Thursday, June 6, 2013

The Phillies Last 16th overall Pick Trey McCall and the 1985 MLB Draft

Tonight the Phillies have the 16th pick in the 2013 MLB entry draft.  Thiis is the highest pick the Phils have had since picking Gavin Floyd at #4 in 2001.  The Phils have had a number of recent picks in the #16 neighborhood including Cole Hamels (#17, 2002), Chase Utley (#15, 2000) and 4A pitcher Joe Savery (#19, 2007). They have also picked jettisoned pitchers Kyle Drabek (#18, 2006) and Brett Myers (#12, 1999) in nearby spots. 

This Phillies have only ever specifically picked in the #16 spot once during the June Draft. That pick was a High School Catcher out of Virginia named Trey McCall in 1985. Today we turn back the clock 27 years and take a look into that pick and the rest of the 1985 MLB Draft.

1987 Spartanburg Phillies ProCards #14 Trey McCall (image swiped from Check out my Collectibles)



Phillies
Unfortunately McCall never had first round impact as a player.  He spent five seasons in the Philllies system reaching as high as single A Clearwater in 1989

The remainder of the Phillies 1985 draft yielded 5 players that reached the majors, including pitchers Bruce Ruffin (Rd 2/34th overall), Jason Grimsley (Rd 10), and Wally Ritchie(Rd 4). 

1985 MLB Draft
The best player taken in the first round of the 1985 draft was Barry Bonds (#6 Pirates), The round also yielded HoF Shortstop Barry Larkin (#4 Reds).  The best first round pick after McCall was Bond's PED brethern Rafael Palmiero (#22 Cubs) other notables include Brian McRae (#17 Royals) Joe McGrane (#18 Cardinals) Gregg Jefferies (#20 Mets).  The first overall pick of the 1985 draft was BJ Surhoff by the Orioles followed by Will Clark to the Giants and Bobby Witt (Rangers)

Other 1985 round 1 notables are Pete Incaviglia (#8 Expos as a 3B!!!) Walt Weiss (#11 A's) Tommy Greene (#14 Braves) Joey Cora (#23 Padres).  Chris Gwynn was drafted #10 overall - 48 picks prior to his Hall of Fame brother Tony's postion in the 1981 draft.

Later rounds yielded Randy Johnson (round 2, Expos) Tino Martinez (3, Red Sox - unsigned) Bobby Thigpen (4, ChiSox) David Justice (4, Braves ) Jeff Brantley (6, Giants) NFL HoF Deion Sanders (6, Royals -  unsigned) Jason Grimsley (10, Phils) (Bo Jackson (20, Angels) John Smotlz (22, Tigers) Mark Grace (24, Cubs ) Jim Abbott (36,Blue Jays)
  
High School picks and Catchers
McCall was the 4th higjest among the High School Prospects taken in the first round, only one of which made the major leagues (Tommy Greene). Among Catchers McCall was the 2nd taken behind Kurt Brown (#2 White Sox) who also didn't make the majors.

The highest pick at catcher that made the majors was Bill McGuire who had a cup of coffee with the Mariners who drafted him 27th overall. Other notable players drafted at Cather in 1985 were Phillies Alums Todd Pratt (21 BoSox) and Lenny Webster (13 Twins), Mike MacFarlane (Rd 17 Royals - played 13 seasons, who knew?) Chad Kreuter (3 Rangers) Soctt Servais (20 Mets) Don Wakamatsu (First Asian-American Manager #4 Reds)      
Trey McCall 2013

Today the former professional baseball catcher finds himself at the helm of the Emory & Henry Wasps of the Old Dominion Athletcis Conference (ODAC - NCAA D3).  McCall has been with the Wasps since 2005, This season the Wasps, based out of Emory Virginia, had a tough 9-27 season finishing last in the ODAC. Trey McCall also peforms Assistant AD duties Emory and Henry and he will spend the summer of 2013 as an assistant coach with the Cotuit Kettleers in the prestigous Cape Cod League.

Additional Reading
Earlier today Phillies Site Phielder's Choice took an in depth look at the history of the MLB draft 16th pick.

Sources
Baseball-Ref.com - 1985 Draft and other pages   
Wikipedia - 1985 MLB Draft and other pages
Emory & Henry official Athletic Site - GoWasps.com
ODAC  - Old Dominion Athletic Conference

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