Mike Schmidt recalls 1971 draft, taken 1 spot behind Brett

EDITOR’S NOTE: The money, the scouting, the buzz, it was all different when Major League Baseball held its annual June draft a half-century ago. With this year’s picking set to start Wednesday night, Mike Schmidt remembers how it was when he was chosen in 1971. The Philadelphia Phillies took him in the second round as a shortstop out of Ohio University. The player chosen directly ahead of him? A high school shortstop in California named George Brett. Schmidt and Brett both made the Hall of Fame as third basemen — when they were drafted, the hot corner was ruled by Baltimore’s Brooks Robinson.

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1970 was my junior year at Ohio University. We won the MAC championship, the regionals and earned a trip to the College World Series. Personally, I had a great year in all stat categories, became a first team All-American and a professional prospect.

There was one problem — I didn’t qualify for that year’s draft because I wasn’t 21 years old. Having a September birthday the next fall disqualified me. This cost me a great deal, most likely a high first-round pick. I became the 30th overall pick (in 1971) and had no bargaining power with no college eligibility left.

It worked out. This wasn’t a time when millions were being given to high draft picks.

Throughout my senior season, I had noticed several scouts at games, one in particular, Tony Lucadello from the Phillies. I learned later Tony had followed me since Little League. He watched me at tryouts put on by professional teams in our area as a raw college freshman.

Tony brought then-general manager Paul Owens to a weekend series in Athens where I did one of everything with him watching. Hit a home run, made a play in the hole, stole a base and generally cemented myself in his mind. However, the Phillies had bigger sights on a high school pitcher, Roy...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Mike-Schmidt-Recalls-1971-draft-taken-1-spot-15326275.php