[edit] First round selections
| = All-Star | | | = Baseball Hall of Famer |
The following are the first round picks in the 1979 Major League Baseball draft.[1]
| Pick | Player | Team | Position | Hometown/School |
| 1 | Al Chambers | Seattle Mariners | OF | Harrisburg, PA |
| 2 | Tim Leary | New York Mets | RHP | UCLA |
| 3 | Jay Schroeder | Toronto Blue Jays | C | Pacific Palisades, CA |
| 4 | Brad Komminsk | Atlanta Braves | OF | Lima, OH |
| 5 | Juan Bustabad * | Oakland Athletics | SS | Hialeah, FL |
| 6 | Andy Van Slyke | St. Louis Cardinals | OF | New Hartford, NY |
| 7 | Jon Bohnet | Cleveland Indians | LHP | Vallejo, CA |
| 8 | John Mizerock | Houston Astros | C | Punxsutawney, PA |
| 9 | Steve Buechele * | Chicago White Sox | SS | Fullerton, CA |
| 10 | Tim Wallach | Montreal Expos | 1B | Cal State Fullerton |
| 11 | Kevin Brandt | Minnesota Twins | OF | Nekoosa, WI |
| 12 | Jon Perlman | Chicago Cubs | RHP | Baylor University |
| 13 | Rick Leach | Detroit Tigers | OF | University of Michigan |
| 14 | Joe Lansford | San Diego Padres | 1B | San Jose, CA |
| 15 | Scott Garrelts | San Francisco Giants[Compensation 1] | RHP | Buckley, IL |
| 16 | Steve Howe | Los Angeles Dodgers[Compensation 2] | LHP | University of Michigan |
| 17 | Jerry Don Gleaton | Texas Rangers | LHP | University of Texas at Austin |
| 18 | Rick Luecken * | San Francisco Giants | RHP | Houston, TX |
| 19 | Rick Seilheimer | Chicago White Sox[Compensation 3] | C | Brenham, TX |
| 20 | Dan Lamar | Cincinnati Reds[Compensation 4] | C | Houston, TX |
| 21 | Atlee Hammaker | Kansas City Royals | LHP | East Tennessee State University |
| 22 | Mike Sullivan | Cincinnati Reds | RHP | Clemson University |
| 23 | Chris Baker | Detroit Tigers[Compensation 5] | OF | Dearborn Heights, MI |
| 24 | Bob Geren | San Diego Padres[Compensation 6] | C | San Diego, CA |
| 25 | Steve Perry | Los Angeles Dodgers[Compensation 7] | RHP | University of Michigan |
| 26 | Mike Stenhouse * | Oakland Athletics[Compensation 8] | OF | Harvard University |
* Did not sign
[edit] Compensation Picks
- ^ Pick from California Angels as compensation for signing of free agent Jim Barr
- ^ Pick from Pittsburgh Pirates as compensation for signing of free agent Lee Lacy
- ^ Pick from Baltimore Orioles as compensation for signing of free agent Steve Stone
- ^ Pick from Philadelphia Phillies as compensation for signing of free agent Pete Rose
- ^ Pick from Milwaukee Brewers as compensation for signing of free agent Jim Slaton
- ^ Pick from Los Angeles Dodgers as compensation for signing of free agent Derrel Thomas
- ^ Pick from New York Yankees as compensation for signing of free agent Tommy John
- ^ Pick from Boston Red Sox as compensation for signing of free agent Steve Renko
[edit] Background
The 1979 draft may long be remembered as the year of the football player. Among future NFL players drafted by baseball teams were Dan Marino and John Elway (Kansas City), Jack Thompson (Seattle), Curt Warner (Philadelphia), Kevin House (St. Louis) and Jay Schroeder (Toronto). Michigan quarterback Rick Leach was drafted by the Tigers in the first round and went on to a major league career.
The number one pick in the June draft went to Seattle, which selected high school outfielder Al Chambers. Perhaps the biggest steal in the draft was the Yankees' selection of Don Mattingly in the 19th round.
Other significant selections in the draft were Tim Wallach (Montreal), Steve Howe (Los Angeles), Atlee Hammaker (Kansas City), Andy Van Slyke (St. Louis), Brett Butler (Atlanta), Pete O'Brien (Texas), Von Hayes (Cleveland), Marty Barrett (Boston) and Gary Gaetti (Minnesota).[2]
[edit] Other notable players
[edit] References
- Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds (1997). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (2nd ed.). Durham, N.C.: Baseball America. ISBN 978-0963718983.
[edit] External links
