The gems of January
Major League Baseball teams since 1965 have been restocking their organizations through the amateur draft.
While never as big or as popular as the annual drafts for the National Football League or National Basketball Association, the MLB draft steadily grows into becoming a watchable event.
Until the last few years, only the most ardent of fans – you know, seamheads – would follow the proceedings.
Not anymore.
Now, if we so desire, wall-to-wall coverage may be found in the days and weeks leading up to the June draft.
For that, we all can thank the MLB Network and its countless number of analysts who make quick experts of us all on amateur players who until then are, for the most part, widely unknown outside of their immediate families.
For 21 years from 1966-86, MLB also holds a separate, almost completely-under-the-radar draft in January for players not eligible in the previous June draft.
This draft, for the most part, is uneventful and, ultimately, finds itself discontinued 39 years ago by MLB.
The overwhelming majority of the players from these January drafts never come close to playing in the majors.
Ken Singleton with the Mets
Every now and then, though, a gem or two comes out of the January draft.
The first two come from the 1967 draft as the New York Mets select and sign a future All-Star outfielder in Ken Singleton, while the Boston Red Sox pick up a future Hall of Famer in catcher Carlton Fisk.
Other future All-Stars show up, too, with outfielder George Hendrick going to Oakland in 1968; first baseman Chris Chambliss (Cleveland, 1970); pitcher Dave Righetti (Texas, 1977); outfielder Moises Alou (Pittsburgh, 1986) and pitcher Curt Schilling (Boston, 1987), as well as eight-time Gold Glove center fielder Garry Maddox (San Francisco, 1968).
One such January draft that produces a future Hall of Famer comes 43 years ago today as the Minnesota Twins select center fielder Kirby Puckett out of Illinois’ Triton College with the third overall pick.
In case you are wondering, the two teams that pass on the 5-foot-8 Puckett in the January 1982 draft are the Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs.
Kirby Puckett with the Twins
The Blue Jays use the first overall pick to select outfielder Kash Beauchamp out of Oklahoma’s Bacone College, while the Cubs at No. 2 choose catcher Troy Afenir from California’ Palomar College.
Beauchamp becomes a minor league lifer both as a player and coach, while Afenir never signs with the Cubs.
Afenir, though, eventually returns to the draft and spends parts of four seasons in the major leagues with 45 games for Houston, Oakland and Cincinnati.
As for Puckett, he reaches the majors with the Twins by the second week of May 1984, beginning a 12-year career in which he is a 10-time All-Star, two-time World Series winner, a six-time Gold Glove winner and a .318 lifetime hitter with one American League batting championship.
Oh, yes, he also is a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2001.
“I was told I would never make it because I’m too short,” Puckett says after his retirement in 1995.
“Well, I’m still too short, but I’ve got 10 All-Star games, two World Series championships, and I’m a very happy and contented guy. It doesn’t matter what your height is, it’s what’s in your heart.”