1966 Amateur Draft : First Round Picks

The first draft was held on June 8-9, 1965. The Major League franchises were able to choose from all high school seniors and college players.

Initially there were supposed to be three amateur drafts held each season. That original plan changed in 1964 and was reduced to two drafts with the first phase being held after High School graduations. The second phase was held in January of the following year and involved players who were drafted earlier, but were not signed by their franchise.

In 1986 the two-phase draft system was changed and instead of holding a second phase draft in January, franchises who could not sign their first round selections were awarded a supplemental first round pick the following amateur draft.

The first pick of the first round is awarded to the worst team in the American or National League. Each season the two leagues alternate the first pick and proceed through the first round in reverse order of finish from the previous season's standings.

Baseball Almanac is pleased to present the 1966 first round draft selections, the team they were chosen by, their position(s), and their college or home town at the time of the amateur draft.

"The best thing about being a Yankee is getting to watch Reggie Jackson play every day. The worst thing about being a Yankee? Getting to watch Reggie Jackson play every day." - Graig Nettles in Reggie (1984)
1966

First Round Draft Picks

# Selected By Name Position College or Hometown
1. Mets Steve Chilcott C Lancaster, CA
2. Athletics Reggie Jackson OF Arizona State University
3. Astros Wayne Twitchell RHP Portland, OR
4. Red Sox Ken Brett LHP El Segundo, CA
5. Cubs Dean Burk RHP Highland, IL
6. Senators Tom Grieve OF Pittsfield, MA
7. Cardinals Leron Lee OF Sacramento, CA
8. Angels Jim DeNeff SS Indiana University
9. Phillies Mike Biko RHP Dallas, TX
10. Yankees Jim Lyttle OF Florida State University
11. Braves Al Santorini RHP Union, NJ
12. Indians John Curtis LHP Smithtown, NY
13. Reds Gary Nolan RHP Oroville, CA
14. Tigers Rick Konik 1B Detroit, MI
15. Pirates Richie Hebner SS Norwood, MA
16. Orioles Ted Parks SS University of California
17. Giants Bob Reynolds RHP Seattle, WA
18. White Sox Carlos May OF Birmingham, AL
19. Dodgers Larry Hutton RHP Greenfield, IN
20. Twins Bob Jones 3B Dawson, GA

#

Selected By

Name

Position

College or Hometown

1966 First Round Draft Picks



The players in the 1966 Amateur Draft chart above who DO NOT have links to their Major League statistics DID NOT make it to the Major League level.

Do you believe the decision by the New York Mets to choose Steve Chilcott, who never made it to the Major Leagues, over Reggie Jackson was the worst in Amateur Draft history? Share your opinion about this on our baseball boards.

Did you know that during the tenth round of the 1966 draft the New York Yankees selected future National Football League two time American Football Conference Player of the Year winner Kenny Stabler?

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