R. A. Dickey

Dickey attended Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, Tennessee, where he was named the state's Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior.{{cite web |title=Tennessee - 1993 |url=https://playeroftheyear.gatorade.com/winner/r.a.-dickey/20555 |website=Gatorade Player of the Year |access-date=3 January 2025}} He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 10th round (277th overall) of the 1993 MLB draft, but did not sign.

Dickey attended the University of Tennessee, where he played college baseball for the Tennessee Volunteers baseball team in the Southeastern Conference. Dickey majored in English literature at Tennessee, where he had a 3.35 GPA and was named Academic All-American.{{Cite web |date=June 30, 2010 |title=Major League Baseball's first-half surprises — ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&page=starting9/100630 |access-date=July 23, 2010 |publisher=ESPN}} He was also named Academic All-SEC.{{Cite web |title=About R.A. Dickey |url=http://www.chasingthedreammovie.com/AboutRA.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061215212007/http://www.chasingthedreammovie.com/AboutRA.html |archive-date=December 15, 2006 |website=Chasing the Dream}}

Dickey was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the first round (18th overall) of the 1996 MLB draft. After being drafted by the Rangers, Dickey was initially offered a signing bonus of $825,000, before a Rangers team physician saw Dickey's throwing (right) arm hanging oddly in a picture of him with other Team USA players in Baseball America. The Rangers subsequently did further evaluation of Dickey, leading to the discovery of a missing ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow joint, and reduced their offer to $75,000.{{Cite news |last=Schwarz |first=Alan |author-link=Alan Schwarz |date=February 27, 2008 |title=New Twist Keeps Dickey's Career Afloat |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/27/sports/baseball/27dickey.html |work=The New York Times}}{{Cite web |last=Golebiewski |first=David |date=July 22, 2010 |title=Dickey Has Mets Fans' Hearts Aflutter |url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/dickey-has-mets-fans-hearts-aflutter/ |access-date=July 23, 2010 |website=FanGraphs |publisher=}} Dickey has been quoted as saying, "Doctors look at me and say I shouldn't be able to turn a doorknob without feeling pain," making his ability to pitch somewhat remarkable.

Dickey debuted with the Rangers in 2001. "His stuff was dime-a-dozen, though: a high-80's fastball, an occasional fringy breaking ball, and a forkball he dubbed 'The Thing.'" The start of the 2004 season was thought to be a turning point in Dickey's career, as he managed to compile a 4–1 record through his first five starts. This hot streak was short-lived, however, and he ended up finishing the season a disappointing 6–7 with a 5.61 ERA.{{Cite web |title=R.A. Dickey Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/d/dicker.01.shtml |access-date=December 10, 2012 |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com}}

Throughout his career, Dickey did not know that his "forkball" pitch was actually a hard knuckleball, but by 2005, Dickey had realized that the best way to extend his career was to perfect the pitch. At the beginning of the 2006 season, the Rangers gave Dickey a chance to try out his knuckleball at the major league level by naming him the fifth starter. However, after giving up six home runs in his first start on April 6, tying the modern era baseball record with another knuckleballer, Tim Wakefield, he was demoted to the Rangers' Triple-A minor league affiliate, the Oklahoma RedHawks.

On January 13, 2007, he signed a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers and spent the 2007 season with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. After finishing the season with a 12–6 record and a 3.80 ERA, Dickey was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year.{{Cite news |date=August 29, 2007 |title=R.A. Dickey Named PCL Pitcher-of-the-Year. |work=Nashville Sounds.com |url=http://www.nashvillesounds.com/news/news.asp?newsId=2536 |access-date=September 22, 2007 |archive-date=July 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703182954/http://www.nashvillesounds.com/news/news.asp?newsId=2536 |url-status=dead }}

File:R. A. Dickey 2008.jpg]]

Dickey became a minor league free agent after the season. On November 28, 2007, he signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins that included an invitation to spring training but was claimed in the Rule 5 draft by the Seattle Mariners on December 6, 2007.

On March 29, 2008, the Mariners traded minor league catcher Jair Fernandez to the Twins to retain the rights for Dickey and initially optioned him to Triple-A Tacoma, recalling him to the major league club on April 14.{{Cite web |title=Seattle Mariners 2010 Team Transactions: Trades, DL, Free Agents and Callups |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/teams/transactions?team=sea&year=2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401082225/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/teams/transactions?team=sea&year=2008 |archive-date=April 1, 2009 |access-date=July 23, 2010 |website=ESPN}}

On August 17, 2008, Dickey tied the record for most wild pitches in an inning, with four. This came against the Twins in the fifth inning. He joins four others, including Hall of Famers Walter Johnson and Phil Niekro, who have accomplished this feat.{{Cite web |title=Wild Pitch Records |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_wild1.shtml |access-date=July 7, 2013 |publisher=Baseball-Almanac.com}}

In 2008, he led the majors in games started with fewer than four days of rest, with six, two ahead of teammate Miguel Batista.{{Cite web |title=2008 Major League Baseball Starting Pitching |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/2008-starter-pitching.shtml#players_starter_pitching::26 |access-date=July 23, 2010 |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com}} Dickey became a free agent after the season.

