It is January. There is snow on the ground. The city is on pins and needs in anticipation of the big football game this weekend. Perhaps the last thing you would think about right now is drafting amateur baseball players.
But that is what used to happen this time of year. For over two decades, Major League Baseball held a draft in January. According to the Baseball America Ultimate Draft Book, when Major League Baseball instituted a draft, they feared legal repercussions on restraining trade. So they wanted to give amateur players as many opportunities to be drafted throughout the year, implementing as many as five drafts throughout the year in 1965 and 1966.