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With the 1992 BLB draft come and gone a lot has been written lately on picks throughout the history of the leagues. The stars, the busts, the bonehead moves...the BLB has had them all. Thanks in part to some new technology combined with some good ol' fashioned reporting we are going to look at the 1979-1989 drafts and see who some of the True Steals were!
Note: Click on the players name to get a full breakdown of his BLB career.
1979
SP Nathan Athey - Rd 8, Pick 20, 160th Overall
81-84, 3.43 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 1298 K's
All though Athey was drafted by Windy City he only played 12 games for them before being picked up by Batavia in the '83 expansion draft. Since then he has pitched in 251 games, been a two time All-Star, and is still currently playing at the top of his ability.
1980
C Pete Miller - Rd 9, Pick 8, 168th Overall
1096 games, .299/.381/.458, 111 HR's, 611 RBI's, 534 BB's
This one barely counts as a true steal, because Hartford cut Miller in '81 and he wasn't signed until 12/16/81 by Indianapolis...but we will count it anyway. Since breaking into the BLB in '84 Miller won the '87 Stout Slugger Award, has been to two All-Star Games, and was a '91 Glove Wizard Award winner.
1981
LF Joe Nazaire - Rd 14, Pick 6, 266th Overall
976 games, .325/.358/.437, 84 HR's, 538 RBI's, 1303 hits
Drafted at only 17 years of age the kid was said to have decent contact but a horrible eye at the plate. Over time though his outstanding work ethic propelled him into a hitting coaches dreams and he has turned into a two time All-Star and perennial threat at the plate.
1982
3B Manny Rivera - Rd 12, Pick 12, 254th Overall
780 games, .289/.395/.439, 79 HR's, 382 RBI's, 510 BB's
When Rivera was drafted he was a tall skinny 21 year old from Santo Domingo that couldn't hit, couldn't field, and was basically just a spot filler in Hartford's minor leagues. Then he proceeded to hit over .300 every single year in the minors and by '87 was a BLB full time player. Now Rivera plays for the Bulls and is trying to get back to his '88 All-Star selection form.
1983
3B Clarence Wetton - Rd 16, Pick 2, 332nd Overall
998 games, .275/.335/.416, 71 HR's, 396 RBI's
There is one person in the entire '83 draft with more Win Shares than Wetton, CF Rex Knight. In his career with Windy City he has never been an All-Star, or won the Glove Wizard, but he's dependable at both the plate and in the field and is a player almost every team would love to have.
1984
DH Finley Kinsey - Rd 15, Pick 18, 354th Overall
688 games, .330/.399/.565, 142 HR's, 515 RBI's
Whatever Hyundai saw in this 21 year old back in '84 the rest of the league didn't, and for that matter neither did Hyundai. Kinsey is on pace to be one of the best hitters the BLB has ever seen. So far in a short period of time he took home the Refreshing New Brew and Stout Slugger in '88, and the Stout Slugger again and was named an All-Star in '91.
1985
1B Joe Rojas - Rd 7, Pick 24, 168th Overall
502 games, .295/.361/.516, 106 HR's, 340 RBI's
Selected by Maine in '85 and then traded to Mississippi in '86 good ol' Joe wasn't really on either teams radar as to what he would become. He then began to tear up the minors and slowly advanced until he debuted in the BLB in '89. He won the Refreshing New Brew and was named an All-Star that year, and since then has went to the '90 and '91 All-Star games as well.
1986
SP Derrek Tucker - Rd 5, Pick 19, 115th Overall
28-24, 3.42 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 451 K's
Carolina drafted him '86, released him in '87, and he was quickly scooped up by Davenport several weeks later. Then in '88 he was traded to Washington along with T. Abbott, I. Garcia, and a 2nd round pick for SP R. McEvoy. After finally settling down he improved dramatically and was called up at the end of '89 to the BLB, a place where we expect him to stay for a long time.
1987
LF Doug Bryant - Rd 8. Pick 13, 181st Overall
325 games, .280/.348/.456, 43 HR's, 157 RBI's
Drafted by Batavia at the age of 22 in '87 they decided in all their wisdom he wasn't going to be much and cut him the next day. Talk about giving the guy a shot. He was picked up by the Millers and traded to Windy City in '90 in a massive five player deal as more of an afterthought. Tired of being an afterthought he hit the gym and batting cage and has turned into one of the best hitters in the league.
1988
SP Deron Ryan - Rd 7, Pick 20, 164th Pick
7-5, 3.45 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 97 K's
When the Storm chose Ryan they loved his intelligence and work ethic and figured they would give the 18 year old a shot. All though he never did very well in the minors he was slowly advanced until he made his BLB debut in '91. He only started 10 games but showed enough to stay on the Storm's squad and looks to just be starting a promising career.
1989
CF Doug Pike - Rd 6th, Pick 4, 124th Overall
16 games, .324/.333/.486, 1 HR, 10 RBI
All though it's not fair to judge anyone from this draft class yet, Pike is one of only 11 players to play in the BLB from '89, and the lowest drafted out of those 11.
