 In 1973, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.He was a three-time All-America, at the NAIA level his sophomore and junior years, and at the NCAA level his senior year, and was named the "Sporting News" College Player of the Year.Shortly afterwards, the California Angels selected him first overall pick in the 1975 Major League Baseball draft and signed him for a major league record $150,000.