1997 Topps All-Star Rookie Right Handed Pitcher Jason Dickson

Jason Dickson had an abrupt entree to the big leagues - the first batter he faced in 1996 was none other than Hall of Fame Short Stop Derek Jeter. Jeets crushed a homer on the third pitch Dickson threw as a big leaguer, but he would bounce back. 1997 was his official "Rookie" season, and he would serve as a solid starter in the Angels' rotation. Buoyed by a strong first half, Dickson not only made the Topps All-Star Rookie team, he also made the American League All-Star team. In the first half of 1997, he made 18 starts, winning 8. He had 2 complete games, one of which was a shutout that came in his first start of the year. For the season, Dickson was remarkably consistent for a rookie, getting 20 "quality starts" out of his 33 times toeing the rubber for the Angels.

Dickson was the Angels' 6th Round selection in 1994, and made it all the way up to the big leagues by the end of 1996. Born in Ontario, he was on the 18U Championship team from New Brunswick, the following year his team was again taking the World Youth Baseball Championship. He attended college at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. According to Dickson "that's when my baseball career really took off." He pitched two seasons for NEO, and featured a mix of pitches including a sinking fastball that he paired with a breaking ball. He also developed a change up in college to round out the repertoire. His first full professional season at Single A Cedar Rapids showed the Angels what potential was in his right arm. He had a 14-6 record with a 2.86 ERA. He had fairly good control that year as well, with a 2.98 k/bb ratio. The following season he would climb all the way up the organization, jumping from single A to AA to AAA to the big leagues for 7 starts. 

After leading the Angels in innings pitched in 1997, Dickson would struggle to find that same success in his following season and found himself splitting time as a starter and as a reliever. A torn labrum sidelined Jason for the entirety of the 1999 season, and his comeback attempts never quite bore Major League fruit. He pitched in AAA for several different organizations, and finally retired following a stint in the 2004 Olympics pitching for team Canada. 

Following his playing days, Dickson was a board member for Baseball Canada, ultimately being named the organization's President in 2016. Dickson is a member of the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame, and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. He won Canada's Tip O'Neill award in 1996 as the country's best baseball player. 

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