Forget draft busts, let's go the opposite direction (draft steals & athletes who started a failu

Estil · June 13, 2009 7:07AM

Let's start with this #1 on the C-C-Cold list entry I saw in a 1991 issue of Baseball Cards Magazine:

"While Todd Van Powell laughs all the way to the bank, the Braves are stuck with a prospect who will never become a major league star. This #1 pick has to fulfill a lot of expectations before his cards become Hot."

That prospect's name was Chipper Jones.

Another one comes from the Ryan Leaf thread back in 2004:

It looks like Ryan Leaf's fabled career suddenly has some stiff competition..... Before the 2004 NFL draft, [mystery man] communicates through his father to the San Diego Charger front office that if he is drafted by San Diego, he will not sign and sit out the entire year. Now after having a Ryan Leaf-like start on the gridrion, [he will demand] to be traded to the Chargers because he wants to "play for a contender [rather] than a team in disarray like the Giants". Is this guy priceless or what?

This priceless guy was "undefeated" Patriots slayer and Super Bowl XLII MVP Eli Manning.

Here's a dozzy; this player was getting ready for a college basketball career under legendary Indiana coach Bob Knight. Unfortunately for this poor fellow, he was overwhelmed being at such a big school (as well as homesick) that he dropped out and spent a year working in the exciting career of trash collecting before enrolling at the much smaller, much less pretigious Indiana State University.

That trash collector was Larry Bird.

And finally, there was a young catcher who was taken dead last in the 1988 MLB draft and only because Tommy Lasorda did it as a favor because he was the godfather of this young catcher's brother.

That young catcher was Mike Piazza.

NEW: Manu Ginóbili is a 12 year veteran shooting guard for the San Antonio Spurs who averages 14.9 points per game and is a three time champ (2003, 2005, 2007) plus won gold (2004) and bronze (2008) medals in the Summer Olympics as well. Not bad for a guy who was picked second-to-last in the 1999 draft.

lawnmowerman · June 13, 2009 9:24AM

Jerry Rice struggled in his first year being in the NFL. I would not say he started out as a failure but he did drop many balls.

Barndog · June 13, 2009 9:27AM

I think it was Todd Van Poppell, not Powell

Connecticoin · June 13, 2009 9:17PM

Mariano Rivera began his career as a so-so starter.

lsutigers1973 · June 13, 2009 10:33PM

Don Mattingly was the 493rd pick in the 1979 MLB draft.

jdip9 · June 14, 2009 12:38AM

chauncy billups bounced around 3 or 4 teams before detroit

tom brady - 6th round draft pick, and may not have the resume he does if Bledsoe doesn't get his chest caved in by Mo Lewis.

Morgoth · June 14, 2009 1:42AM

Wasn't Pujols a late round guy?

cwazzy · June 14, 2009 1:51AM

<< Wasn't Pujols a late round guy? >>

He went #402 in the 13th round.

How about Josh Hamilton? #1 overall pick but was almost out of baseball after getting into drugs. Obviously he's hurt now but I still consider him to be a solid player.

markj111 · June 15, 2009 7:24AM

How many times were Wakefield and Moyer released? Schmidt and Bonds were both terrible early in their careers.

Dboneesq · June 15, 2009 8:51AM

Here are a few more:

Player Round Year Team
Mark Buehrle 38th 1998 Chicago White Sox
Don Mattingly 19th 1979 New York Yankees
John Smoltz 22nd 1985 Detroit Tigers
Jason Bay 22nd 2000 Montreal Expos
Mike Piazza* 62nd 1988 Los Angeles Dodgers
Raul Ibanez 36th 1992 Seattle Mariners
Kyle Farnsworth 47th 1994 Chicago Cubs
Nolan Ryan 12th
Jeff Kent 20th
Mark Grace 24th
Jorge Posada 24th
Roy Oswalt 23rd
Keith Hernandez 42nd

JackWESQ · June 15, 2009 6:16PM

Joe Montana was the 82nd pick in the 1979 NFL draft and the 4th QB drafted; Jack Thompson - 3rd; Phil Simms - 7th (can't really argue with that one); and Steve Fuller - 23rd. Montana started 1 game in 1979 and went 0-1, started 7 games in 1980 and went 2-5 and then won the Super Bowl in 1981 after going 13-3 and the rest is history.

