1961 Major League Baseball expansion draft

1961 MLB expansion draft
General information
Teams Houston Colt .45s
New York Mets
Date(s) October 10, 1961
Picks
First selections Eddie Bressoud, Houston Colt .45s
Hobie Landrith, New York Mets
Overall selections 45 (plus two selections in 1963)

The 1961 MLB Expansion Draft was held by Major League Baseball on October 10, 1961 to fill the rosters of the New York Mets and the Houston Colt .45s. The Mets and the Colts (later renamed the Astros) were the new franchises which would enter the league in the 1962 season. The pool of players out of which they could select was limited to the existing National League ballclubs.

Due to the poor performance of the Mets and Colt .45s after two seasons, another draft was held for the teams. The other existing National League clubs made four players from their 40-man roster available at $30,000 apiece. Only eight players could be selected between the two clubs.

1961 Draft

Regular Phase, $75,000 per player
Pick Player Position Selected by Previous team
1 Eddie Bressoud Infielder Houston Colt .45s San Francisco Giants
2 Hobie Landrith Catcher New York Mets San Francisco Giants
3 Bob Aspromonte Infielder Houston Colt .45s Los Angeles Dodgers
4 Elio Chacón Infielder New York Mets Cincinnati Reds
5 Bob Lillis Infielder Houston Colt .45s St. Louis Cardinals
6 Roger Craig Pitcher New York Mets Los Angeles Dodgers
7 Dick Drott Pitcher Houston Colt .45s Chicago Cubs
8 Gus Bell Outfielder New York Mets Cincinnati Reds
9 Al Heist Outfielder Houston Colt .45s Chicago Cubs
10 Joe Christopher Outfielder New York Mets Pittsburgh Pirates
11 Roman Mejias Outfielder Houston Colt .45s Pittsburgh Pirates
12 Félix Mantilla Infielder New York Mets Milwaukee Braves
13 George Williams Infielder Houston Colt .45s Philadelphia Phillies
14 Gil Hodges First baseman New York Mets Los Angeles Dodgers
15 Jesse Hickman Pitcher Houston Colt .45s Philadelphia Phillies
16 Craig Anderson Pitcher New York Mets St. Louis Cardinals
17 Merritt Ranew Catcher Houston Colt .45s Milwaukee Braves
18 Ray Daviault Pitcher New York Mets San Francisco Giants
19 Don Taussig Outfielder Houston Colt .45s St. Louis Cardinals
20 John DeMerit Outfielder New York Mets Milwaukee Braves
21 Bobby Shantz Pitcher Houston Colt .45s Pittsburgh Pirates
22 Al Jackson Pitcher New York Mets Pittsburgh Pirates
23 Norm Larker First baseman Houston Colt .45s Los Angeles Dodgers
24 Sammy Drake Infielder New York Mets Chicago Cubs
25 Sam Jones Pitcher Houston Colt .45s San Francisco Giants
26 Chris Cannizzaro Catcher New York Mets St. Louis Cardinals
27 Paul Roof Pitcher Houston Colt .45s Milwaukee Braves
28 Choo Choo Coleman Catcher New York Mets Philadelphia Phillies
29 Ken Johnson Pitcher Houston Colt .45s Cincinnati Reds
30 Ed Bouchee First baseman New York Mets Chicago Cubs
31 Dick Gernert First baseman Houston Colt .45s Cincinnati Reds
32 Bobby Gene Smith Outfielder New York Mets Philadelphia Phillies
Regular Phase, $50,000 per player
Pick Player Position Selected by Previous team
33 Ed Olivares Infielder Houston Colt .45s St. Louis Cardinals
34 Sherman Jones Pitcher New York Mets Cincinnati Reds
35 Jim Umbricht Pitcher Houston Colt .45s Pittsburgh Pirates
36 Jim Hickman Outfielder New York Mets St. Louis Cardinals
37 Jim Golden Pitcher Houston Colt .45s Los Angeles Dodgers
Premium Phase, $125,000 per player
Pick Player Position Selected by Previous team
38 Joe Amalfitano Infielder Houston Colt .45s San Francisco Giants
39 Jay Hook Pitcher New York Mets Cincinnati Reds
40 Turk Farrell Pitcher Houston Colt .45s Los Angeles Dodgers
41 Bob Miller Pitcher New York Mets St. Louis Cardinals
42 Hal Smith Catcher Houston Colt .45s Pittsburgh Pirates
43 Don Zimmer Infielder New York Mets Chicago Cubs
44 Al Spangler Outfielder Houston Colt .45s Milwaukee Braves
45 Lee Walls Infielder/Outfielder New York Mets Philadelphia Phillies

1963 Draft

Player Position Selected by Previous team
Claude Raymond Pitcher Houston Colt. 45s Milwaukee Braves
Jack Fisher Pitcher New York Mets San Francisco Giants

References

Formerly the Houston Colt .45s • Based in Houston, Texas
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