Josh Hamilton now has something in common with Alex Rodriguez, Chipper Jones and Ken Griffey Jr. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays selected Hamilton, a prep star outfielder from Raleigh, N.C., with the first pick in the 1999 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Florida took Spring, Texas, fireballer Josh Beckett with the second pick, followed by Detroit's selection of USC catcher Eric Munson. In all, 1,474 players were selected in the draft's 50 rounds in the two-day draft. From Hamilton to Atlanta's selection of Ocala, Fla., left-hander Scott Leitz with the draft's final pick, follow your team's choices here.
Tampa Bay takes Hamilton with 1st pick
Rays feel Hamilton has 'five-tool' magic
1999 First-Round Selections
Marlins choose 'Kid Heat' with 2nd pick
Four Wash. prep stars go in 1st round
Record-setter drops to 26th round
Thirty-four years ago, Major League Baseball's first amateur draft officially began when the Kansas City Athletics made Rick Monday their first selection. Where did former No. 1s like Harold Baines, Andy Benes and recently retired Jeff King get their starts? Look into the history of the First-Year Player Draft.
No. 1 Picks
Picks Who Went Straight to the Majors
First-Round Picks: '98 | '97 | '96 | '95 | '94
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Josh Hamilton of Raleigh, N.C., batted .514 -- when teams would pitch to him.
AP
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