obucard wrote:Albert was pick #402. Every team passed on him a dozen times.
Mike Piazza was pick #1390.
The Mets in 1966 used the #1 pick on a catcher that never saw time in the majors (the #2 pick that year was Reggie Jackson).
Of the 47 players drafted ahead of Cal Ripken in 1978, 24 never wore a major league uniform.
The Cards took Dmitri Young with the #4 pick in 1991. Cleveland would use #13 on Manny Ramirez.
The 1981 Draft saw the Yankees use #52 on OF John Elway (yes, that John Elway). San Diego then spent #58 on Tony Gwynn.
15 pitchers (and 15 position players) were taken in 1984 before the Cubs took Greg Maddux. 7 more pitchers (and 8 position players) were taken after that before Atlanta took Tom Glavine.
1985 had the Cards taking Joe Magrane at #18, one of 16 pitchers picked ahead of Randy Johnson.
8 of the 16 players picked before Roy Halladay in 1995 were pitchers.
7 of the 9 catchers (and 58 of 112 players overall) picked before Yadier Molina in 2000 failed to reach the majors.
Hindsight is 20/20.
Thanks for that post,obucard, really eye opening numbers. When I finished reading it, a tune was running through my mind from one of my favorite musicals- Guys and Dolls:" Luck be a lady tonight."