1968 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 1968 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.

"He (Thurman Munson) was one of those guys who worked very hard at refusing to let people think he was a nice fellow." - Cleveland Indians President Gabe Paul (1979)
1968

First Round Draft Picks

# Selected By Name Position College or Hometown
1. Mets Tim Foli SS Canoga Park, CA
2. Athletics Peter Broberg RHP Palm Beach, FL
3. Astros Marty Cott C Buffalo, NY
4. Yankees Thurman Munson C Kent State University
5. Dodgers Bobby Valentine OF Stamford, CT
6. Indians Robert Weaver SS Jacksonville, FL
7. Braves Curtis Moore OF Denison, TX
8. Senators Don Castle LHP-OF Coldwater, MS
9. Pirates Dick Sharon OF Redwood City, CA
10. Orioles Junior Kennedy SS Arvin, CA
11. Phillies Greg Luzinski 1B Prospect Heights, IL
12. Angels Lloyd Allen RHP Selma, CA
13. Reds Tim Grant RHP Boykins, VA
14. White Sox Rich McKinney SS Ohio University
15. Cubs Ralph Rickey OF University of Oklahoma
16. Twins Alex Rowell OF Luther College
17. Giants Gary Matthews OF Pacoima, CA
18. Tigers Robert Robinson OF Chester, VA
19. Cardinals James Hairston OF Dayton, OH
20. Red Sox Tom Maggard OF-C Norwalk, CA

1968 First Round Draft Picks



The players who DO NOT have links to their Major League statistics DID NOT make it to the Major League level.

The expansion teams; Montreal Expos, San Diego Padres, Kansas City Athletics, and Seattle Pilots, were not allowed to make a selection until the end of the fourth round.

Tim Foli was drafted directly out of High School and was also awarded a USC football scholarship. The Mets offer was $75,000 and Foli chose baseball making it to the shows only a few years after being drafted in 1968.

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