/s/ JackWESQ

JackWESQ · June 15, 2009 6:21PM

Not quite in line with the OP's query, but I recall in high school thinking that Wade Boggs would never get 3000 hits because he spent six (6) years in the minor leagues and didn't make the majors until he was 24 and even then, only got 118 hits his first year. But then he went crazy from 1983 to 1989 and then slowly trickled to 3010 career hits.

/s/ JackWESQ

artistlost · June 17, 2009 11:30PM

Hockey fact...

Joe Thornton socred 7 points (or something like that) in his first full season.

gregmo32 · June 18, 2009 4:17AM

Ric Flair broke his back in a plane crash that killed a few others in 1973...

billwaltonsbeard · June 18, 2009 5:27AM

<< 

<< Wasn't Pujols a late round guy? >>

He went #402 in the 13th round. >>

of the 1978 MLB draft.

WinPitcher · June 18, 2009 8:42AM

Thought I answered this, this AM

Bonds was hardly a failure before he became 'great'

Steve

earlycalguy · June 18, 2009 11:31AM

James Harrison was cut 3 times before having his MVP defensive year last season for Pittsburgh.

Estil · May 15, 2013 12:11PM

<< Don Mattingly was the 493rd pick in the 1979 MLB draft. >>

No wonder Don's father was VERY reluctant about letting his son go pro instead of going straight to college. And in fact Don at first really struggled in the minors because he made the huge mistake of thinking that he'd hit over .400 like in HS and had to learn the hard way that the pros (even low level minor leagues) are much tougher than HS baseball.

Estil · May 15, 2013 12:14PM

<< Mariano Rivera began his career as a so-so starter. >>

Ironically Dennis Eckersley (who was very much the 1988-92 Oakland Athletics' equivalent of Rivera) started out similarly. I believe he was an alright starter but of course his real claim to fame was making the closer position truly fashionable.

WTCG · May 15, 2013 12:58PM

<< 

<< Mariano Rivera began his career as a so-so starter. >>

Ironically Dennis Eckersley (who was very much the 1988-92 Oakland Athletics' equivalent of Rivera) started out similarly. I believe he was an alright starter but of course his real claim to fame was making the closer position truly fashionable. >>

He threw a no-hitter as a starter but was sent to Oakland as a failed starter looking to revive his career through the bullpen. With the help of Tony LaRussa he became the first true reliever-closer. Now virtually every team cannot live without a designated full time closer.

As for the NFL, Terrell Owens was a big draft steal. He was drafted in a later round and spent the first years of his career as an afterthought behind the anointed next coming of Jerry Rice. J.J. stokes, that proclaimed next coming of Jerry Rice never reached his potential.

Tabe · May 16, 2013 6:40AM

Others:

Kurt Warner - we all know his story

Rich Gannon - 4th round draft pick, 3 years of never playing, followed by 3 years as a bad starter, followed by 4 more years of never playing or playing poorly, then a mediocre year as a starter in his final year in KC. Finally, in his 12 year (first in Oakland), he puts it all together and starts a 4-year run that ends with Oakland in the Super Bowl and Gannon throwing for 4600 yards.

JoeBanzai · May 16, 2013 11:01AM

<< Rich Gannon - 4th round draft pick, 3 years of never playing, followed by 3 years as a bad starter, followed by 4 more years of never playing or playing poorly, then a mediocre year as a starter in his final year in KC. Finally, in his 12 year (first in Oakland), he puts it all together and starts a 4-year run that ends with Oakland in the Super Bowl and Gannon throwing for 4600 yards. >>

I remember Gannon when he was first with the Vikings and I never understood why they didn't like him. I though he was pretty good. In 1991 he completed about 60% of his passes. The Vikings seemed to always be going with a older veteran Quarterback.

I was happy when he had some very good years later.

