Carlton Fisk (1967, 1st round)
From 1966-1986, MLB held an amateur draft in January prior to the June draft that we’re familiar with today. Carlton Fisk was one of three players selected by the Red Sox in the 1967 January amateur draft.
The Hall of Fame catcher made brief appearances in 1969 and 1971 with the big league club before breaking out with a Rookie of the Year campaign in 1972. Fisk made the All-Star team, won a Gold Glove and finished fourth on the AL MVP ballot in his first full major league season.
Perhaps the most memorable moment of Fisks’ career was his walk-off home run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. The lasting impression of that game was Fisk trying to wave the ball fair as it hooked toward the left field foul pole.
Fisk spent 11 seasons with the Red Sox, hitting .284/.356/.481 in 1078 games. He was a seven-time All-Star and won a Silver Slugger during his time in Boston.
He went on to play 13 more seasons with the Chicago White Sox to cap a lengthy career that extraordinarily lasted until he was 45 years old. While he spent the majority of his time wearing different color Sox, most of his prime years came with the Red Sox. The organization clearly agreed when they retired his No. 27 at Fenway Park.