NORTH PARK LEAGUE: #1 Overall Draft History & Turn Back The Clock

After the draft, Bob asked me if I had a record of all the #1 OVERALL Draft Choices in the North Park League?

Answer: Hell ya!

Here it is…. I had forgotten what a beast Frank Thomas used to be in this league. Ironically, today he was released by Toronto (mutual agreement).

#1 OVERALL BY PLAYER:

17 Seasons: 1992 – 2008

Frank Thomas – 5

Alex Rodriguez – 4

Randy Johnson – 3

Ken Griffey Jr – 2

Albert Pujols – 2

Pedro Martinez – 1

# 1 OVERALL BY YEAR / with OWNER

1992 – Frank Thomas (Wsox) by Mario’s

1993 – Frank Thomas (Wsox) by Nits

1994 – Ken Griffey Jr (Sea.) by Lockhorns

1995 – Frank Thomas (Wsox) by Young Jeffries Players

1996 – Frank Thomas (Wsox) by Young Jeffries Players

1997 – Frank Thomas (Wsox) by Lockhorns

1998 – Ken Griffey Jr (Sea.) by Kooperstown Kids

1999 – Alex Rodriguez (Sea.) by Rock Cats

2000 – Pedro Martinez (Bos.) by Pittsburgh O’s

2001 – Randy Johnson (Arz.) by Pittsburgh O’s

2002 - Randy Johnson (Arz.) by H-Bombs

2003 – Alex Rodriguez (Tex.) by Pittsburgh O’s

2004 – Alex Rodriguez (Nyy) by H-Bombs

2005 – Randy Johnson (Nyy) by Pittsburgh O’s

2006 – Albert Pujols (St.L) by H-Bombs

2007 – Albert Pujols (St.L) by Pittsburgh O’s

2008 – Alex Rodriguez (Nyy) by H-Bombs

NOTE:
In 1994, the Big Hurt was the #2 overall pick, in 1998 the #5 overall pick, but was no longer a 1st round selection from that point on. His decline started the following year in 1999 when he went in the 5th round.

A-Rod as a #1 overall 4 times from three different MLB teams – Seattle (1), Texas (1) and the Yankees (2).

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TURN BACK THE CLOCK – VOLUME 4.

Some of the Turn Back the Clock stories are about real events that happened to NPL owners over the years that I was able to share with everyone. And the only thing I can add to that is that these events are true stories. In fact, they’re too bizarre to be made up.

THE NORTH PARK LEAGUE GOES TO THE BOSTON MARATHON!

With it being that Marathon time of the year, you may recall this incident from three years ago.

Reprinted from April 21, 2005.

As you know the Owls John Frissora was in Beantown for the Boston Marathon this past week. Dana’s finishing time was a good 4:14 in the heat, on the hills and among a sea of runners, BUT that time included 11 minutes at the start of the race in which her part of the pack was running just to REACH THE OFFICIAL STARTING LINE!!! That’s like having to run an EXTRA mile, to get an idea of how many runners there are. John said the crowds were unbelievably large. He drove around, parking and trying to stay ahead of her to catch a glimpse of her running at different points along the course. At about the 13 mile mark John got a good spot right along the curb – front row. Then all of a sudden, the Junior Senator from Mass and his high brow wife Theresa Heinz show up at the same spot and Kerry rudely elbows his way right in front of John, Theresa in tow and of all things, she’s wearing this huge party hat and now John can’t see anything.

Highly disturbed, the Owl told Kerry he cost him a $20 bet when he went down to defeat to Dubya, and John was ready to go all Tony Montana on him, but then noticed that as a disturbance was being caused, Kerry’s body guards were starting to close in, so John thought better of it and scampered out of there before the Men In Black could wrap him up.

And in the meantime, Dana was running by and because of the commotion, John missed her!! Damn Kerry!!