A's Farmhand Frick Killed In Pickup Crash

By Jim Callis
November 28, 2003

Mike Frick, a righthander in the Athletics system, was killed early Thanksgiving morning in a one-vehicle accident in Ventura, Calif. He was 23.

Frick died of head injuries suffered when a pickup truck he was riding in as a passenger flipped over several times as it headed to Santa Paula from Ventura along Foothill Road. Two other passengers also were killed, while driver Tomas Mercer Jr. was listed in critical condition on Thursday. The California Highway Patrol arrested Mercer on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and vehicular manslaughter.

A 2001 eighth-round pick out of Cal State Northridge, Frick finished second in the high Class A California League with 23 saves in 2002. This year he went 1-2, 5.05 in 28 games at Double-A Midland before hurting his elbow, which required Tommy John surgery in the offseason.

"Mike loved baseball," said Steve Canter, his agent. "He was dedicated to the A's, he loved his family and he lived his life with character and integrity. For everyone who knew Fricky, his spirit is irreplacable."