MLB draft: A look at Orange County’s alumni dream team

RYAN KLESKO, WESTMINSTER, DESIGNATED HITTER: A 1989 graduate, Klesko was one of the National League's most feared hitters during the 1990s. He hit at 21 homers in eight of his 13 seasons, including a career high 34 in 1996. In 2001, he hit .286 with 30 homers, 113 RBI, 23 stolen bases and a .539 slugging percentage. He was selected to the National League All-Star team that season.

ARKY VAUGHAN, FULLERTON, SHORTSTOP: One of three Hall of Famers on the O.C. alumni team, Vaughan a 1930 grad of Fullerton, was named to the National League All-Star team from 1934 to 1942. His best years were with the Pittsburgh Pirates, for whom he led the NL in walks, triples and runs scored three times.

MARK GRACE, TUSTIN, FIRST BASE: Grace might have been just as good of a basketball player as baseball player at Tustin, where he graduated in 1982. He was a steady player for the Chicago Cubs and the Arizona Diamondbacks. He won four Gold Glove Awards and was selected to three All-Star games. He was selected to the Cubs All-Century Team First Baseman in 1999 (as voted by the fans). He also was a member of the Diamondbacks team that won the World Series in 2001.

GARY CARTER, SUNNY HILLS, CATCHER: The current manager of the Orange County Flyers and Hall of Fame catcher would be the alumni cleanup hitter. He hit 20 or more home runs nine times and drove in 100 or more four times. He led the National League in RBI in 1984 with 106, one of 10 seasons in which he played in the All-Star Game. He also would give the O.C. alums an outstanding defensive catcher. Twice he led NL catchers in fielding percentage.

BRIAN DOWNING, MAGNOLIA, OUTFIELD: At one time, he held just about every Angels career batting record, including hits, runs, extra-base hits, homers and RBI. He was a tough guy, who played with a broken arm. He graduated in 1969.

SHAWN GREEN, TUSTIN, OUTFIELD: Green was a first-round draft pick and a two-time major league All-Star. He drove in 100 runs four times and scored 100 runs four times, hit 40 or more home runs three times, led the league in doubles, extra base hits, and total bases, won both a Gold Glove Award and a Silver Slugger Award, and set the Dodgers single-season record in home runs. That same seaosn, Green was also in the top five in the league in home runs, RBI, intentional walks, and MVP voting.

TIM WALLACH, UNIVERSITY, THIRD BASE: Wallach, shown here while at Cal State Fullerton, played in five All-Star Games and led the National League in doubles twice. Wallach's best offensive years were 1982, when he hit 28 homers with 97 RBI, and 1987, when he hit 26 homers with 123 RBI. He graduated in 1976.

GAVVY CRAVATH, SANTA ANA, OUTFIELD: Cravath, hose formative years were in the Santa Ana and Anaheim areas in the 1890s, went through the major leagues during the “dead ball” era. He led the National League in home runs six times, with season totals of 19 (twice), 12 (twice), 24 and eight. He held the career home run record (119) until Babe Ruth came along. Cravath had 100 or more RBI three times, and led the NL twice in that category. He retired in 1920 after 11 seasons, nine with the Philadelphia Phillies.

JEFF KENT, EDISON, SECOND BASE: He entered this season with the Dodgers 537 career doubles, which ranks 27th all-time, and 365 home runs. He is one of just 16 players in major league history to register 350 homers and 500 doubles in his career.

DEL CRANDALL, FULLERTON, MANAGER: Crandall, shown here in 2007, managed the Milwaukee Brewers from 1972-75, and the Seattle Mariners in '83 and '84. His teams won 364 games. He also was a standout catcher for the Milwaukee Braves in the 1950s. He graduated in 1948.

WALTER JOHNSON, FULLERTON, STARTING PITCHER: The Big Train, a 1906 graduate, pitched his first major-league game just one year out of high school. He went on to become one of the greatest pitchers ever. He won 417 games, second only to Cy Young in baseball history, in his Hall of Fame career. His 3,508 strikeouts was the record for decades until Nolan Ryan surpassed it. Johnson won 20 or more games 12 times, 10 consecutively, and won 30 or more twice.

BERT BLYLEVEN, SANTIAGO, STARTING PITCHER: Blyleven pitched in the majors from 1970 to 1992, and won 287 games with 3,701 strikeouts. He posted 15 or more victories 10 times. He pitched in the 1973 and 1987 All-Star Games. Blyleven's curveball was considered among the best in baseball. A native of Holland, Blyleven graduated in 1969.

MIKE WITT, SERVITE, STARTING PITCHER: Witt was the ace of the Angels' staff for several years. He won 15 or more games from 1984-87, and was the club's all-time leader in games pitched until Chuck Finley surpassed him this season. He is third all-time in strikeouts, victories and complete games. Witt graduated in 1978.

ANDY MESSERSMITH, WESTERN STARTING PITCHER: He won 20 games for the Angels in 1971 and 20 for the Dodgers in 1974. He led the National League in complete games and innings in '75. He won 130 major-league games with a 2.86 career ERA. He graduated in 1963.

RANDY JONES, BREA OLINDA, STARTING PITCHER: He won the Cy Young Award while with the Padres in 1976. He led the NL in victories that year with 22. The previous year, he was 20-12 with a league-leading 2.24 ERA. He graduated in 1968.

DAN PETRY, EL DORADO, STARTING PITCHER: He won 125 games in a 13-year career, mostly with Detroit and briefly with the Angels, Braves and Red Sox. He won 19 of a league-leading 38 starts for the Tigers in 1983, and won 18 in '84. He graduated in 1976.

TREVOR HOFFMAN, SAVANNA, RIGHT-HANDED RELIEVER: Hoffman played college baseball at Cypress College and Arizona after graduating from Savanna High. He is the all-time career saves leader with 524. He converted 42 saves in 49 chances last season while going 4-5 and a 2.98 ERA.

AL HRABOSKY, SAVANNA, LEFT-HANDED RELIEVER: He scowled at opposing hitters for 13 major-league seasons and led the National League in saves with 22 in 1975, pitching for St. Louis. He also had 20 saves for Kansas City in '78. He graduated in 1967.