In the 43-year history of the baseball draft, the 1988 draft holds distinction because it was the last year before first-round signing bonuses took a quantum leap forward. That year’s first overall pick, righthander Andy Benes, received a then-record $235,000 bonus to sign with the San Diego Padres, a pittance by today’s first-round standard.
Twenty years later, only one first-rounder remains active: shortstop Royce Clayton, who is a free agent but spent the latter part of the 2007 season with the Boston Red Sox—ironically, earning his first World Series ring despite getting only six late-season at-bats after being acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays earlier in the season. In 17 big league seasons, Clayton is a career .258 hitter with 110 home runs. Other first-rounders that year were Steve Avery (Braves, 3rd overall), Jim Abbott (Angels, 8th overall), Robin Ventura (White Sox, 10th overall) and Tino Martinez (Mariners, 14th overall). Eight first-rounders never reached the big league’s from that year’s draft.
Clayton is one of only 15 players from the 1988 draft who remained active in 2007. Interestingly, some of the lower-round selections from that year that are still active are 4th-rounder Luis Gonzalez, 7th-rounder Jim Edmonds, 8th-rounder Tim Wakefield (drafted as a first baseman) and the granddaddy of all overlooked picks in draft history: Mike Piazza, who signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as their 62nd and final pick for $15,000.
Oddly, the New York Yankees drafted more players in 1988 that reached the big leagues (15) than any other team, despite forfeiting their first three picks that year for signing Jack Clark, Jose Cruz and John Candelaria as off-season free agents. But the most successful big leaguer of the 15, Deion Sanders, was a player who had considerably more success in a second sport.
Following are the 10 highest draft picks from 1988 who were still active in 2007, along with their original signing bonus. For The Record, the remaining ’88 draft picks that were still active 20 years later are: Paul Byrd (Reds, 13th round), Woody Williams (Blue Jays, 28th round), Damion Easley (Angels, 30th round), Orlando Palmeiro (Yankees, 43rd round) and Piazza. |
| Ranking. Player, Pos., Team (Round) |
Signing Bonus |
| 1. Royce Clayton, ss, Giants (1) |
$180,000 |
| 2. Darren Oliver, lhp, Rangers (3) |
50,000 |
| 3. David Weathers, rhp, Blue Jays (3) |
37,500 |
| 4. Luis Gonzalez, 1b, Astros (4) |
35,000 |
| 5. Tom Martin, lhp, Orioles (6) |
23,000 |
| 6. Tim Laker, c, Expos (6) |
41,000 |
| 7. Rheal Cormier, lhp, Cardinals (6) |
15,000 |
| 8. Jim Edmonds, of, Angels (7) |
22,500 |
| 9. Tim Wakefield, 1b, Pirates (8) |
15,000 |
| 10. Scott Hatteberg, c, Phillies (12) |
Did not sign | |