at KLWW-AM in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Hickman became an anchor and sports director of the Springfield television station WICS-TV.

In 1984, Hickman briefly left CNN to serve as a sports anchor for WDIV, the NBC affiliate in Detroit, Michigan. He served as an anchor, a beat reporter for Major League Baseball's Detroit Tigers, and a boxing specialist from June 1984 to May 1985.

Hickman also served as a Master of Ceremonies, speaker and guest panelist at the Butkus award and the Eddie Robinson Award as well as narrator for TBS’s contribution to Bob Ballard’s National Geographic specials, including the recovery of the Titanic.

Hickman caused a controversy in 2000 when he cast his first place vote for the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for Allen Iverson. Hickman was the sole voter who did not cast his first place vote that year for Shaquille O'Neal, preventing O'Neal from becoming the first unanimous MVP in NBA history. Iverson finished seventh in the voting.

YES Network Hickman left Atlanta in October 2001 to join the New York City-based YES Network for its 2002 launch. He was their original anchor, hosting the pre-game and the post-game shows for New York Yankees telecasts. Hickman left the network in May 2008.

Fox Sports Hickman joined as host of the Braves Live pre & post game show for the 2009 and 2010 seasons on Fox Sports South, based in Atlanta, Georgia. He hosted the In My Own Words interview show.

Other In September 2010, Fred Hickman formed Fred Hickman Communications, Inc. The company provides broadcaster training for retired athletes and media training services for athletes, coaching staff and sports industry front office personnel. Hickman also worked as a speaker, spokesperson, event host, voice over artist and narrator.

WVLA In August 2015, Hickman joined WVLA-TV, Nexstar's NBC affiliate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana as a news anchor. He stayed there until his departure in July 2018.

WDVM In August 2018, Hickman came over from WVLA-TV to join sister independent station WDVM-TV in Hagerstown, Maryland. According to the station's Website, he was a news anchor and producer.

Death Hickman died of liver cancer at a hospital in Kissimmee, Florida, on November 9, 2022, at the age of 66.

In the months before his death, Hickman wrote an autobiography, Channeling: My Life On Air, Off Air, and In Living Color. Scorecard Press released the book posthumously in March 2026.

Honors Hickman was nominated for CableACE awards (Award for Cable Excellence) for best sports host every year from 1988 to 1993, winning in 1989 and 1993. In 1993, he was named "sexiest sportscaster" by the U.S. Television Fan Association. He was a New York Sports Emmy Award Winner in 2004, and was added to the Springfield Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.