1961 Major League Baseball expansion draft

1961 MLB expansion draft
General information
Teams
Date(s) October 10, 1961
Picks
First selections
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 Colt .45s (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.[1]

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.[2]

1961 Draft

Regular Phase, $75,000 per player
Pick Player Position Selected by Previous team
1Eddie BressoudInfielderHouston Colt .45sSan Francisco Giants
2Hobie LandrithCatcherNew York MetsSan Francisco Giants
3Bob AspromonteInfielderHouston Colt .45sLos Angeles Dodgers
4Elio ChacónInfielderNew York MetsCincinnati Reds
5Bob LillisInfielderHouston Colt .45sSt. Louis Cardinals
6Roger CraigPitcherNew York MetsLos Angeles Dodgers
7Dick DrottPitcherHouston Colt .45sChicago Cubs
8Gus BellOutfielderNew York MetsCincinnati Reds
9Al HeistOutfielderHouston Colt .45sChicago Cubs
10Joe ChristopherOutfielderNew York MetsPittsburgh Pirates
11Román MejíasOutfielderHouston Colt .45sPittsburgh Pirates
12Félix MantillaInfielderNew York MetsMilwaukee Braves
13George WilliamsInfielderHouston Colt .45sPhiladelphia Phillies
14Gil HodgesFirst basemanNew York MetsLos Angeles Dodgers
15Jesse HickmanPitcherHouston Colt .45sPhiladelphia Phillies
16Craig AndersonPitcherNew York MetsSt. Louis Cardinals
17Merritt RanewCatcherHouston Colt .45sMilwaukee Braves
18Ray DaviaultPitcherNew York MetsSan Francisco Giants
19Don TaussigOutfielderHouston Colt .45sSt. Louis Cardinals
20John DeMeritOutfielderNew York MetsMilwaukee Braves
21Bobby ShantzPitcherHouston Colt .45sPittsburgh Pirates
22Al JacksonPitcherNew York MetsPittsburgh Pirates
23Norm LarkerFirst basemanHouston Colt .45sLos Angeles Dodgers
24Sammy DrakeInfielderNew York MetsChicago Cubs
25Sam JonesPitcherHouston Colt .45sSan Francisco Giants
26Chris CannizzaroCatcherNew York MetsSt. Louis Cardinals
27Paul RoofPitcherHouston Colt .45sMilwaukee Braves
28Choo Choo ColemanCatcherNew York MetsPhiladelphia Phillies
29Ken JohnsonPitcherHouston Colt .45sCincinnati Reds
30Ed BoucheeFirst basemanNew York MetsChicago Cubs
31Dick GernertFirst basemanHouston Colt .45sCincinnati Reds
32Bob SmithOutfielderNew York MetsPhiladelphia Phillies
Regular Phase, $50,000 per player
Pick Player Position Selected by Previous team
33Ed OlivaresInfielderHouston Colt .45sSt. Louis Cardinals
34Sherman JonesPitcherNew York MetsCincinnati Reds
35Jim UmbrichtPitcherHouston Colt .45sPittsburgh Pirates
36Jim HickmanOutfielderNew York MetsSt. Louis Cardinals
37Jim GoldenPitcherHouston Colt .45sLos Angeles Dodgers
Premium Phase, $125,000 per player
Pick Player Position Selected by Previous team
38Joe AmalfitanoInfielderHouston Colt .45sSan Francisco Giants
39Jay HookPitcherNew York MetsCincinnati Reds
40Turk FarrellPitcherHouston Colt .45sLos Angeles Dodgers
41Bob MillerPitcherNew York MetsSt. Louis Cardinals
42Hal SmithCatcherHouston Colt .45sPittsburgh Pirates
43Don ZimmerInfielderNew York MetsChicago Cubs
44Al SpanglerOutfielderHouston Colt .45sMilwaukee Braves
45Lee WallsInfielder/OutfielderNew York MetsPhiladelphia Phillies

1963 Draft

Player Position Selected by Previous team
Claude RaymondPitcherHouston Colt. 45sMilwaukee Braves
Jack FisherPitcherNew York MetsSan Francisco Giants

References

External links