On December 23, 2008, Dickey signed a minor league contract with the Twins that included an invitation to spring training.{{Cite web |last=Arnold |first=Kirby |date=2008-12-25 |title=Dickey spurns Mariners, signs with Twins |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2008/dec/25/dickey-spurns-mariners-signs-with-twins/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250311122717/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2008/dec/25/dickey-spurns-mariners-signs-with-twins/ |archive-date=2025-03-11 |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=Spokesman.com |publisher=Everett Herald}}{{Cite web |last=Thesier |first=Kelly |date=December 24, 2008 |title=Dickey, Twins agree to terms |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081224&content_id=3728374&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090723052545/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081224&content_id=3728374&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp |archive-date=2009-07-23 |access-date=December 24, 2008 |website=MLB.com}} He pitched 35 games for the Twins in 2009, starting once. He became a free agent after the season.

On December 21, 2009, Dickey signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets, receiving an invitation to spring training.{{Cite web |date=2009-12-23 |title=Mets Reach Agreement With R.A. Dickey |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/12/mets-near-agreement-with-ra-dickey.html |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=R.A. Dickey |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/D/Pdickr001.htm |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=www.retrosheet.org}} He was assigned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons to begin the season. While playing for the Bisons, Dickey threw a one-hitter on April 29. He gave up a single to the first batter, and then retired the next twenty-seven in a row.{{Cite web |title=Dickey retires 27 straight for Bisons |url=http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100429&content_id=9682540&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100502045018/http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100429&content_id=9682540&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym |archive-date=May 2, 2010 |access-date=July 7, 2013 |website=MLB.com}}

On May 19, 2010, the New York Mets purchased Dickey's contract from Buffalo, and he made his first appearance as a Met against the Washington Nationals on the same day. In his debut for the Mets, Dickey pitched well, going six innings, giving up five hits, two earned runs, and striking out two, but received a no-decision. His next start, May 25 against the Philadelphia Phillies, he went six innings again, giving up 9 hits, walking 3 and striking out 7 in an 8–0 shutout for his first victory as a Met. On August 13, 2010, Dickey threw a complete game one-hit shutout of the Philadelphia Phillies — the only hit being a single surrendered to Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels.{{Cite news |last=Lapointe |first=Joe |date=August 14, 2010 |title=Dickey, Man of Letters, Lets Numbers Do Talking |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/15/sports/baseball/15metsnotes.html |access-date=August 15, 2010}} Dickey finished the 2010 season with a very strong ERA of 2.84, which was 7th best in the National League and 10th in all of baseball, and served as a rare bright spot on an otherwise disappointing season for the Mets.{{Cite news |last=Belson |first=Ken |date=July 15, 1990 |title=Dickey an Unexpected Bright Spot in Mets' Dim Season |url=http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/19/dickey-an-unexpected-bright-spot-in-mets-dim-season/ |access-date=August 20, 2010 |work=Bats Blog |publisher=New York Times}} In 2010, Dickey posted career highs in Games Started (26), wins (11), complete games (2), innings pitched (174.1), strikeouts (104), ERA (2.84), WHIP (1.19), and BAA (.252).

File:MG 4618 R. A. Dickey.jpg]]

On January 29, 2011, Dickey agreed to a two-year contract with the Mets. Under the agreement, Dickey received a $1 million signing bonus, $2.25 million in 2011, and $4.25 million in 2012. In addition, the Mets had a $5 million option for 2013 with a $300,000 buyout.{{Cite web |date=January 31, 2011 |title=Mets Give R.A. Dickey New 2-Year Deal |url=http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/31/mets-give-r-a-dickey-new-2-year-deal |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722203627/http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/31/mets-give-r-a-dickey-new-2-year-deal |archive-date=July 22, 2012}} During the 2011 season, Dickey posted career bests in game starts (32), innings pitched ({{fraction|208|2|3}}) and strikeouts (134). He finished the year with a record of only 8–13, despite a 3.28 ERA that was 12th best in the National League.{{Cite web |title=R.A. Dickey Career Statistics |url=http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=285079 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119212814/http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=285079 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 19, 2010 |access-date=June 22, 2012 |website=MLB.com}}

