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.

Prime 9 - Cleveland Indians

The 17th installment in the "Prime 9" series - spotlighting the 9 best players per team from the 1966-70 time period.

For the series backstory and team rankings, click here.

The Indians won 380 games between 1966 and 1970. One or more of their 4 starting pitchers were always showing up on the American League Leaders cards in the 2nd half of the decade - especially Sam McDowell.

The Tony Horton card is a custom creation by the late Bob Lemke. (The fonts are somewhat distorted because I had to shrink the image so much to fit in with the other eight cards.)

Trades: Wheelin' and Dealin' (Jan. 1965)

Another installment in the occasional series about some big trades in the 1960s: 

On January 20, 1965, the White Sox, Indians, and Athletics completed an 8-player, 3-team trade.

Going from Cleveland to Chicago were Tommy John, Johnny Romano, and outfield prospect Tommie Agee.

Chicago sent Fred Talbot, Mike Hershberger, and Jim Landis to the Athletics. The White Sox also sent Camilo Carreon to the Indians.

The Athletics only gave up one player, sending Rocky Colavito to the Indians.

It's easy to assume that Colavito was the biggest name in this deal, since Kansas City got 3 players in return for one. The Chisox gave up 4 players to get 3, while the Indians gave up 3 players to get two.

Although Colavito was the biggest name at the time, Tommy John was the long-term star, playing an additional TWENTY-FOUR seasons for the White Sox, Dodgers, Yankees, and Angels. Tommie Agee was a starting outfielder for the White Sox and Mets from 1966-1973, and starred in the 1969 World Series for the Mets. John Romano was Chicago's starting catcher in '65 and '66, before wrapping up his career in 1967 as a reserve with the Cardinals.


The Indians and Athletics didn't fare as well in this deal:

Colavito was washed up by the end of 1966, and finished his career bouncing to the White Sox, Dodgers, and Yankees from 1967-69. Camilo Carreon spent most of '65 and '66, and all of 1967 in the minors before retiring.

Longtime White Sox' center fielder Jim Landis was an A's regular in 1965, then spent 1966 in Cleveland before ending his career in 1967 with several teams. Mike Hershberger played several seasons with the A's before returning to the White Sox for his final season in 1971. Fred Talbot pitched briefly for Kansas City, before moving to the Yankees for several seasons, and popping up on the Seattle Pilots in 1969 (much to Jim Bouton's dismay).


Advantage: White Sox