With the 1992 BLB draft come and gone a lot has been written lately on picks throughout the history of the leagues. The stars, the busts, the bonehead moves...the BLB has had them all. Thanks in part to some new technology combined with some good ol' fashioned reporting we are going to look at the 1979-1989 drafts and see who some of the True Steals were!
Note: Click on the players name to get a full breakdown of his BLB career.
1979
SP Nathan Athey - Rd 8, Pick 20, 160th Overall
81-84, 3.43 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 1298 K's
All though Athey was drafted by Windy City he only played 12 games for them before being picked up by Batavia in the '83 expansion draft. Since then he has pitched in 251 games, been a two time All-Star, and is still currently playing at the top of his ability.
1980
C Pete Miller - Rd 9, Pick 8, 168th Overall
1096 games, .299/.381/.458, 111 HR's, 611 RBI's, 534 BB's
This one barely counts as a true steal, because Hartford cut Miller in '81 and he wasn't signed until 12/16/81 by Indianapolis...but we will count it anyway. Since breaking into the BLB in '84 Miller won the '87 Stout Slugger Award, has been to two All-Star Games, and was a '91 Glove Wizard Award winner.
1981
LF Joe Nazaire - Rd 14, Pick 6, 266th Overall
976 games, .325/.358/.437, 84 HR's, 538 RBI's, 1303 hits
Drafted at only 17 years of age the kid was said to have decent contact but a horrible eye at the plate. Over time though his outstanding work ethic propelled him into a hitting coaches dreams and he has turned into a two time All-Star and perennial threat at the plate.
1982
3B Manny Rivera - Rd 12, Pick 12, 254th Overall
780 games, .289/.395/.439, 79 HR's, 382 RBI's, 510 BB's
When Rivera was drafted he was a tall skinny 21 year old from Santo Domingo that couldn't hit, couldn't field, and was basically just a spot filler in Hartford's minor leagues. Then he proceeded to hit over .300 every single year in the minors and by '87 was a BLB full time player. Now Rivera plays for the Bulls and is trying to get back to his '88 All-Star selection form.
1983
3B Clarence Wetton - Rd 16, Pick 2, 332nd Overall
998 games, .275/.335/.416, 71 HR's, 396 RBI's
There is one person in the entire '83 draft with more Win Shares than Wetton, CF Rex Knight. In his career with Windy City he has never been an All-Star, or won the Glove Wizard, but he's dependable at both the plate and in the field and is a player almost every team would love to have.
1984
DH Finley Kinsey - Rd 15, Pick 18, 354th Overall
688 games, .330/.399/.565, 142 HR's, 515 RBI's
Whatever Hyundai saw in this 21 year old back in '84 the rest of the league didn't, and for that matter neither did Hyundai. Kinsey is on pace to be one of the best hitters the BLB has ever seen. So far in a short period of time he took home the Refreshing New Brew and Stout Slugger in '88, and the Stout Slugger again and was named an All-Star in '91.
1985
1B Joe Rojas - Rd 7, Pick 24, 168th Overall
502 games, .295/.361/.516, 106 HR's, 340 RBI's
Selected by Maine in '85 and then traded to Mississippi in '86 good ol' Joe wasn't really on either teams radar as to what he would become. He then began to tear up the minors and slowly advanced until he debuted in the BLB in '89. He won the Refreshing New Brew and was named an All-Star that year, and since then has went to the '90 and '91 All-Star games as well.
1986
SP Derrek Tucker - Rd 5, Pick 19, 115th Overall
28-24, 3.42 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 451 K's
Carolina drafted him '86, released him in '87, and he was quickly scooped up by Davenport several weeks later. Then in '88 he was traded to Washington along with T. Abbott, I. Garcia, and a 2nd round pick for SP R. McEvoy. After finally settling down he improved dramatically and was called up at the end of '89 to the BLB, a place where we expect him to stay for a long time.
1987
LF Doug Bryant - Rd 8. Pick 13, 181st Overall
325 games, .280/.348/.456, 43 HR's, 157 RBI's
Drafted by Batavia at the age of 22 in '87 they decided in all their wisdom he wasn't going to be much and cut him the next day. Talk about giving the guy a shot. He was picked up by the Millers and traded to Windy City in '90 in a massive five player deal as more of an afterthought. Tired of being an afterthought he hit the gym and batting cage and has turned into one of the best hitters in the league.
1988
SP Deron Ryan - Rd 7, Pick 20, 164th Pick
7-5, 3.45 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 97 K's
When the Storm chose Ryan they loved his intelligence and work ethic and figured they would give the 18 year old a shot. All though he never did very well in the minors he was slowly advanced until he made his BLB debut in '91. He only started 10 games but showed enough to stay on the Storm's squad and looks to just be starting a promising career.
1989
CF Doug Pike - Rd 6th, Pick 4, 124th Overall
16 games, .324/.333/.486, 1 HR, 10 RBI
All though it's not fair to judge anyone from this draft class yet, Pike is one of only 11 players to play in the BLB from '89, and the lowest drafted out of those 11.
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