Dickey's performance in the first half of 2012 drew comparisons to some of the most dominant pitching streaks of the last 50 years.{{Cite web |last=Schoenfield, David |date=June 19, 2012 |title=R.A. Dickey on one of great rolls of all time |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/25808/r-a-dickey-on-one-great-rolls-of-all-time |access-date=June 22, 2012 |website=ESPN.com}} Mets Manager Terry Collins remarked, "I've never seen anything like this. Never. I've seen some dominant pitching, but nothing like what he's going through right now."{{Cite web |last=DiComo |first=Anthony |date=June 13, 2012 |title=One-hit wonder: Dickey brilliant in 10th win |url=http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_06_13_nynmlb_tbamlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=nym |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617031519/http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_06_13_nynmlb_tbamlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=nym |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 17, 2012 |access-date=June 14, 2012 |website=MLB.com}} Hall of Fame pitcher and fellow knuckleballer Phil Niekro commented on Dickey, "I had a few streaks, but nothing like he's going through. I don't know if any other knuckleballer has ever been on a hot streak like he has been. He is just dynamite right now."{{Cite news |last1=Kepner |first1=Tyler |author-link=Tyler Kepner |date=June 16, 2012 |title=Otherworldly Pitch Meets Its Jedi Master |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/17/sports/baseball/r-a-dickey-master-of-the-knuckler.html?src=me&ref=sports |work=The New York Times}}

Dickey recorded double-digit strikeouts in back-to-back games in May,{{Cite web |title=Dickey cranks up to 11 as Mets drop Bucs late |url=http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_05_22_nynmlb_pitmlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=nym#gid=2012_05_22_nynmlb_pitmlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=nym |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525140023/http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_05_22_nynmlb_pitmlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=nym#gid=2012_05_22_nynmlb_pitmlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=nym |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 25, 2012 |access-date=May 23, 2012 |website=mlb.com}}{{Cite web |last=Rumberg |first=Howie |date=May 27, 2012 |title=Dickey shuts down punchless Padres |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/dickey-shuts-down-punchless-padres-195850430--mlb.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531141431/http://sports.yahoo.com/news/dickey-shuts-down-punchless-padres-195850430--mlb.html |archive-date=2012-05-31 |access-date=May 29, 2012 |website=Yahoo |publisher= |agency=Associated Press}} becoming the first Mets pitcher to do so since Pedro Martínez in 2006. Over the two games, Dickey allowed one run in {{fraction|14|1|3}} innings for an ERA of 0.63, and he was named National League Player of the Week for the week ending May 27, 2012.{{Cite web |last=Casella |first=Paul |date=May 29, 2012 |title=Dickey's big week leads to NL honor |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120529&content_id=32436368&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb |access-date=May 30, 2012 |website=MLB.com}}

In Dickey's next two starts, he pitched {{fraction|16|1|3}} innings, allowing no runs. During his next outing on June 13, Dickey allowed only one hit, struck out a career-high 12 batters, and walked none, facing only 29 total batters to lead the Mets to a 9–1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. The only hit was an infield single by B.J. Upton on a play where third baseman David Wright tried to barehand the ball but failed to field it cleanly. The Mets formally appealed the official scorekeeping of the only hit allowed to be changed to an error on Wright, but MLB denied the appeal.{{cite web |last=Marchand |first=Andrew |author-link=Andrew Marchand |date=2012-06-15 |title=MLB denies appeal, upholds Dickey's one-hitter |url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/8057188/mlb-upholds-ruling-new-york-mets-ra-dickey-one-hitter |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=ESPN.com}} Dickey was the first pitcher in the major leagues to reach 10 wins in 2012.{{Cite web |title=Mets' Dickey holds Rays to 1 hit for 10th win |url=https://news.yahoo.com/mets-dickey-holds-rays-1-hit-10th-win-021829536--mlb.html}}

In his next start, Dickey pitched a complete game one-hit shutout against the Orioles, becoming the first pitcher since Dave Stieb in 1988 to throw two consecutive one-hitters.{{Cite news |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Mike |date=June 18, 2012 |title=Dickey Ks 13 in latest 1-hitter, Mets beat O's 5-0 |agency=Associated Press |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/dickey-ks-13-latest-1-hitter-mets-beat-os-5-0 |access-date=June 10, 2014}} He also became only the third pitcher, after Sandy Koufax and Nolan Ryan, to have two complete game one-hitters with 12 or more strikeouts in one season, and the only pitcher to do it in back-to-back starts.{{Cite web |title=How to Throw 90mph |date=August 3, 2019 |url=https://robbinsathletics.com/how-to-throw-90mph/ |publisher=Robbins Athletics}}

During this streak, Dickey set a new Mets franchise record of {{fraction|32|2|3}} consecutive scoreless innings, besting Jerry Koosman's {{fraction|31|2|3}} in 1973. On July 1, 2012, Dickey was named to the National League All-Star team. He was also honored with being the National League Pitcher of the Month after going 5–0 with a 0.93 ERA for the month of June.{{Cite web |title=Dickey named National League Pitcher of the Month |url=http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120702&content_id=34326522&vkey=news_nym&c_id=nym |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120705194220/http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120702&content_id=34326522&vkey=news_nym&c_id=nym |archive-date=July 5, 2012 |access-date=July 2, 2012 |publisher=Mets.com}} On August 31, Dickey pitched his third complete game shutout of the year. The win marked the first time a Met pitcher had reached 17 wins since Al Leiter in 1998.{{Cite web |last=Asofsky |first=Aaron |date=August 9, 2012 |title=Torres, Mets complement R.A.'s complete game |url=http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_08_09_miamlb_nynmlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=nym |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812061945/http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_08_09_miamlb_nynmlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=nym |archive-date=August 12, 2012 |access-date=August 9, 2012 |website=Mlb.com}} Dickey won his 20th game of the season on September 27, 2012, tying his career high with 13 strikeouts.{{Cite web |last=Carig, Marc |date=September 27, 2012 |title=Mets' R.A. Dickey wins 20th game of season |url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/mets-r-a-dickey-wins-20th-game-of-season-1.4048107 |access-date=September 27, 2012 |website=Newsday}} For the 2012 season, Dickey set new career bests in games started (33), wins (20), complete games (5), shutouts (3), innings pitched ({{fraction|233|2|3}}), strikeouts (230), ERA (2.73), WHIP (1.05), and BAA (.226).

