From the first draft back in 1965, when the Dodgers selected outfielder Rick Monday out of Arizona State, until later tonight when the Nationals will no doubt make the flame, throwing Strasburg the top pick—there have been spot on picks like Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez as well as epic busts like Brien Taylor and Steve Chilcott who never even reached the majors.

I have ranked my top ten first overall picks, and if the hype is legitimate, Strasburg will find his way onto the list before too long.

No. 10: Jeff Burroughs in 1969 by the Washington Senators
Career Stats: 16 seasons, .261 BA, 240 HR, 882 RBI

Burroughs, the father of failed Padres prospect Sean Burroughs, was a solid major-leaguer throughout his career, but had his best season in 1974 when he hit .301, 25, 118 and won the AL MVP.

Three years later, he crushed a career high 41 home runs in his first season in the NL with the Braves, good for second in the league.

No. 9: Andy Benes in 1988 by the San Diego Padres
Career Stats: 14 seasons, 155-139, 3.97 ERA, 2,000 Ks

Benes never became the top tier pitcher many thought he would be when he was first drafted, but he still put up solid numbers, winning double-digits ten different times.

He had his best season in 1996, as the ace of the St. Louis Cardinals rotation. He posted an 18-10 record and finished third in the NL Cy Young voting.

No. 8: B.J. Surhoff in 1985 by the Milwaukee Brewers
Career Stats: 19 seasons, .282 BA, 188 HR, 1,153 RBI

Originally drafted as a catcher by the Brewers, Surhoff also spent a few seasons at third base before eventually settling into the outfield.

He was a solid hitter, topping the .300 mark four different times and playing well into his late thirties for the Orioles.

No. 7: Mike Moore in 1981 by the Seattle Mariners
Career Stats: 14 seasons, 161-176, 4.39 ERA, 1,667 Ks

Moore won double-digits eight different times, logging the best season of his career in 1989 for the eventual World Series winning Oakland A's.

Moore was instrumental in the team's success, going 19-11 during the regular season and continuing the success with a 3-0 mark in the playoffs, including 2-0 in the World Series.

His career record would look better if not for a disastrous 9-19 season for the Mariners in 1987.

No. 6: Darryl Strawberry in 1980 by the New York Mets
Career Stats: 17 seasons, .259 BA, 335 HR, 1,000 RBI

If not for his drug problems, Strawberry would have most likely hit 500+ home runs in his career as he already had 280 long balls at the age of 29 when his career fell off.

He was named to eight straight All-Star teams and also won the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 1983. He finished in the top ten in MVP voting four times and led the NL in home runs once.

No. 5: Joe Mauer in 2001 by the Minnesota Twins
Career Stats: 6 seasons, .322 BA, 56 HR, 336 RBI

I still remember, as a Cubs fan, being thrilled that the Twins passed on what many were hailing as the best college pitcher ever in Mark Prior and took Mauer.

Funny how much things can change in just a matter of years.

Mauer's two batting titles speak for themselves, and as his power continues to develop, he will continue to climb this list.

Easily the best hitting catcher in the game today.

No. 4: Harold Baines in 1977 by the Chicago White Sox
Career Stats: 22 seasons, .289 BA, 384 HR, 1,628 RBI

A six-time All-Star, Baines' longevity is as impressive as his career stat line. His 1,628 RBI rank him 28th all-time, and he is a White Sox' legend.

The fact that he went 14 years between his first and last All-Star appearances speak to how consistently good he was.

No. 3: Chipper Jones in 1990 by the Atlanta Braves
Career Stats: 16 seasons, .311 BA, 415 HR, 1,402 RBI

Chipper is hands down the best switch-hitter of his generation and, aside for Eddie Murray and Mickey Mantle, might be the best of all-time.

With 30+ HR six times, 100+ RBI nine times, a .300+ BA ten times, and a batting title last year at the age of 36 Chipper continues to pile up the numbers.

No. 2: Alex Rodriguez in 1993 by the Seattle Mariners
Career Stats: 16 seasons, .305 BA, 561 HR, 1,629 RBI

Love him or hate him, Rodriguez may be the best high school player in the last 20 years, and he made an immediate impact for the Mariners.

