Boston Red Sox: 10 biggest first-round draft pick disasters

Red Sox 1967 Draft

No. 3 – Mike Garman, No. 23 – Danny Graham
No. 27 – Vida Blue (A’s)

The Red Sox had a pair of first-round picks in 1967, including the third overall pick. Mike Garman had a sold nine-year career after finding success as a reliever after he left Boston but his tenure with the Red Sox was uninspiring. He owned a 4.95 ERA in 20 appearances (six starts) spread over parts of four seasons. Garman eventually found his niche but more was expected from a former No. 3 overall pick.

Boston’s second selection in that first round was used on Danny Graham, who never made it further than Double-A in his three-year minor league career.

One of those picks could have been used on Vida Blue, who lasted almost until the end of the round. Blue’s first full season in the majors came in 1971 when he earned the AL Cy Young and MVP awards for the Oakland A’s by going 24-8 with a 1.82 ERA.

That career year came early for Blue but he would end up making six All-Star appearances and finishing in the top-seven on the Cy Young ballot four more times. Blue was also a key contributor to three World Series titles with Oakland in the 1970s.