PERFECT GAME CROSSCHECKER'S TOP TEN LIST
WEEK 26: 7/7/08 - 7/13/08
 
DRAFTED PLAYERS, 10 ALL-STAR GAME APPEARANCES
Friday July 11, 2008 - Part 2
A list of the 24 players from the draft era who have made at least 10 All-Star Game appearances, the team that drafted them, their original signing bonus and their number of All-Star Game appearances:
Rank Player Position Drafted by (Round) Bonus ASG's
1 *Cal Ripken SS Orioles ’78 (2) $20,000 19
2 *Tony Gwynn OF Padres ’81 (3) $25,000 15
  *Ozzie Smith OF Padres ’77 (4) $5,000 15
4 *Johnny Bench C Reds ’65 (2) $6,000 14
  Barry Bonds OF Pirates ’85 (1) $125,000 14
  *Reggie Jackson OF Athletics ’66 (1) $80,000 14
7 *George Brett 3B Royals ’71 (2) $25,000 13
  Ken Griffey Jr. OF Mariners ’87 (1) $160,000 13
9 Wade Boggs 3B Red Sox ’76 (7) $7,500 12
  Barry Larkin SS Reds ’85 (1) $165,000 12
  Mark McGwire 1B Athletics ’84 (1) $145,000 12
  Mike Piazza C Dodgers ’88 (62) $15,000 12
  #Manny Ramirez OF Indians ’91 (1) $257,000 12
  *Mike Schmidt 3B Phillies ’71 (2) $32,500 12
  *Tom Seaver RHP @Mets ’66 $40,000 12
  *Dave Winfield OF Padres ’73 (1) $65,000 12
17 Roger Clemens RHP Red Sox ’83 (1) $121,000 11
  *Carlton Fisk C Red Sox Jan. ’83 (1) $10,000 11
  #Alex Rodriguez SS Mariners ’93 (1) $1,000,000 11
20 Steve Garvey 3B Dodgers ’68 (1/sec.) $39,000 10
  Tom Glavine LHP Braves ’84 (2) $80,000 10
  Rickey Henderson OF Athletics ’76 (4) $10,000 10
  Randy Johnson LHP Expos ’85 (2) $60,000 10
  *Kirby Puckett OF Twins Jan. ’82 (1) $20,000 10
  *Ryne Sandberg 2B Phillies ’78 (20) $25,00 10
* Member, Hall of Fame
# Scheduled to appear in 2008 All-Star Game
@ Signed by Mets in special three-team selection procedure
--ALLAN SIMPSON Top Ten List Archives

JACKSON, WINFIELD IN SELECT COMPANY
Friday July 11, 2008 - Part 1
There is a perception that most first-round draft picks go on to become perennial all-stars, and more than their share end up in the Hall of Fame. But that is hardly the case.

In the baseball draft’s 44-year history, only two first-rounders (from the conventional June regular phase) have appeared in as many as 10 All-Star Games and also been selected to the Hall of Fame. With this year’s All-Star Game scheduled for Tuesday in New York’s Yankee Stadium, those players, appropriately, are two former Yankee greats—Reggie Jackson and Dave Winfield.

Neither player was originally drafted by the Yankees but they both played in New York at the height of their careers. Jackson, a first-round pick of the Kansas City A’s in 1966, played with the Yankees from 1977-81 and was an all-star all five years he was with the team. Winfield, picked fourth overall by the San Diego Padres in 1973, spent eight full seasons with the Yankees, from 1981-88, and was an all-star each of those years. In all, Jackson played in 14 All-Star Games, Winfield 12.

Only 11 first-rounders in draft history have ever played in as many as nine All-Star Games, and a majority of them have significant ties to the Yankees. In addition to Jackson and Winfield, Roger Clemens (11 All-Star Games), Derek Jeter (9), Alex Rodriguez (11) and Gary Sheffield (9) are all in that select company.

Overall, Jackson and Barry Bonds, with 14 appearances each, have appeared in more All-Star Games than any first-rounders in draft history. But neither of those players even ranks in the top three among drafted players with the most All-Star Games to their credit.

The record number of All-Star Game appearances for a drafted player belongs to Cal Ripken, a 1978 second-rounder. Ripken appeared in 19 All-Star Games. Tied for second with 15 appearances are a former third-rounder, Tony Gwynn, and a former fourth-rounder, Ozzie Smith. Interestingly, the combined signing bonuses of those three players was $50,000—Ripken signed for $20,000, Gwynn for $25,000 and Smith for a mere $5,000—and two of the three players (Gwynn and Smith) were originally signed by the Padres.

A total of 25 drafted players have appeared in at least 10 All-Star Games, including nine first-rounders and six second-rounders—and a 62nd-rounder, Mike Piazza, who participated in 12 All-Star Games. Interestingly, of the 16 non first-rounders to appear in at least 10 All-Star Games, 11 are also enshrined in the Hall of Fame. In fact, there are twice as many second-rounders (Johnny Bench, George Brett, Ripken and Mike Schmidt) as first-rounders who have both appeared in double-digit All-Star Games and reached Cooperstown.

Those numbers are likely to change, although the Hall of Fame status of Bonds, Clemens and McGwire, all former first-rounders, remains clouded.

Here’s the 10 former first-round draft picks who have made the most All-Star Game appearances:
Rank Player Pos. Drafted by (Year) ASG Appearances
1 Barry Bonds OF Pirates (1985) 14
  *Reggie Jackson OF Athletics (1966) 14
3 Ken Griffey Jr. OF Mariners (1987) 13
4 Barry Larkin SS Reds (1985) 12
  Mark McGwire 1B Athletics (1984) 12
  #Manny Ramirez OF Indians (1991) 12
  *Dave Winfield OF Padres (1973) 12
8 Roger Clemens RHP Red Sox (1983) 11
  #Alex Rodriguez SS Mariners (1993) 11
10 #Derek Jeter SS Yankees (1992) 9
  Gary Sheffield OF Brewers (1986) 9
* Member, Hall of Fame
# Scheduled to appear in 2008 All-Star Game
--ALLAN SIMPSON Top Ten List Archives