Dickey won the NL Cy Young Award, beating out Gio González of the Nationals and Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers. He became the first knuckleballer in MLB history to win the award.{{Cite web |title=R.A. Dickey wins NL Cy Young |date=November 14, 2012 |url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/8633034/ra-dickey-new-york-mets-wins-national-league-cy-young-becoming-first-knuckleballer-win-award |access-date=November 15, 2012 |publisher=ESPN}} He also became the third Met pitcher to win the award, joining Tom Seaver ({{mlby|1969}}, {{mlby|1973}}, and {{mlby|1975}}) and Dwight Gooden ({{mlby|1985}}).{{Cite web |title=Baseball Almanac Cy Young Award Winners |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_cyy.shtml |website=Baseball Almanac |publisher=Baseball Almanac}}

File:R.A. Dickey.jpg

On December 16, 2012, the Mets agreed to trade Dickey to the Toronto Blue Jays (along with Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas) in exchange for Travis d'Arnaud, John Buck, Noah Syndergaard and Wuilmer Becerra, contingent upon his agreeing to a contract extension with the Blue Jays.{{Cite web |title=Dickey trade set pending extension agreement |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121216&content_id=40669380&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb |access-date=December 17, 2012 |website=MLB.com}} The two sides agreed on December 17 to a two-year, $25 million extension with a club option for a third year in 2016 at $12 million; the deal became official once Dickey passed his physical.{{Cite web |title=R.A. Dickey, Toronto reach extension |url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/8754705/ra-dickey-agrees-contract-extension-toronto-blue-jays-sources-say |access-date=December 18, 2012 |website=ESPN|date=December 17, 2012 }}{{Cite web |title=Dickey trade to Blue Jays official |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/toronto-blue-jays-new-york-mets-ra-dickey-trade-121412 |access-date=December 18, 2012 |website=foxsports.com}} On February 5, 2013, manager John Gibbons said Dickey would be the opening day starter for the Blue Jays.{{Cite web |date=February 5, 2013 |title=Jays manager John Gibbons says Dickey will start opening night |url=https://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=415305 |access-date=February 5, 2013 |publisher=TSN.ca}} Dickey lost his first start for his new team, giving up four runs and five hits in six innings in a loss to the Cleveland Indians. Dickey pitched his first complete game and shutout as a Blue Jay in a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on June 26.{{Cite web |last=Chisholm |first=Gregor |date=June 26, 2013 |title=Dickey dominates Rays with two-hit shutout |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_06_26_tormlb_tbamlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=tor |access-date=June 26, 2013 |website=MLB.com}} Dickey would finish his first season as a Blue Jay with a record of 14–13, an ERA of 4.21, and 177 strikeouts over 224{{frac|2|3}} innings pitched.

On October 25, Dickey was announced as a finalist for the AL Pitcher's Gold Glove, along with teammate Mark Buehrle and Detroit Tigers pitcher Doug Fister.{{Cite web |date=October 25, 2013 |title=Mark Buehrle and R.A. Dickey named as American League Gold Glove Award finalists |url=http://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2013/10/25/5028148/mark-buehrle-and-r-a-dickey-named-as-american-league-gold-glove-award |access-date=October 25, 2013 |website=bluebirdbanter.com}} He was awarded the 2013 Pitcher's Fielding Bible on October 28, 2013,{{Cite web |title=The 2013 Awards |url=http://www.fieldingbible.com/the-winners.asp |access-date=October 28, 2013 |website=fieldingbible.com}} and was announced as the AL Pitcher's Gold Glove Award winner on October 29. Dickey led all American League pitchers with 40 assists and 7 defensive runs saved, and yielded only 8 stolen bases.{{Cite web |last=Chisholm |first=Gregor |date=October 29, 2013 |title=Dickey edges teammate Buehrle for Gold Glove |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/tor/ra-dickey-edges-blue-jays-teammate-mark-buehrle-for-gold-glove-award?ymd=20131029&content_id=63502354&vkey=news_tor |access-date=October 30, 2013 |website=MLB.com}}

