Thrown into the fire

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK •  JUNE 7, 1973 – This doesn’t happen very often anymore; 3 players chosen in the first round of the major league draft on this date in 1973 went straight to the major leagues. Number one pick David Clyde went from high school to the mound for the Texas Rangers. Outfielder Dave Winfield went from the University of Minnesota campus to the San Diego Padres. And Eddie Bane went from Arizona State University to the Minnesota Twins as a pitcher. Another player from that draft, Robin Yount, became a regular major leaguer at 18 though he did not go straight to "The Show." He became the regular Brewer shortstop the spring after he graduated from high school.

David Clyde won the first game he pitched for the Rangers in June of '73. Because of arm problems, however, his major league career was over before he was 25.

Dave Winfield was a highly sought after athlete. The same year he was drafted by Major League Baseball, he was also drafted by the National Basketball Association and the National Football League. He never played professional football or basketball, deciding to stick with baseball. His major league career spanned 23 seasons, mostly with the San Diego Padres and News York Yankees.

Eddie Bane went 14-4 while at Arizona State University, but he never quite got it together with the Twins, lasting just parts of 3 seasons.

Read on:
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/draft/index.jsp?feature=decade1970s
http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/yount_robin.htm
http://www.thebaseballpage.com/players/yountro01.php
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/W/Dave-Winfield.shtm