1980 Big Leagues Draft Pool Revealed
NEW YORK, NY (5-19-1980) - The Big Leagues League Office today announced the draft pool for the 1980 First Year Draft from its league offices in New York. The draft will be held on June 15th at the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago, and will be broadcast on Mutual radio and television.
According to our Milburn Gazette baseball expert, Buzz Braden, here are the top 10 players:
1. Amos Reid (18-year-old RHP) - North Bellport, NY, Newfield HS (Selden, NY)
2. Billy Evans (18-year-old SS) - Grosse Pointe Park, MI, Southeastern HS (Detroit, MI)
3. Gene Engle (18-year-old LHP) - Deptford Township, NJ, Glassboro HS (NJ)
4. Sam Fobb (19-year-old CF) - Los Angeles, CA, Hollywood HS (Los Angeles)
5. Ed Didlake (18-year-old RHP) - Glendale, AZ, Glendale HS (Glendale, AZ)
6. Charley McCoy (19-year-old LHP) - Columbus, OH, Briggs HS (Columbus, OH)
7. President Brown (23-year-old LHP) - Jasper, AL, University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB)
8. Bill Hilson (18-year-old CF) - New Orleans, LA, Karr HS (New Orleans, LA)
9. Hughie Taschner (18-year-old LHP) - Sheffield, MA, Lee HS (Lee, MA)
10. Bill Miller (21-year-old RHP) - Boone, IA, Oklahoma State
The Mallards have the 13th pick in the draft, so unless one of these players falls, GM Stone Torkelson and staff will be looking at other players. No indications as of yet from Torkelson on potential targets or general direction the team may take, but the organization is lacking in quality pitching prospects. That may be a direction or focal area for the club.
We have the 13th pick, so may not have any of these players available. Our philosophy will be to select based on highest rated, regardless of position. Some other players Chief Scout Bill White has rated highly are 3B Willie McClure (18 yrs. old from Camp Pendleton North, CA), SP Cy Nugent (19 yrs. old from Moorestown, NJ), and Stub Brice (17 yrs. old from Perris, CA).
Teams selecting ahead of us are:
1. Washington Generals
2. Montreal Royales
3. LA Bluebirds
4. Milwaukee Chiefs
5. Houston Buffaloes
6. Washington Generals
7. New York Metropolitans
8. Dallas Texans
9. Brooklyn Atlantics
10. San Diego Skippers
11. Cleveland Foresters
12. New York Mammoths