Arizona’s boys of summer are preparing for another big moment in their baseball careers.

The annual MLB draft starts on Thursday, and as usual a handful of Arizona’s high school players are expecting to get the call they’ve dreamed about. The first MLB draft was held in 1965, and more than 400 Arizona high school products have been drafted since then.

Thanks to Baseball America, aia365.com was able to get the names of every Arizona high school baseball player who’s been drafted. During the next seven work days, aia365.com will release the names of those players along with stories of former Arizona players who were drafted in each decade from 1965-2010.

One of the players we contacted was the first Arizona high school baseball player to get selected in the first round, Craig Harris of Buena High. We tried to get in touch with the first Arizona high school baseball player ever drafted, John Guthrie of Alhambra High, a 19^th round pick (No. 372 overall) of the Giants in 1965. But we were unsuccessful.

Former Alhambra coach Ron Scott, who didn’t coach Guthrie, was able to send us some information on Guthrie, though. Guthrie was an infielder/outfielder, team captain and MVP of Alhambra’s 1965 squad.  

He also led Alhambra with a .385 average, had the fewest errors and struck out six times in 39 plate appearances for Alhambra in 1965. At the end of aia365.com's 7-day project, we’ll run a by-the-numbers look at Arizona’s high school draftees, including which school has produced the most major leaguers and the most drafted players.

To start, we’ll roll out a story on former Phoenix Union High School District administrator Moody Jackson, who was drafted by the Oakland A’s in 1967. At the bottom of each story you'll find the names of Arizona high school players who were drafted from 1965-2013.

We'll start with the 1960s.

 

A career that blossomed in education

 

                    (Moody Jackson is sitting in his front yard. Photo by Jose E. Garcia/aia365.com.)

Retired administrator Moody Jackson isn’t moody after all.

That’s Jackson’s actual first name, and it’s the same first name his father and grandfather shared. The congenial Jackson was a multi-sport star at South Mountain, where he became the first baseball player to get drafted from that school.

But Jackson wasn’t destined for a baseball career. The 63 year old dedicated 32 years to the high school district that allowed him to excel on the field, classroom and offices.

“I can’t say anything but positive things about Phoenix Union,” Jackson said. “They really guided my career, and it really worked out for me.”

At first, it appeared that football would steer Jackson’s career.

Captivated by South Mountain’s Friday night lights, Jackson relished his time on South Mountain's football field. But when the Oakland Athletics drafted the fleet-footed Jackson in 1967, the former center fielder briefly considered signing with the team that selected him in the 29^th round with the No. 553 overall pick.

But after talking to his parents and brother-in-law, Willie Peete, a former Mesa High coach and father of former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete, Jackson wanted to see how far he’d go as a wide receiver. Jackson’s baseball career ended after his freshman season at Phoenix College.

                                             (Moody Jackson's helmet flies off as he swings at a pitch during a high school game in 1967. Photo courtesy of South Mountain.)

“It (getting drafted) was unexpected,” Jackson said. “I knew I was a good player, but I never thought I would get drafted. My coach kept telling me I could play and be good in the minor leagues and in the big leagues. Reggie Jackson was drafted (a year before) by the Athletics, and for a second I thought about playing with the great Reggie Jackson.”

Only one Jackson continued to play baseball, though.

The other Jackson, Moody, used his speed to play football at the University of Utah before transferring to New Mexico State. After college, the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers gave Jackson a look, but the Canadian Football League gave him a job, winning a Grey Cup title during one of his four CFL seasons.

Jackson grew up wanting to also coach and mentor young athletes, so he returned to Phoenix to coach his high school alma mater. He did so for four years before joining Northern Arizona University’s coaching staff for three seasons.

At South Mountain, Jackson coached former NFL players Byron Evans of the Eagles and Manny Hendrix of the Cowboys and recruited current Stanford defensive coordinator Derek Mason to play for NAU.

“To see them go on and maybe have some impact on them is a highlight for me,” Jackson said.

At NAU, Jackson coached with former NFL coach Brad Childress and Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs. 

After leaving NAU, Jackson finally settled in as an administrator at Phoenix Union, serving as athletic director, district athletic director and principal in his career.

Jackson currently resides in Peoria with his wife of 44 years, Brenda, and spends as much time as he can playing golf.

After serving his district for 25-plus years, Jackson has earned the right to take his time and smell the roses now.

Career advice for todays athletes

"Don’t let athletics be the end result. It can be a stepping stone to greater things and to a more successful career outside of sports. Enjoy it and have a good time, but you need to focus on your academics and that will take them a lot further once they are done with athletics."-- Moody Jackson

 

                                       (Senior photo of Moody Jackson. Photo courtesy of South Mountain.)

Arizona high school players drafted from 1965-69

(Click on the names that are highlighted to get more professional baseball information on those players.)

1965

John Guthrie, 19^th round, No. 372 overall, OF/INF, Alhambra High, Giants

Dave Grangaard, 19^th round, No. 378 overall, INF, Camelback, Orioles

Rich Hinton, 23^rd round, No. 446 overall, P, Marana High, Dodgers

1966

Micheal Pierce, 29^th round, No. 573 overall, P, Rincon High, Dodgers

1967

Jay Schlueter, 2^nd round, No. 26 overall, OF, Central High, Astros

Ken Hansen, 6^th round, No. 120 overall, P, Maryvale High, Dodgers

Jay Ray Rokey, 14^th round, No. 271 overall, OF, Westwood High, Indians

Pat Westley, 15^th round, No. 298 overall, INF, North High, Giants

Glen Davis, 24^th round, No. 473 overall, INF, North High, Giants

Moody Jackson, 29^th round, No. 553 overall, OF, South Mountain High, Athletics

Robert Huddleston, 32^nd round, No. 612 overall, OF, Catalina High, Giants

Ernest Fimbres, 40^th round, No. 731 overall, OF, Tucson High, Athletics

Dave Gillette, 45^th round, No. 808 overall, C/OF, Alhambra High, Giants

1968

Jim Crawford, 14^th round, No. 324 overall, P, Tucson High, Padres

Pat Cech, 23^rd round, No 526 overall, P, Maryvale High, Giants

1969

Ron Mitchell, 10^th round, No. 222 overall, OF, Agua Fria High, Dodgers

Richard Austin, 15^th round, No. 337 overall, INF/2B, Coronado High, White Sox

Vernon Davis, 16^th round, No. 360 overall, P, Tucson High, Astros

Mike Cosgrove, 16^th round, No. 372 overall, P, Bourgade High, Reds

John Blue, 23^rd round, No. 550 overall, P, Tempe High, Padres

Andy Hassler, 25^th round, No. 579 overall, P, Palo Verde High, Angels

Michael Chitwood, 48^th round, No. 962 overall, South Mountain High, Orioles