So I reported yesterday that the Mets Tricky Dickey is a big fan of reading and before his starts he likes to sit in the dugout with his shorts and flip flops on and just read. He takes out his current flavor of the week and he'll just read that novel for 45 minutes or so before game time. I didn't know what book Dickey was reading before he faced the Brew Crew but today I found out. And my mind was blown. It's one of Michelle Obama's favorites “The Life Of Pi” by Yann Martel. Who knew Dickey would be intrigued by a book about going on some sort of spiritual journey? Ehh I guess it makes sense. So with this I say the following:
R.A. Dickey’s Book Club is now in session. The first book on the agenda well duh it's “The Life Of Pi” by Yann Martel. Suck on that Oprah! And what book will he assign to the book club before his probable start against the Marlins this coming weekend??!! I can't wait to find out.
So now on the squad we have Dickey the book worm and Chris "The Animal" I'm kind of also a genius Carter. If you guys remember Carter went to Stanford University, he studied neurology and graduated in only 3 1/4 years. And he wanted to be a DOCTOR. So with that I say who cares that Nick Swisher just got an iPhone application, that takes you on the field, in the dugout and behind the scenes with the Swish!!?? Apps or well "Bips" as my Dad thinks they are called are overrated!
Let's now learn why R.A. Dickey is much cooler than The Swish and Oprah:
The R.A. stands for Robert Alan, and his middle name might just be PERSEVERANCE (folks you'll see why this is in just a few lines down.
Dickey majored in English at the University of Tennessee.
If baseball wasn't in the cards for him, Dickey planned on becoming a high school teacher.
In 1996, he won a bronze medal with the U.S. Olympic baseball team.
Dickey was taken by the Rangers with the 18th pick of the 1996 amateur draft.
Ripley believe it or not, in 1996 team doctors for the Rangers discovered that Dickey did not have an ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing arm!
After a back injury early on in his career that dropped his velocity into the high 80's, Dickey decided he couldn't give up on his dream to be a pro and he turned to the knuckleball.
Dickey made his first big league start as a knuckleballer back in 2006 for the Rangers. He gave up 6 home runs to the Tigers in this game, ugh. But there's no crying in baseball and Dickey did not give up!
In 2007 he was in the minors all season long.
In 2008 he returned to the majors; he had a 5-8 record with the Mariners.
On April 29, 2010, Dickey threw an imperfect perfect game for Triple-A Buffalo. He allowed a lead off single and then retired the next 27 batters.
And we all know he made his first start as a Metsie on May 19, 2010 against the Nats.
BTW Dickey's other favorite hobby besides reading is spending time with his 3 children and his wife Anne who he fell in love with in the 7th grade. Yet he didn't start dating her until they were seniors in high school. WOW! "I just took a risk and went in for a kiss one day, and she reciprocated." Perseverance is definitely his middle name, I know this now for sure.
R.A. Dickey you are kind of my new hero!
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