As we reach the sixth installment of our draft history series, we are going to look at the top two picks in the 1970 draft, Mike Ivie and Steve Dunning. Ivie, a catcher, was chosen first overall by the San Diego Padres and Dunning, a right handed pitcher, was chosen second overall by the Cleveland Indians.

Once again, the state of California was the state with the most first-round draft picks and just three of the 24 first rounders were taken out of college, with Dunning the first player drafted from the collegiate levels. Three of the first four picks were catchers, and overall, seven catchers were taken in the first round. Four of those catchers never made it to the Major Leagues.

Half of the 24 first-round picks never made it to the Major Leagues. The highest pick from the first round who did not play in the Majors was the number five overall selection, Mike Martin, a left handed pitcher selected by the Philadelphia Phillies. [Read more…]