The 1979 MLB Draft was the 15th draft hosted by Major League Baseball . In the first place, Al Chambers was selected by the Seattle Mariners .
background
The 1979 draft is primarily characterized by the fact that an above-average number of professional football players were selected. Active in the National Football League were Dan Marino and John Elway ( Kansas City Royals ), Jack Thompson ( Seattle Mariners ), Curt Warner ( Philadelphia Phillies ), Kevin House ( St. Louis Cardinals ) and Jay Schroeder ( Toronto Blue Jays ). Conversely was quarterback Rick Leach of the University of Michigan by the Detroit Tigers selected in the later successful Major League Baseball played.
Other notable players drafted this year included Tim Wallach of the Montreal Expos , Steve Howe of the Los Angeles Dodgers , Atlee Hammaker of the Kansas City Royals , Andy Van Slyke of the St. Louis Cardinals , Brett Butler of the Atlanta Braves , Pete O'Brien of the Texas Rangers , Von Hayes of the Cleveland Indians , Marty Barrett of the Boston Red Sox, and Gary Gaetti of the Minnesota Twins .
First round voting rights
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= All-Star |
|
|
= Baseball Hall of Famer
|
Pick
|
player
|
team
|
position
|
school
|
1
|
Al Chambers
|
Seattle Mariners
|
OF
|
Harrisburg , Pennsylvania
|
2
|
Tim Leary
|
New York Mets
|
RHP
|
University of California, Los Angeles
|
3
|
Jay Schroeder
|
Toronto Blue Jays
|
C.
|
Pacific Palisades , California
|
4th
|
Brad Komminsk
|
Atlanta Braves
|
OF
|
Lima , Ohio
|
5
|
Juan Bustabad *
|
Oakland Athletics
|
SS
|
Hialeah , Florida
|
6th
|
Andy Van Slyke
|
St. Louis Cardinals
|
OF
|
New Hartford , New York
|
7th
|
Jon Bohnet
|
Cleveland Indians
|
LHP
|
Vallejo , California
|
8th
|
John Mizerock
|
Houston Astros
|
C.
|
Punxsutawney , Pennsylvania
|
9
|
Steve Buechele *
|
Chicago White Sox
|
SS
|
Fullerton , California
|
10
|
Tim Wallach
|
Montreal Expos
|
1B
|
Cal State Fullerton
|
11
|
Kevin Brandt
|
Minnesota Twins
|
OF
|
Nekoosa , Wisconsin
|
12
|
Jon Perlman
|
Chicago Cubs
|
RHP
|
Baylor University
|
13
|
Rick Leach
|
Detroit Tigers
|
OF
|
University of Michigan
|
14th
|
Joe Lansford
|
San Diego Padres
|
1B
|
San Jose , California
|
15th
|
Scott Garrelts
|
San Francisco Giants
|
RHP
|
Buckley , Illinois
|
16
|
Steve Howe
|
Los Angeles Dodgers
|
LHP
|
University of Michigan
|
17th
|
Jerry Don Gleaton
|
Texas Rangers
|
LHP
|
University of Texas at Austin
|
18th
|
Rick Luecken *
|
San Francisco Giants
|
RHP
|
Houston , Texas
|
19th
|
Rick Seilheimer
|
Chicago White Sox
|
C.
|
Brenham , Texas
|
20th
|
Dan Lamar
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
C.
|
Houston , Texas
|
21st
|
Atlee Hammaker
|
Kansas City Royals
|
LHP
|
East Tennessee State University
|
22nd
|
Mike Sullivan
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
RHP
|
Clemson University
|
23
|
Chris Baker
|
Detroit Tigers
|
OF
|
Dearborn Heights , Michigan
|
24
|
Bob Geren
|
San Diego Padres
|
C.
|
San Diego , California
|
25th
|
Steve Perry
|
Los Angeles Dodgers
|
RHP
|
University of Michigan
|
26th
|
Mike Stenhouse *
|
Oakland Athletics
|
OF
|
Harvard University
|
* Has not signed a contract
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