No Experience Necessary

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – Here's a rare sight. Three players chosen in the first round of the major league draft on this date in 1973 went straight to the major leagues. Number one pick David Clyde went from high school to the Texas Rangers. Outfielder Dave Winfield went from the University of Minnesota campus to the San Diego Padres. And Eddie Bane went from Arizona State University to the Minnesota Twins as a pitcher.

Another player from that draft, Robin Yount, became a regular major leaguer at 18, though he technically did not go straight from high school. Yount became the regular Milwaukee Brewer shortstop the following spring.

The results of these “can’t miss” draftees was mixed. David Clyde started and won his first major league start later that June. His career was not a memorable one though. Clyde developed arm problems and his major league career was over before he was 25.

Dave Winfield was a highly sought after athlete. The same year he was drafted by MLB, he was also drafted by the National Basketball Association and the National Football League. He never played professional football or basketball, deciding to stick with baseball. His major league career was spent mostly with the San Diego Padres and New York Yankees.

Eddie Bane went 14-4 while at Arizona State University, but he never quite got it together in “the show.” He was out of baseball by 1976.

CONTRIBUTING SOURCE:
The MLB Draft

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