University of South Alabama Athletics

A native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Lieber lettered at South Alabama from 1991-92 after transferring from Iowa Western Community College. Lieber led the Jags to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and the 1992 Sun Belt Conference championship. He was two-time all-conference honoree and an all-region choice in 1992. He was selected third-team All-America by ABCA in 1992. He posted back-to-back 12-5 seasons and led the Jags in strikeouts and ERA in both seasons. As a senior, he posted a remarkable 2.04 ERA and earned Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Honors. In June of 1992, he was a second round draft pick of the Kansas City Royals, but was sent to Pittsburg a year later. Lieber made his major league debut with the Pirates on May 15, 1994 against Philadelphia. In December of 1998, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs where he has seen his career blossom. In 2001, he earned his first all-star game appearance and ended the season as a 20-game winner.