(Major League Baseball’s annual draft starts on Thursday, and a handful of players from Arizona’s high schools are expecting to get selected.

More than 400 in-state baseball players have been drafted from 1965-2012. On Friday, aia365.com started running a list of the players who were drafted in the 1960s along with a story on a player who was drafted in that decade.)

On Monday, we’ll focus on the 1970s. Below is a story on the first in-state player drafted in the first round.

Below the story is the list of Arizona high school players who were drafted in the 1970s.) 

This time, Sierra Vista’s prodigal son, Craig Harris, was able to walk when he returned home.

A rare bone disease robbed Harris of his mobility for about a decade. But a “miracle” happened about six years ago, allowing the former right-handed pitcher to start walking again.

Harris was in Sierra Vista during the Memorial Day holiday to play in a golf tournament named after his father, Don, a former revered coach at Buena High, where Harris made some Arizona high school history. When the Oakland Athletics drafted Harris in 1977, it marked the first time that an Arizona high school player was chosen in the first round of Major League Baseball’s annual draft.

Athletically, things didn’t go as planned for Harris, however. Off the field, he was thrown a curve when his bones unexpectedly began to fail him after his short pro baseball career. 

But Harris credits his life-changing moments for helping him mature and grow into the man he is today, a loving father and husband who cherishes every footstep he takes.

The one regret

Harris allowed his pride and immaturity to get in the way when he decided to stick to baseball instead of his first love, basketball, during his senior year at Buena.

Before the start of his senior basketball season, Harris rejected his basketball coach’s request to play in the low post, because the 6-feet-5 Harris believed he was better suited to handle the ball just like his idol, Pistol Pete Maravich. Like Maravich, Harris was also a bit fiery.

Not wanting to play a different position, Harris refused to play for his basketball team, even after his basketball coach acquiesced to Harris’ request to play the guard spot a day before the season started.

“I regret making that decision,” Harris said. “That’s about the only thing in my life I regret, not playing my senior year.”

The then rebellious teen then turned to baseball for his athletic fix, never thinking he’d get drafted.

But Harris’ breaking ball and sinking fastball kept luring scouts to his games. When he learned that he had a good chance at playing baseball professionally, Harris welcomed the opportunity.

The A’s used the No. 17 overall pick in 1977 to grab Harris.

“When I was told I would get paid to play, I jumped on that,” Harris said.

For those who get drafted in the first round this year, a $1 million dollar contract awaits them.

In 1977, Harris’ signing bonus was $55,000 and was making about $1,600 a month during his minor league career. It was still a great contract for a teen, especially for one who didn’t have aspirations to play pro ball in the 1970s.

But Harris’ stint in pro baseball was short. He said he got away from his pitching strengths, throwing more fastballs, which flattened out because of the strength he gained during the countless hours in the gym, instead of his offspeed pitches.

But there was another more important reason Harris hung up his baseball cleats.

“I knew I wasn’t a ballplayer,” he said.

But accepting that truth was a sign that Harris was maturing.

After baseball, he returned to Sierra Vista, where Harris worked as a driver for UPS. When he was 28, life handed Harris the biggest challenge he’s confronted so far.

Doctors to this day don’t know exactly why Harris’ bones weren’t able to keep Harris upright.

“I was cursing God to be completely honest,” Harris said. “God and I weren’t having some friendly conversations. But we do now.”

When doctors told Harris that he’d be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, Harris’ wife, Heather, was pregnant with their second daughter.

After their daughter was born, the Harrises moved to Denver, so Heather could go to medical school. As for Harris, he was bedridden for about 10 years.

But before his limbs starting to completely shut down, Harris was able to make a good living selling and flipping homes in Denver. Heather is thriving in dentistry, and the Harrises currently live in the same neighborhood as Denver Nuggets coach George Karl.

When Harris was finally able to walk away from his bed on his own, doctors couldn’t explain it.

“It’s a miracle that I’m even playing golf,” Harris said.

On a golf course is where Harris likes to spend a lot of his time nowadays.

He did so when he travelled to Sierra Vista recently for the first time in a long time. Harris came back a changed man.

He is grateful for what he has and even grateful for the obstacles he faced along the way.

“It’s all part of a process in becoming a man,” he said. “Everybody has a different recipe. This happened to be mine.”

