MLB Draft: 4 first overall picks to never make it to ‘The Show’

Steve Chilcott, C/1B

• 17-years-old
• 1966 MLB Draft
• New York Mets
• $75,000

In just the second-ever MLB draft, the New York Mets are perhaps scarred by one of the worst whiffs in history, taking Chilcott — a high school catcher — first overall instead of outfielder Reggie Jackson, especially considering Steve Chilcott topped out in Triple-A and Jackson went on to log 74 career WAR in the majors as well as an induction into the Hall of Fame in 1993.

Chilcott appears first on our list simply because, as you’ll see in the next several slides, the initial investment was a lot less costly for the team that chose him; even despite his $75K bonus equaling roughly $615,000 in today’s money (due to over 50 years of inflation). Still, even in those days, Chilcott was quite the bust.

As an 18-year-old in the Mets’ minor league system, Chilcott’s career was derailed in just his second professional season. Playing in the FSL with the A-level Mets (Winter Haven) in 1967, Chilcott injured himself while running the bases, dislocating his shoulder while diving back to second base during a pick-off play. The injury ended his year, but even worse, it spoiled the next five seasons of his baseball career.

From 1968-70, Chilcott played in just 160 total games,  reaching Triple-A in the final season of that three-year stretch (granted, for only 22 games). He finally found some luck in 1971, slugging 17 home runs and posting a .864 OPS in 91 games with the Mets’ Single-A club, but before the season ended the Mets released him. Chilcott hooked up with the Yankees for the 1972 season, but 24 games later they too released the 24-year-old, as Chilcott hit just .222 between the Bombers’ Single and Double-A squads.

All-in-all, Chilcott’s career in the minors lasted seven seasons, though once done with baseball, the California native began a career as a firefighter in the Santa Barbara Fire Department throughout the mid to late 1970s. Later he became a full-time contractor and remodeled homes. However, Chilcott will always be remembered perhaps as the first of four no. 1 overall picks to never reach the majors.

Let’s look at the other three…