1966 Major League Baseball draft
First round selections
= All-Star | = Baseball Hall of Famer |
The following are the first round picks in the 1966 Major League Baseball draft.[1]
Pick | Player | Team | Position | Hometown/School |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Steve Chilcott | New York Mets | C | Lancaster, California |
2 | Reggie Jackson | Kansas City Athletics | OF | Arizona State |
3 | Wayne Twitchell | Houston Astros | RHP | Portland, Oregon |
4 | Ken Brett | Boston Red Sox | LHP | El Segundo, California |
5 | Dean Burk | Chicago Cubs | RHP | Highland, Illinois |
6 | Tom Grieve | Washington Senators | OF | Pittsfield, Massachusetts |
7 | Leron Lee | St. Louis Cardinals | OF | Sacramento, California |
8 | Jim DeNeff | California Angels | SS | Indiana University |
9 | Mike Biko | Philadelphia Phillies | RHP | Dallas, Texas |
10 | Jim Lyttle | New York Yankees | OF | Florida State |
11 | Al Santorini | Milwaukee Braves | RHP | Union, New Jersey |
12 | * John Curtis | Cleveland Indians | LHP | Smithtown, New York |
13 | Gary Nolan | Cincinnati Reds | RHP | Oroville, California |
14 | * Rick Konik | Detroit Tigers | 1B | Detroit, Michigan |
15 | Richie Hebner | Pittsburgh Pirates | SS | Norwood, Massachusetts |
16 | Ted Parks | Baltimore Orioles | SS | University of California |
17 | Bob Reynolds | San Francisco Giants | RHP | Seattle, WA |
18 | Carlos May | Chicago White Sox | OF | Birmingham, AL |
19 | Larry Hutton | Los Angeles Dodgers | RHP | Greenfield, Indiana |
20 | Bob Jones | Minnesota Twins | 3B | Dawson, Georgia |
* Did not sign
Background
A January free agent amateur draft was added for the first time in 1966. Ninety-five prospects were selected in the regular phase and 102 in the secondary phase of the January draft, which featured only players previously drafted who did not sign. With the number one pick in the regular phase of the June draft, the New York Mets passed on Arizona State slugger Reggie Jackson and instead chose high school catcher Steve Chilcott. He spent six seasons in the minors before injuries ended his career.
Although the Mets will be remembered for choosing Chilcott over Jackson, many forget they landed Tom Seaver that year. Seaver, who was declared ineligible by the NCAA to play college baseball and who also was ineligible to be selected in the winter draft, was signed by the Mets for $50,000 in a special draft.
The Yankees tabbed left-handed pitcher Ken Stabler in the 10th round. Stabler went on to star in the NFL as a quarterback during the Oakland Raiders' championship years. Steve Garvey was the one who got away in 1966. Selected by the Minnesota Twins, Garvey elected to enroll at Michigan State.[2]
Other notable players
- Johnny Oates, 2nd round, 38th overall
- Charlie Hough, 8th round, 159th overall
- Ron Cey, 19th round, 361st overall
- Bill Stoneman, 31st round, 595th overall
Notes
- ↑ "MLB First Round Draft Picks – 1966". Retrieved February 9, 2008.
- ↑ "Background on the 1966 MLB Draft". Archived from the original on June 14, 2008. Retrieved July 16, 2008.
External links
References
Preceded by Rick Monday |
1st Overall Picks Steve Chilcott |
Succeeded by Ron Blomberg |