Warwick's Bill Almon to be inducted into College Baseball Hall of Fame
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — Bill Almon is one of the greatest baseball players to ever come out of Rhode Island.
Now, the former No. 1 draft pick in the 1974 MLB draft will be enshrined into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2022.
"Getting inducted into the NCAA baseball Hall of Fame was a tremendous honor. I was very pleased to be notified," Almon told Sports Team 10.
The Warwick Vets grad declined the Padres eighth round draft selection of high school along with a $50,00 dollar bonus so that he could go to Brown University.
And it paid off -- the Bears shortstop was named the College Baseball Player of the Year as a junior in 1974 after hitting .350.
"I was driving for that, but in my father’s estimation, he said the chances are always slim, no matter how good do you think you are. So he was the one who really suggested in pushed me towards making sure I get an education just in case I didn't make it," said Almon.
Those three seasons on the east side helped Almon get selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1974 MLB draft -- something that is still a very special accomplishment.
"That was one of my best accomplishments, and my goal in college was to be a first round pick and then to be the number one pick was very satisfying," said Almon.
Almon will officially get your enshrined on Feb. 3 in Omaha, Nebraska as part of the 2022 college baseball Hall of Fame.