John Derran Lackey (born October 23, 1978, in Abilene, Texas) is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher. He has played for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim his entire career. Fox Sports color commentator Rex Hudler coined the nickname Big John for the 6' 6" Angels hurler.

Before Lackey was in high school, he played at Dixie Little League in Abilene. Lackey attended Abilene High School (Abilene, Texas) (the Eagles), and was a letterman in football, basketball, and baseball. In baseball, he was a two-time first team All-District honoree and as a senior, he was also an All-State selection.

He played one season of baseball at the University of Texas at Arlington, playing first base and sometimes moonlighting as a reliever. In 1999, he played on the Junior College World Series champion Grayson County College team in Denison, Texas, where he posted a 10-3 record with a 4.23 ERA.