More Details of the 1968 Expansion Draft (Part 1)

 

Who needs a break from obituaries? *raises hand* 

 

 

Back in May 2017 on my 1968 set blog, I theorized on who the Phillies protected prior to the 1968 expansion draft, and which players were subsequently pulled back after each player was lost. In the comments, someone mentioned that the 11/2/1968 Sporting News gave some details on the Phillies’ players. 

 

Recently, I bought a copy of that issue on eBay, hoping that every team’s player list would be mentioned. True, every team had a column in that issue that discussed their player protection strategy, but (with the exception of the Indians), only a few players were mentioned. There were no lists. However, the Indians’ column does list every player protected, as well as the additional players pulled back after the first 3 rounds. 

 

This much is certain about that draft: 

• Each existing team protected 15 players in their organization. 

• Each team would lose 6 players (but not necessarily 3 players to each of the 2 expansion teams in their league). 

• After losing a player, each team could protect an additional 3 players. 

• The commissioner forbade teams from disclosing who was on their protected list (although obviously, some leaked out). 

 

I saw a comment under one team that some of their players were protected “as first-year players”, so I assume that in addition to the 15 protected players, none of an organization’s first-year players were eligible to be drafted. 

 

Cleveland Indians 

The Indians were either the only team that ignored the commissioner's directive, or the only team unable to keep a secret. The protected players were:

Sam McDowell – P	Mike Paul – P		Dave Nelson – 2B
Luis Tiant – P		Joe Azcue – C		Larry Brown – SS
Sonny Siebert – P	Duke Sims – C		Max Alvis – 3B
Stan Williams – P	Ray Fosse – C		Jack Heidemann – SS
Vicente Romo – P	Tony Horton – 1B	Jose Cardenal – OF

Ray Fosse and Jack Heidemann were the only minor-league prospects protected. Meanwhile, they protected 31-year-old journeyman Stan Williams, their 5th starter. 

 

Interesting that they protected 3 catchers, but only 1 outfielder. Outfielders Lee Maye (age 33), Tommy Harper (27), Lou Johnson (33), Jimmie Hall (30), and Russ Snyder (34) were initially unprotected.

 

The Tribe lost 6 players: Tommy Harper (OF), Chico Salmon (INF), Lou Piniella (OF), Billy Harris (2B), Mike Hedlund (P), and Fran Healy (C ).

 

The Indians subsequently protected these players:

After round 1		After round 2		After round 3		
Horacio Pina – P	Steve Hargan – P	Ken Suarez – C		
Ed Farmer – P		*Gary Boyd – P	        Vern Fuller – 2B
Richie Scheinblum – OF	Eddie Leon – SS	        Jack Hamilton – P

The news article says that after round 4, “the rest of the prominent members of the varsity” were protected. I assume that was Lee Maye, Lou Johnson, and Jimmie Hall. 

 

Other veterans left unprotected and undrafted were Russ Snyder (OF) and Rob Gardner (P). 

 

*Gary Boyd’s major-league career consisted of 11 innings pitched, all for the 1969 Indians. 

I was hoping for this much detail on all the teams, but only the Indians complied with my wishes. lol

Next time – The few players mentioned by name for 11 other teams.