He, along with guys like Nomar and Miguel Tejada, changed the shortstop position forever, and if the Mariners had to do it all over again there is no doubt they would take Rodriguez first overall again.

No. 1: Ken Griffey Jr in 1987 by the Seattle Mariners
Career Stats: 21 seasons, .287 BA, 617 HR, 1,788 RBI

Even though injuries cut into Griffey's career pretty significantly, he still has had one hell of a career, and without any steroid suspicions it is all the more impressive.

With 13 All-Star appearances and 10 Gold Gloves, Griffey dominated the 1990s and was the face of Major League Baseball the entire decade.

Truly one of the best to ever play the game.

From the first draft back in 1965, when the Dodgers selected outfielder Rick Monday out of Arizona State, until later tonight when the Nationals will no doubt make the flame, throwing Strasburg the top pick—there have been spot on picks like Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez as well as epic busts like Brien Taylor and Steve Chilcott who never even reached the majors.

I have ranked my top ten first overall picks, and if the hype is legitimate, Strasburg will find his way onto the list before too long.

No. 10: Jeff Burroughs in 1969 by the Washington Senators
Career Stats: 16 seasons, .261 BA, 240 HR, 882 RBI

Burroughs, the father of failed Padres prospect Sean Burroughs, was a solid major-leaguer throughout his career, but had his best season in 1974 when he hit .301, 25, 118 and won the AL MVP.

Three years later, he crushed a career high 41 home runs in his first season in the NL with the Braves, good for second in the league.

No. 9: Andy Benes in 1988 by the San Diego Padres
Career Stats: 14 seasons, 155-139, 3.97 ERA, 2,000 Ks

Benes never became the top tier pitcher many thought he would be when he was first drafted, but he still put up solid numbers, winning double-digits ten different times.

He had his best season in 1996, as the ace of the St. Louis Cardinals rotation. He posted an 18-10 record and finished third in the NL Cy Young voting.

No. 8: B.J. Surhoff in 1985 by the Milwaukee Brewers
Career Stats: 19 seasons, .282 BA, 188 HR, 1,153 RBI

Originally drafted as a catcher by the Brewers, Surhoff also spent a few seasons at third base before eventually settling into the outfield.

He was a solid hitter, topping the .300 mark four different times and playing well into his late thirties for the Orioles.

No. 7: Mike Moore in 1981 by the Seattle Mariners
Career Stats: 14 seasons, 161-176, 4.39 ERA, 1,667 Ks

Moore won double-digits eight different times, logging the best season of his career in 1989 for the eventual World Series winning Oakland A's.

Moore was instrumental in the team's success, going 19-11 during the regular season and continuing the success with a 3-0 mark in the playoffs, including 2-0 in the World Series.

His career record would look better if not for a disastrous 9-19 season for the Mariners in 1987.

No. 6: Darryl Strawberry in 1980 by the New York Mets
Career Stats: 17 seasons, .259 BA, 335 HR, 1,000 RBI

If not for his drug problems, Strawberry would have most likely hit 500+ home runs in his career as he already had 280 long balls at the age of 29 when his career fell off.

He was named to eight straight All-Star teams and also won the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 1983. He finished in the top ten in MVP voting four times and led the NL in home runs once.

No. 5: Joe Mauer in 2001 by the Minnesota Twins
Career Stats: 6 seasons, .322 BA, 56 HR, 336 RBI

I still remember, as a Cubs fan, being thrilled that the Twins passed on what many were hailing as the best college pitcher ever in Mark Prior and took Mauer.

Funny how much things can change in just a matter of years.

Mauer's two batting titles speak for themselves, and as his power continues to develop, he will continue to climb this list.

Easily the best hitting catcher in the game today.

No. 4: Harold Baines in 1977 by the Chicago White Sox
Career Stats: 22 seasons, .289 BA, 384 HR, 1,628 RBI

A six-time All-Star, Baines' longevity is as impressive as his career stat line. His 1,628 RBI rank him 28th all-time, and he is a White Sox' legend.

The fact that he went 14 years between his first and last All-Star appearances speak to how consistently good he was.

