PERFECT GAME CROSSCHECKER'S TOP TEN LIST
WEEK 4: 1/28/08 - 2/03/08
 
BRADY HEADLINES BASEBALL SUPER BOWLERS
Wednesday January 30, 2008
Super Bowl XLII is set to be played Sunday in Glendale, Ariz., and typical of past Super Bowls it will have a baseball connection. The New England Patriots have three players on their roster (quarterbacks Tom Brady and Matt Cassel, and wide receiver Kelley Washington) who were selected in the baseball draft. The New York Giants have no former draft picks, but quarterback Eli Manning’s father Archie was drafted several times.

At least 25 players who have performed in the Super Bowl through the years were previously selected in the baseball draft, including the likes of quarterbacks Bubby Brister (Broncos ’99), John Elway (Broncos ’87-88-90-98-99) and Jay Schroeder (Redskins ’88), defensive back Deion Sanders (49ers ’95, Cowboys ’96), wide receiver Mark Seay (Chargers ’95) and running back Cedrick Benson (Bears ’07), who actually played professional baseball. Sanders played in the big leagues.

The list of former draft picks includes a first-rounder (Schroeder, Blue Jays ’79), second-rounder (Elway, Yankees ’81), three fourth-rounders (Marino, Royals ’79; Brister, Tigers ’81; and Mike Prior, Dodgers ’85) and a fifth-rounder (Charlie West, Phillies ’66). Prior, a defensive back from Illinois State who played on the Green Bay Packers ’97 Super Bowl team, is a part of baseball draft history as he was the only player the Dodgers drafted in the June 1985/regular phase who didn’t sign. A team has never signed all its draft picks in the June regular phase.

Led by three Super Bowl MVPs, here are the 10 greatest Super Bowl performers through the years by players who were baseball draft picks:
 
Ranking. Player Pos., Team Accomplishment Previously Drafted (Rnd)
1. Tom Brady, qb, Patriots Super Bowl MVP ’04; 32 of 48, 354 yards Expos ’95 (18)
2. #John Elway, qb, Broncos Super Bowl MVP ’99; 18 of 29, 336 yards Yankees ’81 (2)
3. Hines Ward, wr, Steelers Super Bowl MVP ’06; 5 rec., 123 yards, 1 TD Marlins ’94 (73)
4. *Dan Marino, qb, Dolphins 29 of 50, 318 yards in Super Bowl ’85 Royals ’79 (4)
5. #Ken Stabler, qb, Raiders 12 of 19, 180 yards in Super Bowl ’77 Astros ’68 (Jan. 2)
6. Joe Theismann, qb, Redskins 15 of 23, 143 yards in Super Bowl ’83 Twins ’71 (39)
7. Antwaan Randle El, wr, Steelers 3 rec./22 yards; 1 kick ret/47 yards; 2 punt ret/32 yards in Super Bowl ’06 Cubs ’97 (14)
8. Russ Francis, te, 49ers 5 receptions, 60 yards in Super Bowl ‘85 Royals ’74 (9)
9. *Marshall Faulk, rb, Rams 17 rushes/76 yards; 4 rec./54 yards in Super Bowl ‘02 Angels ’93 (43)
10. Ray Guy, p, Raiders 7 punts, 42-yard avg in Super Bowl ’84 Reds ’73 (June/sec. 1)
* Played on losing team
# Drafted multiple times; latest draft position noted
-- Allan Simpson Top Ten List Archives
CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA TOP TALENT PRODUCERS
Monday January 28, 2008
With its Sun Belt climate and population of almost 34 million, California easily produces more baseball talent than any other state. In a four-year stretch from 2004-07, the Golden State produced 1,105 draft picks who attended high school in California. Florida, with 679 selections, was a distant second.

On a per capita basis, however, Florida grades out No. 1. The Sunshine State had a population of slightly more than 18 million in 2006, yielding an average of .0375 draft picks per 1,000 residents. Oklahoma was second at .0360 and California third at .0326.

An analysis of all 50 states reveals, not surprisingly, how baseball has become predominantly a warm-weather game where it comes to producing talent. The top 15 talent-producing states (on a per capita basis) are all in the extreme west or lower half of the country.

By contrast, the poorest talent producers are South Dakota and Vermont—both on an aggregate and per capita basis. In the last four drafts combined, only one player that was drafted attended high school in South Dakota, two in Vermont.

Following is a ranking of the 10 most fertile talent-producing states, on a per capita basis, based on the high schools attended by players in the last four drafts (raw state ranking in parentheses):
 
Ranking. State (Raw State Rank) Total Picks, 2004 - 2007 *Picks Per Capita
1. Florida (2) 679 .0375
2. Oklahoma (11) 129 .0360
3. California (1) 1,105 .0326
4. Mississippi (T-19) 90 .0309
5. Arizona (5) 185 .0300
6. Washington (6) 184 .0288
7. Louisiana (12) 122 .0284
8. Texas (3) 589 .0250
9. Georgia (4) 234 .0250
10. Hawaii (37) 29 .0226
* Based on number of draft picks from 2004-07, per 1,000 residents (2006 estimate)
-- Allan Simpson Top Ten List Archives