Editing Dave Stieb (section)

== Early years ==
Born in [[Santa Ana, California]], Stieb was primarily an outfielder during his time at [[Oak Grove High School (San Jose, California)|Oak Grove High School]] and at [[San Jose City College]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blue Jays legend Dave Stieb enters the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame |url=https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-legend-dave-stieb-enters-the-san-jose-sports-hall-of-fame |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=BlueJaysNation |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-09 |title=Photos: San Jose Sports Hall of Fame 2023 inducts four South Bay legends |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/11/09/photos-san-jose-sports-hall-of-fame-2023-inducts-four-south-bay-legends/ |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=The Mercury News |language=en-US}}</ref> In his later college years, he played varsity baseball at [[Southern Illinois University]].<ref name=Porter /> At this point, Stieb played primarily as an outfielder.<ref name="Fimrite">{{cite magazine |last=Fimrite |first=Ron |date=May 16, 1983 |title=A Rare Bird: The Natural |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |publisher=[[CNN]] |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1120827/1/index.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=June 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102043228/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1120827/1/index.htm |archive-date=November 2, 2012}}</ref> In his 1978 junior season, Stieb hit .394 with 12 home runs and 48 RBIs, and was named to ''[[The Sporting News]]''{{'s}} All-American team (along with [[Kirk Gibson]] and [[Bob Horner]]).<ref>{{cite news |author1=Lou Pavlovich |title=Horner and Gibson Stand Out in Selections |agency=The Sporting News |date=July 8, 1978}}</ref>

Scouted by [[Bobby Mattick]] and [[Al LaMacchia]] of the Blue Jays as an outfield prospect in a varsity game, Stieb's performance failed to impress until he was pressed into service as a relief pitcher. His pitching surprised and convinced the Blue Jays to draft him in the [[1978 Major League Baseball draft]].<ref name="Fimrite" /> Stieb was initially reluctant to take the mound as a starting pitcher until he was told by the Blue Jays front office that "the quickest way to make it [to the major leagues] would be pitching."<ref name="sabr">{{cite web |title=Dave Stieb |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/dave-stieb/ |website=SABR}}</ref>