1971 Major League Baseball draft
First round selections
The following are the first round picks in the 1971 Major League Baseball draft.
* Did not signOther notable selections
| Round | Pick | Player | Team | Position |
| 2 | 29 | George Brett | Kansas City Royals | Shortstop |
| 2 | 30 | Mike Schmidt | Philadelphia Phillies | Shortstop |
| 3 | 65 | Ron Guidry | New York Yankees | Pitcher |
| 4 | 78 | Jerry Mumphrey | St. Louis Cardinals | Shortstop-Outfielder |
| 7 | 143 | Warren Cromartie | Chicago White Sox | Outfielder |
| 7 | 151 | Larry Andersen | Cleveland Indians | Pitcher |
| 12 | 264 | Mike Caldwell | San Diego Padres | Pitcher |
| 15 | 346 | Mike Flanagan* | Houston Astros | Pitcher |
| 25 | 582 | Roger Williams | Atlanta Braves | Outfielder |
| 33 | 699 | Steve Bartkowski* | Kansas City Royals | First Baseman |
| 39 | 764 | Joe Theismann* | Minnesota Twins | Shortstop |
| 42 | 776 | Keith Hernandez | St. Louis Cardinals | First Baseman |
* Did not signBackground
The June 1971 draft was a productive one, even though none of its top ten choices yielded players who would have memorable major league careers. Selected in the regular phase were future all-stars Jim Rice, Frank Tanana, George Brett, Ron Guidry, Rick Rhoden, Mike Schmidt and Keith Hernandez. In the secondary phase, Burt Hooton, Steve Rogers and Steve Busby were chosen.
Pitcher Mike Flanagan was selected in the 15th round of the June regular phase by Houston, but enrolled at the University of Massachusetts. One of the more interesting highlights of the June draft was that five quarterbacks were selected including future NFL stars Jim Plunkett, Archie Manning, Dan Pastorini, Steve Bartkowski, Joe Theismann and Condredge Holloway, who went on to have a career in the Canadian Football League, where he was awarded Most Outstanding Player while playing for the Toronto Argonauts.
Danny Goodwin, the nation's top pick, could not agree to terms with the White Sox and became the first top choice who did not sign a contract, instead choosing to attend Southern University in Baton Rouge. Four years later, Goodwin was again selected first overall, this time by the Angels.
