As former first-rounder, Sveum recalls Draft jitters
ANAHEIM -- Dale Sveum was a first-round pick in the 1982 First-Year Player Draft, and he remembers the anxiety he felt back then.
"When that day comes, you remember what you were doing and how it impacted your life and [wondering] what team were you going to go to," the Cubs manager said Wednesday. "You're on pins and needles. There's obviously going to be a select 30, 40 guys who will go in the first round. You definitely think back on those days and if and when and what team you're going to be drafted by."
The Cubs have the second pick overall in Thursday's Draft. The three-day event begins with the Draft preview show on MLB.com and MLB Network on Thursday at 5 p.m. CT. Live Draft coverage from MLB Network's Studio 42 begins at 6 p.m. CT, with the top 73 picks being streamed on MLB.com and broadcast on MLB Network. Rounds 3-10 will be streamed live on MLB.com on Friday, beginning with a preview show at 11:30 a.m. CT, and Rounds 11-40 will be streamed live on MLB.com on Saturday, starting at noon CT.
Sveum was the Brewers' pick and wasn't taken until 25th. He thought he'd go higher.
"The Cubs had three first-round picks that year and basically deterred that [he would go higher] because they said I was going to go play football and told everybody I was going to play football," Sveum said.
The Cubs selected shortstop Shawon Dunston with the first overall pick, took shortstop Tony Woods 17th and outfielder Stan Boderick 27th.
The Draft brings mixed memories for Sveum.
"One of my best friends got stabbed the night before and we were in the hospital visiting him and lost track about what was going on in the Draft," Sveum said. "I walked into his hospital room and he said I got drafted by the Dodgers. I think he was on too much morphine. I called home, and my dad said, 'No, they just called and said you were drafted by the Brewers.'"
Sveum had a full-ride scholarship offer to play football at Arizona State. Instead, he signed with the Brewers for $107,000.