MLB Draft an Annual Showcase for Future Hall of Famers

(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – History says at least one future Hall of Famer will be selected in this weekend’s MLB Draft.

The identity of that player won’t be known for decades, but a journey to Cooperstown will likely begin Sunday.

The Hall of Fame Class of 2024 features two former draft picks: Todd Helton was taken in the first round (eighth overall pick) by the Rockies in 1995 out of the University of Tennessee; and Joe Mauer was selected No. 1 overall by the Twins in 2001 from Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, Minn. Mauer joins Harold Baines (1977), Ken Griffey Jr. (1987) and Chipper Jones (1990) as the fourth overall No. 1 pick to earn a plaque in Cooperstown.

Since the MLB Draft began in 1965, more than four dozen Hall of Famers have been selected by the team that eventually signed them. On average over the last 20-plus years, about one Hall of Fame electee per year is a former draft choice.

Of the tens of thousands of players drafted since MLB’s amateur draft began 59 years ago in 1965, 49 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.

A list of drafted players 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)
• Ted Simmons – Drafted by the Cardinals in June 1967 with first-round pick (No. 10 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
• Lee Smith – Drafted by the Cubs in June 1975 with second-round pick (No. 28 overall)
• 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
• Harold Baines – Drafted by the White Sox in June 1977 with first-round pick (No. 1 overall)
• 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 (No. 48 overall)
• 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
• Fred McGriff – Drafted by the Yankees in June 1981 with ninth-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)
• Mike Mussina – Drafted by the Orioles in June 1990 with first-round pick (No. 20 overall)
• Derek Jeter – Drafted by the Yankees in June 1992 with first-round pick (No. 6 overall)
• Scott Rolen – Drafted by the Phillies in June 1993 with second-round pick
• Todd Helton – Drafted by the Rockies in June 1995 with first-round pick (No. 8 overall)
• Roy Halladay – Drafted by the Blue Jays in June 1995 with first-round pick (No. 17 overall)
• Joe Mauer – Drafted by the Twins in June 2001 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 at collection.baseballhall.org.