Dickey began the 2014 season with a 4–4 record and a 4.20 ERA through his first 10 starts. On May 24, he won his fifth game of the season, 5–2 over the AL West-leading Oakland Athletics. In doing so, he lowered his ERA to 3.95, the first time in his tenure as a Blue Jay in which his ERA had been below 4.{{Cite web |date=May 24, 2014 |title=Dickey, Blue Jays beat A's for fifth straight win |url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/dickey-blue-jays-beat-as-for-fith-straight-win/ |access-date=May 24, 2014 |website=Sportsnet}} On June 27, Dickey recorded his 1,000th career strikeout, coming against Tyler Flowers of the Chicago White Sox. He would start the final game of the Blue Jays season on September 28, against the Baltimore Orioles, and would pitch 6 innings and yield only 1 run, but Toronto would lose 1–0. Dickey finished the season with a 14–13 record, 3.71 ERA, 173 strikeouts, and a 1.23 WHIP in 34 starts totaling 215{{frac|2|3}} innings.

Dickey opened the 2015 season as the number two starter in the Jays rotation. On June 18, he made his first start against the Mets since being traded in 2012, and pitched 7{{frac|1|3}} innings in a 7–1 win. Dickey was placed on the bereavement list the following day after it was revealed that his father, Harry Lee Dickey, had died on June 16.{{Cite web |last=Davidi |first=Shi |date=June 19, 2015 |title=Blue Jays place Dickey on bereavement list |url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-place-dickey-on-bereavement-list/ |access-date=June 19, 2015 |website=Sportsnet}} At the All-Star break, Dickey had a 3–10 record and a 4.87 ERA.{{Cite web |last=Davidi |first=Shi |date=September 8, 2015 |title=Century mark a meaningful milestone for Blue Jays' Dickey |url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/century-mark-a-meaningful-milestone-for-blue-jays-dickey/ |access-date=October 4, 2015 |website=Sportsnet}} He would turn his season around after the break, and earned his 100th career win on September 25.{{Cite web |last=Zwelling |first=Arden |date=September 26, 2015 |title=Now a 100-game winner, Dickey takes pride in dependability |url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/now-a-100-game-winner-dickey-takes-pride-in-dependability/ |access-date=October 4, 2015 |website=Sportsnet}} Dickey pitched a little over 99 innings after the All-Star break, fourth most in the American League, resulting in eight wins with only one loss, 6th best in the AL. His ERA was a meager 2.80 over that period, which would have tied him for the best in the American League with Justin Verlander (50 inning minimum), had it not been for two other Jays starters, Marco Estrada, with a 2.78 ERA, and David Price, at 2.55. Overall Dickey finished the season with an 11–11 record, 3.91 ERA, and 126 strikeouts in 214{{frac|1|3}} innings pitched. He made his postseason debut on October 12, starting game 4 of the ALDS against the Texas Rangers. At 40 years of age, Dickey became the oldest player in MLB history to make his postseason debut, pitching 4{{frac|2|3}} innings before he was relieved by David Price, who would go on to earn the win.{{Cite web |date=October 12, 2015 |title=Blue Jays look to even ALDS with Rangers |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-force-game5-texas-1.3267344 |access-date=October 12, 2015 |website=cbc.ca}} On November 3, Dickey's $12 million option for 2016 was exercised by the Blue Jays.{{Cite web |date=November 3, 2015 |title=Blue Jays exercise options on Bautista, Dickey, Encarnacion |url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-exercise-options-on-bautista-dickey-encarnacion/ |access-date=November 3, 2015 |website=Sportsnet}} During the offseason, he underwent surgery to repair a tear in his right meniscus.{{Cite web |date=February 21, 2016 |title=Blue Jays' Dickey underwent off-season surgery |url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-dickey-underwent-off-season-surgery/ |access-date=February 21, 2016 |website=Sportsnet}}

Dickey closed the 2016 regular season with a 10–15 record, 4.46 ERA, and 126 strikeouts over 169{{frac|2|3}} innings. Due to the acquisition of Francisco Liriano at the trade deadline, Dickey made only three pitching appearances in September.{{Cite web |title=R.A. Dickey 2016 Game Log |url=http://m.mlb.com/player/285079/ra-dickey?year=2016&stats=gamelogs-r-pitching-mlb |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521033634/http://m.mlb.com/player/285079/ra-dickey?year=2016&stats=gamelogs-r-pitching-mlb |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 21, 2016 |access-date=October 27, 2016 |website=MLB.com}} With the Blue Jays only needing four starters for the playoffs, Dickey was left off of the postseason roster in favor of Marcus Stroman, Aaron Sanchez, Marco Estrada, and J. A. Happ. Dickey became a free agent at the conclusion of the 2016 season.{{Cite web |last=Robson |first=Dan |date=October 21, 2016 |title=R.A. Dickey reflects on time with Blue Jays: 'I'll never forget it' |url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/r-dickey-reflects-time-blue-jays-ill-never-forget/ |access-date=October 27, 2016 |website=Sportsnet}} On October 27, Dickey was named a finalist for the Gold Glove Award, losing to Dallas Keuchel.{{Cite web |last=Nicholson-Smith |first=Ben |date=October 27, 2016 |title=Pillar, Dickey named Gold Glove finalists for Blue Jays |url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/pillar-dickey-named-gold-glove-finalists-blue-jays/ |access-date=October 27, 2016 |website=Sportsnet}}{{Cite web |date=2016-11-09 |title=MLB announces 2016 Gold Glove award winners |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2016/11/09/mlb-gold-glove-award-winners-2016 |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=SI |language=en-US}}

