Passing of Hall of Famer Jay Bob Bickford

Blair Setford • July 27, 2022

Bickford was 1980 MVP & Top Pitcher

The ISC is saddened to hear of the passing of Hall of Famer Jay Bob Bickford.


Jay Bob pitched from 1962 to 1987 for some of Arizona’s finest teams. He played on 13 Arizona State Championship Teams and was voted to the ASA All- American Team in 1971. He was named to the ISC All-World Team in 1977 and 1980 and was named as the ISC Most Outstanding Pitcher as well as the Most Valuable Player in the 1980 World Tournament pitching for Phoenix, AZ 7th Avenue Auto Parts  He was also the Arizona State Travel League MVP in both 1977 and 1980. He was inducted into the Arizona Softball Hall of Fame in 2000.


Jay Bob was one of the most dominating fastpitch softball pitchers in Arizona history. He played for a number of years on the premier teams in the state and nation, including the Turquoise Kings from 1974-1978. During those years the Kings won five ISC Travel League championships and placed second at the ISC World Tournament in 1974. After the Kings, he played for the 7th Avenue Auto Parts, again finishing second in 1980.


We extend our condolences to the Bickford family.

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