Anointing a King

Jeff King

Former first overall draft pick Jeff King gets his chance to be Pittsburgh’s everyday third baseman 33 years ago today as the Pirates trade Steve Buechele to the Chicago Cubs for pitcher Danny Jackson.

King remains the Pirates’ regular third baseman through the 1996 season, after which he is traded to Kansas City.

King is the first overall selection in the 1986 amateur draft and one of three overall first picks to play for the Class AA Harrisburg Senators – the other two being pitcher Stephen Strasburg, the top pick in 2009, and outfielder Bryce Harper (2010).