1971 Major League Draft

By Patrick Mondout

Below is the first round of the 1971 Major League Baseball draft. A 17 year old catcher was taken first overall for the second straight season. The previous season it was the enigmatic Mike Ivie. This year the White Sox drafted Danny Goodwin, even though he had stated before the draft that he was torn between playing pro ball and going to college. Goodwin was as much of a "can't miss" prospect as the amateur draft, which started in 1965, had ever seen. The White Sox apparently assumed they could wave a contract with a lot of zeroes in it and that Goodwin would forget about college, or at least pursue a degree while working his way through the minors. 

The White Sox soon learned that they may have miscalculated. Stu Holcomb, the vice president of the Sox, stated that Goodwin's contract demands were "way out of line... He wants $100,000 and he wants it now, not spread over 30 years." The Sox later gave in and offered him such a contract, which included the ability to go to the college of his choice. But Goodwin became the first #1 overall pick to not sign with the team that drafted him, instead attending Southern University (where he was off limits until his class graduated). After four years there and with scouts as high on him as ever, he became the first player to be drafted #1 overall twice. 

The secondary phase of the 1971 draft is noteworthy in that the first three picks became the third, fourth, and fifth players to go straight from high school or college to the majors without a stop in the minors (complete list). Those players were Pete Broberg (who had been the number 2 overall pick in 1968), Burt Hooton, and Rob Ellis.

The Royals passed on Ohio University third baseman Mike Schmidt in round two to take some high school third baseman from El Segundo, California whose name was George Brett. The Phillies took Schmidt with the next pick!

Archie Manning, who had been the second overall pick of the 1971 NFL draft, lasted until the third round of this draft. The White Sox wasted that pick too. The Twins waited until the 39th round to take a chance on Joe Theismann. He chose the Canadian Football League instead.

#	Name	Position	Team	School
1	*Danny Goodwin	C	White Sox	Peoria, IL
2	Jay Franklin	RHP	Padres	Vienna, VA
3	Tom Bianco	SS	Brewers	Elmont, NY
4	*Condredge Holloway	SS	Expos	Huntsville, AL
5	Roy Branch	RHP	Royals	St. Louis, MO
6	Roy Thomas	RHP	Phillies	Lompoc, CA
7	Roger Quiroga	RHP	Senators	Galveston, TX
8	Ed Kurpiel	1B-LHP	Cardinals	Hollis, NY
9	David Sloan	RHP	Indians	Santa Clara, CA
10	Taylor Duncan	SS	Braves	Sacramento, CA
11	Tom Veryzer	SS	Tigers	Islip, NY
12	Neil Rasmussen	SS	Astros	Arcadia, CA
13	Frank Tanana	LHP	Angels	Detroit, MI
14	Rich Puig	2B	Mets	Tampa, FL
15	Jim Rice	OF	Red Sox	Anderson, SC
16	Jeff Wehmeier	RHP	Cubs	Indianapolis, IN
17	Sugar Bear Daniels	RHP	Athletics	Detroit, MI
18	Frank Riccelli	LHP	Giants	Syracuse, NY
19	Terry Whitfield	OF	Yankees	Blythe, CA
20	Rick Rhoden	RHP	Dodgers	Boynton Beach, FL
21	Dale Soderholm	SS	Twins	Miami, FL
22	Craig Reynolds	SS	Pirates	Houston, TX
23	Randy Stein	RHP	Orioles	Pomona, CA
24	*Mike Miley	SS	Reds	New Orleans, LA

* Did not sign