Arizona high school players drafted in the 1970s

1970

Carl Austerman, 5^th round, No. 102 overall, P, Glendale High, Brewers

Jeff Oscarson, 10^th round, No. 242 overall, INF/SS, Saguaro High, Cubs

Duane Wirth, 16^th round, No. 379 overall, P, St. Mary’s High, Yankees

John Denny, 29^th round, No. 679 overall, P, Prescott High, Cardinals

Willie Morales, 29^th round, No. 680 overall, C, Tucson, Yankees

Jim Vaughn, 31^st round, No. 723 overall, P, Seton Catholic, Giants

Daniel Ferguson, 50^th round, No. 912 overall, C, Sahuaro, Orioles

1971

James Donker, 5^th round, No. 110 overall, P, Arcadia High, Astros

Mark Wogan, 13^th round, No. 303 overall, RHP, Saguaro High, Cardinals

Ray Forgie, 15^th round, No. 357 overall, RHP, Coronado High, Mets

Gil Stafford, 17^th round, No. 403 overall, C, Maryvale High, Astros

Michael Kee, 19^th round, No. 456 overall, OF, Palo Verde High, Athletics

Rick Dively, 24^th round, No. 561 overall, OF, Saguaro High, Braves

Richard Harris, 26^th round, No. 607 overall, SS, Westwood High, Athletics

James Thompson, 27^th round, No. 631 overall, RHP, Lake Havasu, Orioles

John Pierson, 28^th round, No. 633 overall, OF, Washington High, Expos

Steven Ingram, 28^th round, No. 634 overall, RHP, Maryvale High, Royals

Tony Maya, 29^th round, No. 656 overall, RHP, Ajo High, Mets

1972

Joe Meade, 5^th round, No. 115 overall, INF, Chandler, Giants

Michael Odum, 7^th round, No. 153 overall, OF, Tucson, Astros

Robert Cummings, 8^th round, No. 175 overall, 3B, West High, Reds

Gene Phipps, 13^th round, No. 295 overall, LHP, Yuma High, Reds

Ron Hassey, 23^rd round, No. 531 overall, SS, Tucson High, Tucson, Reds

Robert Alonzo, 25^th round, No. 531 overall, INF, Carl Hayden, Giants

Roberto Ayala, 27^th round, No. 622 overall, 3B, Chandler High, Giants

Steven O’Brien, 28^th round, No. 636 overall, RHP, Maryvale High, Dodgers

1973

Mike Mendoza, 5^th round, No. 116 overall, RHP, McClintock High, Astros

Jack Chilton, 12^th round, No. 267 overall, LHP, Maryvale High, Brewers

Kelly Cordes, 13^th round, No. 308 overall, LHP, Prescott High, Astros

Robert Ferber, 17^th round, No. 406 overall, OF, Sahuaro High, Reds

Phil Bittle, 24^th round, No. 556 overall, 1B/OF, Douglas High, Reds

1974

Alan Wirth, 3^rd round, No. 67 overall, RHP, St. Mary’s, Giants

David McCarthy, 6^th round, No. 122 overall, LHP, Bourgade High, Rangers

Jack Lawson, 7^th round, No. 157 overall, RHP, Scottsdale High, Cardinals       

Mickey Hatcher, 14^th round, No. 327 overall, OF, Mesa High, Astros

Ray Murillo, 18^th round, No. 424 overall, RHP, Agua Fria High, Dodgers

Charles Faubion, 22^nd round, No. 487 overall, RHP, Alhambra High, Rangers

Wade Leitch, 23^rd overall, No. 506 overall, RHP, Sahuaro High, Rangers

Waldo Winborn, 39^th overall, No. 683 overall, OF, Buena High, Expos

1975

Pat Gillie, 2^nd round, No. 33 overall, RHP, Alhambra High, Royals

Michael Lally, 6^th round, No. 134 overall, OF, Peoria High, Astros

George Davis, 7^th round, No. 152 overall, OF, Scottsdale High, Giants

Dave Van Gorder, 9^th round, No. 204 overall, C, Chandler High, Phillies

Bob Horner, 15^th round, No. 357 overall, SS, Apollo High, Athletics

Randy Evans, 22^nd round, No. 517 overall, RHP, Catalina High, Cardinals

Kris Kaminska, 25^th round, 25^th round, No. 586 overall, RHP, Peoria High, Dodgers

Tom Teuchert, 27^th round, No. 607 overall, RHP, Chaparral High, Expos

1976

Ozzie Virgil, 6^th round, No. 137 overall, C, Moon Valley, Phillies

Tom Wiedenbauer, 7^th round, No. 145 overall, OF, Sahuaro High, Astros

Daniel Winslow, 9^th round, No. 207 overall, C, Buena High, Cardinals

Duane Evans, 9^th round, No. 209 overall, 1B, Yuma High, Phillies

David Moore, 10^th round, No. 222 overall, 2B, Sahuaro High, Angels

William Hallstrom, 17^th round, No. 389 overall, SS, Grand Canyon High, Padres

Mike Villegas, 19^th round, No. 433 overall, RHP, East High, Astros

Robert Pettit, 21^st round, No. 491 overall, INF, Chandler, Giants

Mike Bates, 34^th round, No. 689 overall, RHP, Apollo, Giants

1977

Craig Harris, 1^st round, No. 17 overall, RHP, Buena High, Athletics

Bart Nieuwenhuis, 2^nd round, No. 41 overall, LHP, Tombstone High, Twins

Jeff Conner, 3^rd round, No. 59 overall, LHP, Trevor Browne, Angels

John Quijada, 6^th round, No. 152 overall, SS, Trevor Browne, Phillies

Thomas Haggerty, 9^th roun, No. 210 overall, 1B, Maryvale High, Expos

Kevin Dukes, 10^th round, No. 241 overall, LHP, Sahuaro High, Angels

Ken Likewise, 12^th round, No. 306 overall, LHP, Chaparral High, Dodgers

John Garcia, 13^th round, No. 319 overall, RHP, Hayden High, Angels

Stephen Martin, 15^th round, No. 378 overall, RHP, Palo Verde High, Astros

Kernan Ronan, 20^th round, No. 496 overall, RHP, Brophy High, Cardinals

James Souder, 27^th round, No. 658 overall, RHP, Bourgade High, Indians

1978

Preston Freeman, 9^th round, No. 222 overall, SS, Chandler High, Angels

Ron Jensen, 12^th round, No. 290 overall, LHP, Coronado High, Athletics

Brian Owens, 17^th round, No. 430 overall, RHP, Mesa High, Angels

Brian Piper, 17^th round, No. 436 overall, RHP, Buena High, Rangers

Armand Villa, 31^st round, No. 701 overall, RHP, Sunnyslope High, Cardinals

Mark Brewer, 32^nd round, No. 709 overall, RHP, Coronado High, Giants

1979

Ed Vosberg, 3^rd round, No. 58 overall, LHP, Salpointe High, Cardinals

Gib Seibert, 4^th round, No. 104 overall, OF, Sahuaro High, Red Sox

Bob Gunnarsson, 10^th round, No 249 overall, LHP, Lake Havasu, Angels

Billy Hatcher, 30^th round, No. 738 overall, OF/RHP, Williams High, Expos