Saturday, July 5, 2025

More Details of the 1968 Expansion Draft (Part 1)

 
Who needs a break from obituaries? *raises hand* 
 
 
 
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.

Saturday, June 28, 2025

RIP - Diego Segui

 
Diego Segui, a pitcher for the Athletics and others from 1962-1977, passed away on June 24, 2025 at age 87.
Segui debuted with the Kansas City Athletics in 1962, and was a starting pitcher for his first 5 seasons. After 4 years in Kaycee, he spent the first half of 1966 with the Washington Senators. 
 
He was traded back to the A's in mid-season, but spent the rest of the year in the minors. When he returned to the majors in 1967, it was as a relief pitcher (except for parts of '70 and '71). Segui pitched for the A's in '67 and '68, then played for the expansion Seattle Pilots in 1969. 
 
He joined the Athletics for a 3rd time from 1970-72, then spent a few years with the Cardinals and the Red Sox. 
 
After a year in the minors, he played for the expansion Seattle Mariners in 1977, thus becoming the only player to have played for both Seattle expansion teams. 
 
Segui wrapped up his career in Mexico from 1978-84. 
 
 
  

Monday, June 16, 2025

RIP - Ron Taylor

 
Ron Taylor, a relief pitcher for the Cardinals, Astros and Mets from 1963-1971, passed away today, June 16, 2025 at age 87.
Taylor began his pro career in the Indians' organization. He was a starting pitcher in their farm system from 1956-1962, making stops as varied as Daytona Beach, Fargo-Moorhead and Minot (both in North Dakota), Reading, PA and Salt Lake City. 
 
He made his major-league debut with 8 games for the Indians during the first month of the '62 season, before spending the rest of the year back in triple-A. 
 
Following the 1962 season, he was traded to the Cardinals for first baseman Fred Whitfield. In 1963 he started 9 of his 54 games, but rarely started a game after that season (and none after joining the Mets). 
 
After 2 1/2 seasons in the Cards' bullpen, Taylor was traded to the Astros in June 1965 (with pitcher Mike Cuellar) for pitchers Hal Woodeshick and Chuck Taylor
 
Acquired by the Mets before the 1967 season, he pitched for 5 seasons in the Big Apple, including 6 innings in the 1969 post-season, and picked up a win in the NLCS. 
 
Taylor's contract was purchased by the Expos after the 1971 season, but he was released during Spring Training in 1972. He was picked up by the Padres a month later, and appeared in 4 games over the next 4 weeks, but was released due to his ineffectiveness. 
 
After his playing career, Taylor attended medical school, and in 1979 began a 3-decade stint as the Toronto Blue Jays' team physician.
 
 
 
   

Friday, June 6, 2025

Bob Lillis is 95

 
Happy 95th birthday (6/2) to Bob Lillis!