Lance Dickson

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Lance Michael Dickson was a Chicago Cubs baseball player in 1990. The left-handed pitcher/right-handed batter was born on October 19, 1969 in Fullerton, California. He went to the University of Arizona.

Drafted by the Houston Astros on June 2, 1987 in the 37th round (953rd overall) of the amateur draft, Dickson did not sign with the team, opting to go to college and try to improve his draft prospects. On June 4, 1990, he was chosen in the first round of the amateur draft (23rd overall) by the Chicago Cubs, and he signed with them seven days later.

Dickson became the first player chosen by the Cubs in the first round of the draft to make the majors in that same year since it was done by Burt Hooton in 1971. He played in 11 minor league games and went 7-3 with a very low 0.94 ERA. He also recorded 111 strikeouts in 76 1/3 innings. After this performance he was called up to the major leagues and made his debut as the Cubs' starting pitcher on August 9, 1990. The second-youngest player in the league (Steve Avery was the youngest) at the time of his promotion, Dickson's big-league career would be nonetheless short-lived. He went 0-3 with a 7.24 ERA in his three starts, precipitating his return to the AAA Iowa Cubs. His last major league appearance was August 18, 1990.

After he went back to the minor leagues, he was chosen by the American Association managers as the best pitching prospect and possessor of the best breaking ball in the league. His record was 4-3 and had a 2.86 ERA in his 15 starts. He led the league with 92 strikeouts in 91 innings before he was injured by a stress fracture in his right foot in June 1991. During the following off-season, he had arm surgery and never returned to baseball.