Joe

AC000000 · May 17, 2013 2:15PM

Arian Foster was an undrafted free agent and turned out pretty good.
Bart Starr was a 17th round draft pick. Five time NFL Champion.
Ron LeFlore started playing baseball in prison.
He started out so bad he got sent back down to the minors, but Mickey Mantle turned out to be pretty good after all.

Estil · May 18, 2013 2:25AM

The reason for Mickey's turnaround (this may only be legend mind you), is when Mickey called his dad saying that he was ready to quit baseball as he felt he had no hope (he was slumping even in the minors at the time so it's not like he didn't maybe have a good reason for being so frustrated). His father said he'd come right over. When he arrived, he started packing Mickey's bags saying that he thought he raised a man and that if he didn't have any more guts than that then Mickey would be better off joining him in the coal mines. Mickey then decided that he owed it to his father to keep at it. Willie Mays may be the best overall player in baseball at that time (possibly any time), Mickey will as a result always and forever be the King of Baseball Cards.

zendude · May 18, 2013 2:40AM

The most famous athlete of the 20th century:

Babe Ruth

dfr52 · May 19, 2013 8:13AM

Thomas Jones RB, he bounced back from a disappointing start of his career to rack up 10,000 yards rushing. When most backs slow down in their late 20's he managed to finish strong.

GR · May 19, 2013 10:10PM

A quarterback who went from the sandlots to superstar, throwing to his favorite receiver picked in the 20th round (;

AC000000 · May 20, 2013 8:57AM

<< A quarterback who went from the sandlots to superstar, throwing to his favorite receiver picked in the 20th round (; >>

Good one(s): Johnny U to Raymond Berry.

Estil · January 21, 2014 2:29PM

In light of the new NFL draft bust discussion, I figured why not make it "fair and balanced" and bring back the draft steals topic too? Here's a new one to chew on:

NEW: Manu Ginóbili is a 12 year veteran shooting guard for the San Antonio Spurs who averages 14.9 points per game and is a three time champ (2003, 2005, 2007) plus won gold (2004) and bronze (2008) medals in the Summer Olympics as well. Not bad for a guy who was picked second-to-last in the 1999 draft.

Tabe · January 21, 2014 3:11PM

A couple hockey ones:

Henrik Zetterberg was drafted 210th
Pavel Datsyuk was drafted 171st

Estil · January 23, 2014 1:48AM

<< A couple hockey ones:

Henrik Zetterberg was drafted 210th
Pavel Datsyuk was drafted 171st >>

I'm not knowledgeable about hockey but apparently Zetterberg's claim to fame is that he was ROY in 2001 and Finals MVP in 2008, while Datsvuk's resume is even more impressive. He was a two time champ (2002, 2008), won three straight Frank Selkes (best defense; 2008-10) and four straight Lady Byngs (best sportsmanship; 2006-09).

Oh yeah, and both won Olympic gold.

MGLICKER · January 23, 2014 2:10AM

Tiger outfielder Ron Leflore.

Text

Estil · January 23, 2014 2:32AM

<< Tiger outfielder Ron Leflore.

Text >>

Interesting story but he wasn't really drafted.

lightningboy · January 23, 2014 3:19AM

Phil Simms - 7th (can't really argue with that one)

Montana at #82? Simms was a solid quarterback, but how can you not argue any QB over Montana if we are looking at this in hindsight?

Also, didn't Steve Largent go undrafted?

CNote · January 23, 2014 6:00AM

<< Phil Simms - 7th (can't really argue with that one)

Montana at #82? Simms was a solid quarterback, but how can you not argue any QB over Montana if we are looking at this in hindsight?

Also, didn't Steve Largent go undrafted? >>

Despite an All-American career at the University of Tulsa, Largent was not selected until the fourth round of the 1976 NFL draft by the Houston Oilers (117th pick). After four preseason games, he was slated to be cut, but was instead traded to the expansion Seattle Seahawks for a 1977 eighth-round pick.

Forget draft busts, let's go the opposite direction (draft steals &amp; athletes who started a failu

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Forget draft busts, let's go the opposite direction (draft steals & athletes who started a failu