Danny Goodwin--1982
Scouting has always been an inexact
science, but that was really the case
in the early 1970s when teams were
cutting back on their budgets. As a
result, a marginally talented player,
Danny Goodwin, became the only
player ever selected with the first
overall pick in the amateur draft on
two separate occasions.
After hitting .494 at Peoria (IL)
Central High in 1971, the 17-year-old
catcher was taken by the Chicago
White Sox number one, yet spurned
the Chisox by attending Southern
University, where he played four
years and earned a degree in
zoology.
In 1975, the Angels took Goodwin
number one overall and signed him
to a $125,000 bonus. Goodwin
reached the major leagues for four
games with California during his initial
professional season. His value
decreased shortly thereafter when an
arm injury curtailed his development
behind the plate and later forced him
to focus his defensive efforts at first
base while seeing extended time at
designated hitter.
Goodwin bounced between the
minors and major leagues from 1977
through 1979, in between winning the
Texas League batting crown in 1978
and being traded to the Twins in
1979. He played sparingly while
spending most of 1980 and 1981 in
Minnesota, hitting .289 and .200,
respectively. His final big league
season came in 1982 when he took
the field for 17 games with the A’s.
(11/7/08)
science, but that was really the case
in the early 1970s when teams were
cutting back on their budgets. As a
result, a marginally talented player,
Danny Goodwin, became the only
player ever selected with the first
overall pick in the amateur draft on
two separate occasions.
After hitting .494 at Peoria (IL)
Central High in 1971, the 17-year-old
catcher was taken by the Chicago
White Sox number one, yet spurned
the Chisox by attending Southern
University, where he played four
years and earned a degree in
zoology.
In 1975, the Angels took Goodwin
number one overall and signed him
to a $125,000 bonus. Goodwin
reached the major leagues for four
games with California during his initial
professional season. His value
decreased shortly thereafter when an
arm injury curtailed his development
behind the plate and later forced him
to focus his defensive efforts at first
base while seeing extended time at
designated hitter.
Goodwin bounced between the
minors and major leagues from 1977
through 1979, in between winning the
Texas League batting crown in 1978
and being traded to the Twins in
1979. He played sparingly while
spending most of 1980 and 1981 in
Minnesota, hitting .289 and .200,
respectively. His final big league
season came in 1982 when he took
the field for 17 games with the A’s.
(11/7/08)