File:R. A. Dickey (34900430334) (cropped).jpg in 2017]]

On November 10, 2016, Dickey signed a one-year, $7.5 million contract with the Atlanta Braves that included an $8 million club option for the 2018 season, with a $500,000 buyout.{{Cite web |date=November 10, 2016 |title=Braves sign right-hander R.A. Dickey to one-year deal |url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/braves-sign-right-hander-r-dickey-one-year-deal/ |access-date=November 10, 2016 |website=Sportsnet}}

In 31 starts for the Braves in the 2017 season, Dickey had a 10–10 record with a 4.26 ERA. The Braves declined the 2018 option on Dickey, leaving him a free agent. He retired in 2018 after not being signed in free agency.{{Cite web |last=Lesar |first=Al |date=August 8, 2018 |title=UT Vols: R.A. Dickey still surviving, thriving after baseball career comes to an end |url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/other-sports/2018/08/08/ut-vols-ra-dickey-still-surviving-after-baseball-career-comes-end-tennessee-knuckleball/922859002/ |access-date=August 17, 2018 |website=Knoxville News Sentinel}}

Dickey relied primarily on the knuckleball, using it around 80% of the time. His repertoire was rounded out by two-seam and four-seam fastballs (82–85 mph) and a rare changeup (76–78 mph).{{Cite web |title=Brooks Baseball · Home of the PitchFX Tool — Player Card: R.A. Dickey |url=http://brooksbaseball.net/player_cards/player_card.php?player=285079 |access-date=October 31, 2012 |publisher=Brooks Baseball}} Dickey's knuckleball came in two forms — a "slow" knuckler in the low-to-mid 70s that has been clocked as low as 54 mph, and a "fast" one in the upper 70s, sometimes reaching as fast as 83 mph. Dickey tended to use the slow knuckleball when he was behind in the count, and used the fast one when he was ahead.{{Cite web |date=July 30, 2012 |title=Knuckling Under With Two Speeds: RA Dickey's Two Knuckleballs |url=http://www.amazinavenue.com/2010/7/28/1592880/knuckling-under-with-two-speeds-ra |access-date=October 31, 2012 |publisher=SBNation.com}} However, he resorted to a fastball in most 3–0 and 3–1 counts.

Dickey was a member of the Team USA at the 1996 Olympics that won a bronze medal in Atlanta. Dickey started two games, recording wins in both.{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/di/r-a-dickey-1.html |title=R. A. Dickey |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418033300/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/di/r-a-dickey-1.html |archive-date=April 18, 2020}} Seventeen years later, Dickey once again pitched for Team USA in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. He started two games, going 0–1 after allowing 5 runs in 9 innings as the Americans finished in sixth place.{{Cite web |title=Overall Statistics for the 2013 World Baseball Classic Team |url=https://img.mlbstatic.com/opprops-images/image/upload/opprops/ebhlprbrwkb08l3brtwo.pdf |website=USA Baseball}}

