1976 Major League Baseball draft

The 1976 Major League Baseball draft took place prior to the 1976 MLB season. The draft saw the Houston Astros select Floyd Bannister first overall.

1976 Major League Baseball draft
Overview
First selectionFloyd Bannister
Houston Astros
First round selections24
Hall of Famers
← 1975
1977 →

First round selections

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= All-Star = Baseball Hall of Famer

The following are the first round picks in the 1976 Major League Baseball draft.[1]

Pick Player Team Position Hometown/School
1 Floyd Bannister Houston Astros LHP Arizona State University
2 Pat Underwood Detroit Tigers LHP Kokomo, Indiana
3 Ken Smith Atlanta Braves 3B Youngstown, Ohio
4 Bill Bordley Milwaukee Brewers LHP Torrance, California
5 Bob Owchinko San Diego Padres LHP Eastern Michigan University
6 Ken Landreaux California Angels OF Arizona State University
7 Herm Segelke Chicago Cubs RHP South Sacramento, California
8 Steve Trout Chicago White Sox LHP South Holland, Illinois
9 Bob James Montreal Expos RHP Sunland, California
10 Jamie Allen Minnesota Twins 3B-RHP Yakima, Washington
11 Mark Kuecker San Francisco Giants SS Brenham, Texas
12 Billy Simpson Texas Rangers OF Lakewood, California
13 Tom Thurberg New York Mets OF-RHP South Weymouth, Massachusetts
14 Tim Glass Cleveland Indians C Springfield, Ohio
15 Leon Durham St. Louis Cardinals 1B Cincinnati, Ohio
16 Pat Tabler New York Yankees OF Cincinnati, Ohio
17 Jeff Kraus Philadelphia Phillies SS Cincinnati, Ohio
18 Ben Grzybek Kansas City Royals RHP Hialeah, Florida
19 Mike Scioscia Los Angeles Dodgers C Morton, Pennsylvania
20 Dallas Williams Baltimore Orioles OF Brooklyn, New York
21 Jim Parke Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Sterling Heights, Michigan
22 Bruce Hurst Boston Red Sox LHP St. George, Utah
23 Mark King Cincinnati Reds RHP Owensboro, Kentucky
24 Thomas Sullivan* Oakland Athletics RHP Woodbridge, Virginia

* Did not sign

Other notable Selections

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= All-Star = Baseball Hall of Famer

[2]

Round Pick Player Team Position
2 26 Alan Trammell Detroit Tigers Shortstop
2 37 Mike Scott New York Mets Pitcher
4 74 Dan Petry Detroit Tigers Pitcher
4 96 Rickey Henderson Oakland Athletics Pitcher
5 98 Jack Morris Detroit Tigers Pitcher
5 99 Bruce Benedict Atlanta Braves Catcher
7 146 Ozzie Smith* Detroit Tigers Shortstop
7 152 Willie McGee* Chicago White Sox Outfielder
7 166 Wade Boggs Boston Red Sox Shortstop
8 169 Dave Smith Houston Astros Pitcher
8 172 Lary Sorensen Milwaukee Brewers Pitcher
11 253 Neil Allen New York Mets Pitcher
17 401 Scott Garrett* Milwaukee Brewers Second Baseman-Pitcher
17 405 Rick Honeycutt Pittsburgh Pirates First Baseman-Pitcher
18 422 Ron Hassey Cleveland Indians Catcher
22 518 Ray Searage St. Louis Cardinals Pitcher

* Did not sign

Background

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The 1976 Arizona State University team, considered by many to be the best collegiate team ever, played a major role in the draft. Floyd Bannister was picked number one by the Astros while Ken Landreaux was selected sixth by the Angels. In all, 12 players from that team went on to play in the majors.

Bannister and Landreaux anchored a June draft that was one of the most talented ever. The first 10 selections went on to play in the big leagues. Among those picked in the June draft were Rickey Henderson (Oakland), Alan Trammell, Jack Morris and Dan Petry (Detroit), Wade Boggs and Bruce Hurst (Boston), Steve Trout (Chicago White Sox), Leon Durham (St. Louis), and Pat Tabler (New York Yankees).

Willie McGee (Chicago White Sox) and Ozzie Smith (Detroit) were selected in the seventh round but did not sign. In the January phase, Steve Kemp of Southern California was picked first by the Tigers and Jody Davis was picked third by the Mets.

References

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  1. ^ "MLB First Round Draft Picks - 1976". Retrieved October 28, 2008.
  2. ^ "1976 Baseball Draft by Baseball Almanac".
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Preceded by 1st Overall Picks
Floyd Bannister
Succeeded by