Written By Bruce Weirauch
June 8, 1981 Cubs select Joe Carter with 2nd overall pick in MLB draft. Carter was key player in the Rick Sutcliffe trade in 1984. Selected by Chicago Cubs in the 1st round (2nd pick overall) of the free-agent draft (June 8, 1981 – signed June 12, 1981).
We drafted him as an outfielder. He’s a big fellow, still growing, and he is a good prospect,’ Hemond said. ‘It’s unfair to compare him to anybody right now. He’s still growing.’
He finished the 1981 season hitting .411 with 24 homers and 120 RBI, the latter being an NCAA single season record. The 6-foot-3, 214-pounder is a three-time All-America who holds NCAA career records in RBI (312), hits (349) and total bases (640).
His lifetime batting average was .435 and he was successful in 54 of 58 stolen base attempts during his three-year career.