No. 3: Chipper Jones in 1990 by the Atlanta Braves
Career Stats: 16 seasons, .311 BA, 415 HR, 1,402 RBI

Chipper is hands down the best switch-hitter of his generation and, aside for Eddie Murray and Mickey Mantle, might be the best of all-time.

With 30+ HR six times, 100+ RBI nine times, a .300+ BA ten times, and a batting title last year at the age of 36 Chipper continues to pile up the numbers.

No. 2: Alex Rodriguez in 1993 by the Seattle Mariners
Career Stats: 16 seasons, .305 BA, 561 HR, 1,629 RBI

Love him or hate him, Rodriguez may be the best high school player in the last 20 years, and he made an immediate impact for the Mariners.

He, along with guys like Nomar and Miguel Tejada, changed the shortstop position forever, and if the Mariners had to do it all over again there is no doubt they would take Rodriguez first overall again.

No. 1: Ken Griffey Jr in 1987 by the Seattle Mariners
Career Stats: 21 seasons, .287 BA, 617 HR, 1,788 RBI

Even though injuries cut into Griffey's career pretty significantly, he still has had one hell of a career, and without any steroid suspicions it is all the more impressive.

With 13 All-Star appearances and 10 Gold Gloves, Griffey dominated the 1990s and was the face of Major League Baseball the entire decade.

Truly one of the best to ever play the game.

The year was 1941, and the Brooklyn Dodgers were 21 season removed from their last pennant. Coming off a solid 88-65 season, the Dodgers needed a spark to propel them to the next level, and they found it when they handed the starting center field job to 22-year old Pete Reiser.

A part time player the previous season, Reiser shined in his first opportunity as a starter, winning the batting title with a .343 average, and also leading the NL in runs (117), doubles (39), triples (17), and total bases (299). He started the All-Star games and finished a close second to teammate Dolph Camilli for the MVP.

The Dodgers also won the pennant, but fell to the Yankees 4-1 in the World Series. For Reiser, he had established a reputation as a great hitter and a helluva fielder who would routinely crash into the then unpadded concrete walls chasing fly balls, often resulting in injury.

The next season, the Dodgers again started out great, backed by their newest star Reiser, who was hitting .383 midway through July.

It was then that his all-out style of play really cost him for the first time in his career, as he crashed full speed into the concrete outfield wall in St. Louis, separating his shoulder and suffering a concussion in the process. He was ineffective the rest of the season, as his average dropped to .310, and the Dodgers fell out of contention.

Following the '42 season, Reiser enlisted to serve his country in the Army during World War II, and he was out of baseball until 1946.

Upon his return to the game in 1946 he picked up right where he left off, as he was considered the fastest player in baseball, once clocked at 9.8 seconds in the 100-yard dash.  

He showed that speed with a NL high 34 steals. Injuries again were an issue though, as a gruesome late season wall collision saw him carted off the field on a stretcher with a separated shoulder, broken ankle, and a number of torn muscles. His season was over.

The 1947 season paired Reiser with Jackie Robinson, and the two went on to finish first and second in stolen bases. Again, however, his season was cut short by a crash into the outfield wall. This collision was so severe, in fact, that he was actually read his last rites while laying in the outfield at Ebbets Field.

The Dodgers still managed to win the pennant in '47, and despite the scary injury, Reiser started the first three games of the World Series. However, he was not himself, as he misplayed several fly balls due to his rapidly developing vertigo.

By the next season, Reiser was a no longer a starter as the injuries really started to take their toll on him. He had vertigo, he was dizzy all the time, and he was just not good enough to start anymore.

He was traded to the Braves in 1948 and he retired in 1952 when the dizziness became too much for him to play through. Thus ended the playing career of the man that manager Leo Durocher would later call, "The only ballplayer I ever saw who was better than Willie Mays."

After his playing days were over, Reiser was asked by a reporter, "Do you ever think that if you hadn't played as hard as you did, there's no telling how great you might have been?

He responded, "Never. It was my way of playing. If I hadn't played that way I wouldn't even have been whatever I was. God gave me gave me those legs and the speed, and when they took me into the walls that's the way it had to be."

Now that is what baseball is all about, the way the game should be played. Baseball needs more Paul Reiser's.