Selections of Morris, Trammell in 1976 MLB Draft Set a New Standard, Launched Tigers’ Powerhouse

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – The Detroit Tigers’ 1984 World Series title began in earnest eight years earlier, when the 1976 MLB Draft yielded both Jack Morris and Alan Trammell.

In 2018, the two Tigers’ legends became the first teammates taken by the same team in the same draft elected to the Hall of Fame.

Five of the six members of the Class of 2018 entered pro baseball via the MLB Draft. In addition to Morris (a fifth-round pick) and Trammell (a second-round selection), Chipper Jones was the No. 1 overall pick by the Braves in 1990, Trevor Hoffman was an 11th-round pick by the Reds in 1989 and Jim Thome was taken two rounds later in the 1989 draft by the Indians.

Vladimir Guerrero, the only member of the Class of 2018 who was not drafted, was signed by the Expos as an amateur free agent from the Dominican Republic in 1993.

When the 2018 MLB Draft wraps up later this week, chances are that a future Hall of Famer will be among the 1,200-plus players selected.

Of the tens of thousands of players drafted since MLB’s amateur draft began 53 years ago in 1965, 39 players who were signed by the team that drafted them have gone on to earn a place in the Hall of Fame. The first was Johnny Bench, drafted by the Reds in the second round in 1965 and elected to the Hall of Fame in 1989. Ten years later, Nolan Ryan – taken in the 12th round of the 1965 draft by the Mets – joined Bench in Cooperstown.

Among members of the Class of 2018, Jones becomes the second No. 1 overall pick – following Ken Griffey Jr. – to be elected to the Hall of Fame. Thome will be the first 13th-round selection to be inducted.

The 1976 and 1989 draft classes each produced four future Hall of Famers apiece, the most ever in one draft. Wade Boggs, Rickey Henderson, Morris and Trammell were all drafted in 1976, while Jeff Bagwell, Frank Thomas, Hoffman and Thome were selected in the 1989 Draft.

In addition to Morris and Trammell, the Tigers also selected Ozzie Smith in the 1976 MLB Draft, taking the future Hall of Famer in the seventh round. But Smith did not sign, returning to school for one more year before the Padres took Smith in the fourth round of the 1977 Draft.

On average over the last 20-plus years, about one Hall of Fame electee per year is a former draft choice.

A list of drafted players by the teams who signed them who eventually were elected to the Hall of Fame, in chronological order of their draft selection:

- Johnny Bench – Drafted by Reds in June 1965 with second-round pick
- Nolan Ryan – Drafted by the Mets in June 1965 with 12th-round pick
- Reggie Jackson – Drafted by the A’s in June 1966 with first-round pick (No. 2 overall)
- Carlton Fisk – Drafted by the Red Sox in Jan. 1967 with first-round pick (No. 4 overall)
- Bert Blyleven – Drafted by the Twins in June 1969 with third-round pick
- Goose Gossage – Drafted by the White Sox in June 1970 with ninth-round pick
- Jim Rice – Drafted by the Red Sox in June 1971 with first-round pick (No. 15 overall)
- George Brett – Drafted by the Royals in June 1971 with second-round pick (No. 29 overall)
- Mike Schmidt – Drafted by the Phillies in June 1971 with second-round pick (No. 30 overall)
- Dennis Eckersley – Drafted by the Indians in June 1972 with third-round pick (No. 50 overall)
- Gary Carter – Drafted by the Expos in June 1972 with third-round pick (No. 53 overall)
- Robin Yount – Drafted by the Brewers in June 1973 with first-round pick (No. 3 overall)
- Dave Winfield – Drafted by the Padres in June 1973 with first-round pick (No. 4 overall)
- Eddie Murray – Drafted by the Orioles in June 1973 with third-round pick
- Andre Dawson – Drafted by the Expos in June 1975 with 11th-round pick
- Alan Trammell – Drafted by the Tigers in June 1976 with second-round pick
- Rickey Henderson – Drafted by the A’s in June 1976 with fourth-round pick
- Jack Morris – Drafted by the Tigers in June 1976 with fifth-round pick
- Wade Boggs – Drafted by the Red Sox in June 1976 with seventh-round pick
- Paul Molitor – Drafted by the Brewers in June 1977 with first-round pick (No. 3 overall)
- Ozzie Smith – Drafted by the Padres in June 1977 with fourth-round pick
- Tim Raines – Drafted by the Expos in June 1977 with fifth-round pick
- Cal Ripken Jr. – Drafted by the Orioles in June 1978 with second-round pick
- Ryne Sandberg – Drafted by the Phillies in June 1978 with 20th-round pick
- Tony Gwynn – Drafted by the Padres in June 1981 with third-round pick
- Kirby Puckett – Drafted by the Twins in Jan. 1982 with first-round pick (No. 3 overall)
- Greg Maddux – Drafted by the Cubs in June 1984 with second-round pick (No. 31 overall)
- Tom Glavine – Drafted by the Braves in June 1984 with second-round pick (No. 47 overall)
- Barry Larkin – Drafted by the Reds in June 1985 with first-round pick (No. 4 overall)
- Randy Johnson – Drafted by the Expos in June 1985 with second-round pick (No. 36 overall)
- John Smoltz – Drafted by the Tigers in June 1985 with 22nd-round pick
- Ken Griffey Jr. – Drafted by the Mariners in June 1987 with first-round pick (No. 1 overall)
- Craig Biggio – Drafted by the Astros in June 1987 with first-round pick (No. 22 overall)
- Mike Piazza – Drafted by the Dodgers in June 1988 with 62nd-round pick
- Frank Thomas – Drafted by the White Sox in June 1989 with first-round pick (No. 7 overall)
- Jeff Bagwell – Drafted by the Red Sox in June 1989 with fourth-round pick
- Trevor Hoffman – Drafted by the Reds in June 1989 with 11th-round pick
- Jim Thome – Drafted by the Indians in June 1989 with 13th-round pick
- Chipper Jones – Drafted by the Braves in June 1990 with first-round pick (No. 1 overall)

For scouting reports on amateur and professional players – including Hall of Famers – check out the Museum’s database here.