Robert Allen Dickey, better known as R.A. Dickey, is a Nashville, Tennessee native who is currently a starting pitcher for the Texas Rangers. April of 2001 R.A. made his major league debut against the Oakland A’s and pitched a scoreless inning, retiring all three of the batters he faced. In 2003, his first full year in the majors, R.A. posted a 9-win season as a rookie and had the second best Major League record among all rookies. He speaks around the country on the topic of reaching your potential through discipline and focusing on goals. He was a three-time All-American baseball player at the University of Tennessee as well as a two-time academic All-American. While at UT, R.A. led his team to the College World Series in 1995 and set numerous school records including most wins in a season (15-2), most wins in a career (38), most strikeouts in a career (353), and most innings in a career (313). He finished second on the Southeastern Conference all-time win list during his college career. In the summer of 1996, R.A. was undefeated in Olympic tour competition and played in the Olympic games in Atlanta on the U.S. baseball team. R.A. won both of his games in Olympic competition on the way to winning a bronze medal. In June of 1996, the Texas Rangers made R.A. their first round pick in the June amateur draft. R.A. is married to Anne Bartholomew Dickey and they have two girls, Mary Gabriel and Lila Anne. R.A and Anne are both active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and attend church at West End Community. Career Highlights 1996: Drafted by Rangers (18th overall), but gets only $75,000 signing bonus when it is discovered he has no ligament in right elbow. 1997: Bone spur in elbow heightened fears that he was physically limited; pitched eight games at Class A. 1998: Led Class A Florida State League with 38 saves. 1999: Split season between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma, going so-so 7-9 with 4.51 ERA. 2001: Made his major league debut, compiling a 6.75 ERA in four appearances. 2002: Pitched for fourth straight year at Oklahoma, left off major league roster. 2003: Earned way into starting rotation.