Lyons was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, graduated from Biloxi High School and attended Delta State University where he was an NCAA All-American catcher. In 1979 and 1981, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League. He was taken in the 25th round of the 1981 Major League Baseball Draft by the Detroit Tigers but did not sign. He was then taken in the 15th round of the 1982 draft by the Mets and agreed to a contract.