On this day 26 years ago, five teams skipped over Derek Jeter in the 1992 draft before the Yankees nabbed him sixth overall.
Hal Newhouser, a scout for the Houston Astros, evaluated Jeter extensively before the ’92 draft. He was convinced that he would anchor a winning team, and told management to select him with the first pick. The Astros, however, believed that he would command a bonus of at least $1Â million to forgo his scholarship from the University of Michigan, so they passed on him. They instead drafted Phil Nevin out of Cal State. Newhouser felt so strongly about Jeter’s potential that he left the team in protest after they ignored his advice.
Yankees’ scout Dick Grouch watched Jeter in an all star camp held at Western Michigan University and was sold on him. Though the Yanks were concerned that he committed to play for Michigan, Grouch convinced the team to select him saying, “the only place Derek Jeter’s going is to Cooperstown.” He signed for $800,000 and the rest is, well you know.
Between Nevin and Jeter was:
Indians: Paul Shuey.
Expos: B.J. Wallace.
Orioles: Jeffrey Hammonds.
Reds: Chad Mottola.
I want to thank the Astros, Indians, Expos/Nats, Orioles and Reds organizations for making Derek Jeter a Yankee.