File:RA Dickey.jpg

• 2012 NL Cy Young Award winner
• All-Star selection (2012)
• National League Pitcher of the Month (June 2012)
• National League Player of the Week (May 27, 2012)
• Won a bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta for Men's Baseball.
• Baseball Prospectus Cy Young Award (2012)
• Sporting News NL Pitcher of the Year (2012)
• Holds the Mets franchise record of {{fraction|32|2|3}} consecutive scoreless innings (set June 13, 2012).{{Cite web |date=June 13, 2012 |title=MLB.com Gameday |url=http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_06_13_nynmlb_tbamlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=nym |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617031519/http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_06_13_nynmlb_tbamlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=nym |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 17, 2012 |access-date=December 10, 2012 |publisher=Newyork.mets.mlb.com}} Second (to Dwight Gooden) among Mets pitchers all-time with {{fraction|44|2|3}} consecutive innings pitched without giving up an earned run.{{Cite web |last=O’Connell |first=Jack |date=June 25, 2012 |title=Yanks end two of Dickey’s streaks |url=https://cutoffman.mlblogs.com/yanks-end-two-of-dickeys-streaks-a81c4d8ce42b |website=The Cutoff Man |publisher=Major League Baseball |quote=...a run that ended Dickey’s stretch of 44 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run, thereby leaving intact Dwight Gooden’s franchise mark of 49 such innings in 1985.}}
• Threw two consecutive one-hitters on June 13 and 18, 2012. The last time a pitcher had thrown two consecutive one-hitters was in 1988 in the AL and 1944 in the NL. During the June 18 one-hitter, he also set a career high in strikeouts with 13.{{Cite web |date=June 18, 2012 |title=Baltimore Orioles vs. New York Mets – Recap – June 18, 2012 – ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=320618121 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170719224509/http://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=320618121 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 19, 2017 |access-date=December 10, 2012 |publisher=ESPN}} Dickey is also the only pitcher to throw consecutive one hitters and post 10+ strikeouts.
• With his June 18, 2012, win over the Orioles, he became the only pitcher in major league history to have five consecutive starts without giving up any earned runs and still getting at least eight strikeouts in each game.{{Cite magazine |date=June 21, 2012 |title=R.A. Dickey leads NL Cy Young field; Justin Verlander tops AL – Cliff Corcoran – SI.com |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/cliff_corcoran/06/21/cy-young-watch-ra-dickey-justin-verlander/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624004717/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/cliff_corcoran/06/21/cy-young-watch-ra-dickey-justin-verlander/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 24, 2012 |access-date=December 10, 2012 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}
• Branch Rickey Award (2012){{Cite web |date=September 13, 2012 |title=Dickey earns Rickey Award for philanthropic efforts |url=http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120913&content_id=38360328&vkey=news_nym&c_id=nym |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917024447/http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120913&content_id=38360328&vkey=news_nym&c_id=nym |archive-date=September 17, 2012 |access-date=September 13, 2012 |website=MLB.com}}
• National League Outstanding Pitcher of the Year (2012){{Cite web |title=Players pick R.A. Dickey for NL's Outstanding Pitcher | MLB.com: News |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121105&content_id=40181894&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb |access-date=December 10, 2012 |publisher=Mlb.mlb.com}}
• Received an honorary degree of Doctor of Sacred Letters from Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto on May 13, 2013.{{Cite web |last=Kennedy |first=Brendan |date=May 13, 2013 |title=Blue Jays' R.A. Dickey receives honorary degree from U of T |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/bluejays/2013/05/13/blue_jays_ra_dickey_receives_honorary_degree_from_u_of_t.html |access-date=May 16, 2013 |website=Toronto Star}}

File:Kevin Burkhardt and R.A. Dickey (8031631184) (cropped).jpg for SNY in 2012]]

Dickey is married and has two daughters and two sons. A born-again Christian, he helps operate the Ocala, Florida-based Honoring the Father Ministries which provides medical supplies, powdered milk, and baseball equipment to the impoverished in Latin America.{{Cite news |last=Vecsey |first=George |date=September 14, 2010 |title=Dickey Is at Home, In Any House |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/15/sports/baseball/15vecsey.html?ref=sports |access-date=May 24, 2011}}

A 2010 New York Times article reported that Dickey is an avid reader and that at the time. Dickey has said that if he had not become a professional athlete, he would have become an English professor.{{Cite news |last=Kepner |first=Tyler |date=July 8, 2010 |title=Mets Knuckleballer Dickey Keeps His Fingers Crossed |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/09/sports/baseball/09kepner.html}} Dickey named his bats for literary swords—Orcrist the Goblin Cleaver (from The Hobbit) and Hrunting (from Beowulf).{{Cite news |last=Kepner |first=Tyler |date=April 30, 2011 |title=R.A. Dickey's Well-Named Arsenal |work=The New York Times |url=http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/30/r-a-dickeys-well-named-arsenal/ |access-date=May 24, 2011}} Dickey mixed up Orcrist and Sting when explaining the origin of the name.{{Cite web |last=Read |first=Max |date=May 8, 2011 |title=The New York Times Is Very Sorry For Getting Bilbo's Sword Wrong |url=http://gawker.com/#!5799750/the-new-york-times-is-very-sorry-for-getting-bilbos-sword-wrong |access-date=May 24, 2011 |website=Gawker}}[http://gothamist.com/2011/05/08/is_this_the_greatest_ny_times_corre.php Is This The Greatest NY Times Correction Of All Time?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602074458/http://gothamist.com/2011/05/08/is_this_the_greatest_ny_times_corre.php |date=June 2, 2012 }} Gothamist Dickey's at-bat introduction song was the theme from Game of Thrones.{{Cite web |last=Dickey |first=Jack |date=September 28, 2012 |title=Everything You Need to Know About R.A. Dickey, the Man Who Throws Baseball's Best and Strangest Pitch |url=http://gawker.com/5947423/everything-you-need-to-know-about-ra-dickey-the-man-who-throws-baseballs-best-and-strangest-pitch |access-date=May 30, 2013 |website=Gawker}}

In November 2011, Dickey announced that he would risk his 2012 season salary ($4.25 million) to attempt to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. He credited this aspiration to his boyhood reading of Ernest Hemingway's The Snows of Kilimanjaro.{{Cite web |date=November 2, 2011 |title=Mets Pitcher R.A. Dickey Risking $4 Million Salary To Climb Mount Kilimanjaro |url=http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/dish/201111/mets-pitcher-risking-4-million-salary-climb-mount-kilimanjaro |access-date=March 28, 2012}} While climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, he set out to raise awareness of the issue of human trafficking in India. His climb was in support of an organization called "Bombay Teen Challenge" that ministers to victims of human trafficking and their children in the heart of the red-light districts. Dickey returned from this trip in January 2012 with Mets bullpen catcher Dave Racaniello and the Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Kevin Slowey, and together raised over $100,000.

