Mike Piazza and the lowest draft picks ever to make the Hall of Fame – CBSSports.com
Since MLB’s First-Year Player Draft was instituted in 1965, we’ve seen 32 former draftees — including Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza, who were elected on Wednesday — go on to make the Hall of Fame. As noted, Griffey became the first top overall pick to make the Hall, while Piazza became the lowest-ever draftee to make the Hall.
When it comes to the draft and the Hall of Fame, Mike Piazza is the ultimate rags-to-riches story. (USATSI)
On the Piazza point, let’s take a look at 10 lowest draft picks ever to earn a plaque in Cooperstown …
| Lowest draft picks to make the Hall of Fame | ||||||
| Player | Selected overall | Year elected to Hall of Fame | ||||
| Mike Piazza | Pick No. 1,390 (Dodgers, 62nd round, 1988) | 2016 (fourth ballot) | ||||
| John Smoltz | Pick No. 574 (Tigers, 22nd round, 1985) | 2015 (first ballot) | ||||
| Ryne Sandberg | Pick No. 511 (Phillies, 20th round, 1978) | 2005 (third ballot) | ||||
| Nolan Ryan | Pick No. 295 (Mets, 12th round, 1965) | 1999 (first ballot) | ||||
| Andre Dawson | Pick No. 250 (Expos, 11th round, 1975) | 2010 (ninth ballot) | ||||
| Goose Gossage | Pick No. 204 (White Sox, 9th round, 1970) | 2008 (ninth ballot) | ||||
| Wade Boggs | Pick No. 166 (Red Sox, 7th round, 1976) | 2005 (first ballot) | ||||
| Rickey Henderson | Pick No. 96 (Athletics, 4th round, 1976) | 2009 (first ballot) | ||||
| Ozzie Smith | Pick No. 86 (Padres, 4th round, 1977) | 2002 (first ballot) | ||||
| Eddie Murray | Pick No. 63 (Orioles, 3rd round, 1973) | 2003 (first ballot) | ||||
| Data: Baseball-Reference.com, BaseballHall.org | ||||||
As you can see, Piazza takes this honor of sorts by a massive margin, which is about what you’d expect from the throw-away nepotism pick who goes on to Cooperstown. More to the point, Piazza went from this …
(Image: Diamond Mines)
… to baseball immortality. Not bad, Mike Piazza.
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