His 2011 season was followed in the documentary film Knuckleball!{{Cite web |last=Genzlinger, Neil |date=September 20, 2012 |title=The Art of the Flutter: 'Knuckleball!' Considers the Unpredictable Pitch |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2012/09/20/movies/knuckleball-considers-the-unpredictable-pitch.html |access-date=June 2, 2013 |website=The New York Times}}{{Cite web |last=Burr, Ty |date=September 17, 2012 |title='Knuckleball!' documentary is pitch-perfect |url=https://www.boston.com/ae/movies/2012/09/17/knuckleball-documentary-pitch-perfect/VPC5DQaiN8o66a3vlZxqWM/story.html |access-date=June 2, 2013 |website=The Boston Globe}}

His autobiography, Wherever I Wind Up: My Quest for Truth, Authenticity and the Perfect Knuckleball, written along with New York Daily News reporter Wayne Coffey, was released in 2012.{{Cite web |date=January 30, 2012 |title=Mets' knuckler Dickey reaches new heights |website=New York Daily News |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/ny-mets-righthander-a-dickey-ready-turn-thoughts-baseball-offseason-film-making-writing-mountain-climbing-article-1.1013924}} In the book Dickey wrote that, at the age of 8, a 13-year-old female babysitter sexually abused him, and subsequently a teenage male sexually abused him. He also discussed his struggles with suicidal thoughts as an adult.{{Cite web |last=DiComo |first=Anthony |title=Dickey addresses childhood abuse in book |url=http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120327&content_id=27657628&vkey=news_nym&c_id=nym |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331010401/http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120327&content_id=27657628&vkey=news_nym&c_id=nym |archive-date=March 31, 2012 |access-date=March 27, 2012 |website=MLB.com}} In September 2012, Dial Press announced a deal with Dickey to publish three books, including a children's version of his memoir.{{Cite web |title=Mets Ace R.A. Dickey Signs Deal To Have Three Children's Books Published |date=September 6, 2012 |url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/09/06/mets-ace-r-a-dickey-signs-deal-to-have-three-childrens-books-published/ |access-date=September 6, 2012 |publisher=CBS News New York}}

On June 20, 2012, it was reported that Dickey was helping coach an 18-year-old knuckleball pitcher from Long Island, helping him become a walk-on pitcher for the University of Maryland Terrapins.{{Cite magazine |last=Martin |first=Phil |date=September 24, 2012 |title=Taylor |magazine=Sports Illustrated |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1206058/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130103200813/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1206058/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 3, 2013 |access-date=October 25, 2012}}{{Cite news |last=Martin |first=Dan |date=June 20, 2012 |title=Mets pitcher OK with sharing his secrets |work=New York Post |url=http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/mets_pitcher_ok_with_sharing_his_WRKZbei9ufpn75SnQvNSqK |access-date=October 25, 2012}}

In 2013, Dickey appeared in a video for I Am Second describing his suicide attempt, history of abuse, and becoming a born-again Christian.[http://www.iamsecond.com/seconds/ra-dickey/ RA Dickey - I Am Second]

{{Portal|Tennessee|Biography|Baseball}}

• List of knuckleball pitchers
• List of Major League Baseball annual shutout leaders
• List of Olympic medalists in baseball
• New York Mets award winners and league leaders
• Toronto Blue Jays award winners and league leaders

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{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Cite magazine |last=McGrath |first=Ben |date=May 6, 2013 |title=Oddball : is R. A. Dickey too good to be true? |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/05/06/oddball |access-date=2016-08-18 |department=The Sporting Scene |magazine=The New Yorker |pages=52–61 |volume=89 |issue=12}}

{{Commons}}

• {{Baseballstats|mlb=285079|espn=4695|br=d/dicker.01|fangraphs=1245|brm=dickey001rob|retro=D/Pdickr001}}
• {{Olympics.com|r-a-dickey}}
• {{Olympedia}}
• [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/27/sports/baseball/27dickey.html?ex=1361768400&en=3900d66b14c7d88f&ei=5088& Alan Schwarz, "New Twist Keeps Dickey's Career Afloat"] New York Times, February 27, 2008
• [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=87775259 "Elusive Knuckleball Gives Pitcher Chance at Majors"] NPR. February 28, 2008.
• [http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8754454/ra-dickey-38-years-old-be-bewildering-hitters-years-come R.A. the Knuckle Man] by Rany Jazayerli at Grantland

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