1968 and 1976 Drafts (plus all 1st picks)
To see what this is all about, read my introductory article.
Top 1968 American League Expansion Draft Picks
Player Level Age Year From By Years AWAR Pos.
Mike Marshall AAA 25 ’68 Det. Pilots 12 32.3 rp-SP
Marty Pattin aaa-MLB 25 ’68 Angels Pilots 12 20.0 SP-RP
Dick Drago AAA 23 ’68 Det. K.C.R. 13 21.3 SP
Tom Burgmeier MLB 25 ’68 Angels K.C.R. 16-- 17.5 RP
Skip Lockwood A+-aa 22 ’68 A’s Pilots 12 16.8 RP-sp
Jim Rooker AAA-mlb 26 ’68 N.Y.Y. K.C.R. 11+ 16.7 SP-rp
Tommy Harper MLB 28 ’68 Cle. Pilots 8 15.6 OF-2b
Al Fitzmorris A+ 22 ’68 Chi.W. K.C.R. 10- 14.3 SP
Lou Piniella AAA-mlb 25 ’68 Cle. Pilots 16 11.4 OF
Diego Segui MLB 31 ’68 A’s Pilots 7 11.2 RP-sp
Don Mincher MLB 30 ’68 Angels Pilots 4 10.3 1B
Paul Schaal MLB 25 ’68 Angels K.C.R. 6 8.6 3B
Pat Kelly AAA-mlb 24 ’68 Min. K.C.R. 13 8.5 OF
Roger Nelson aaa-MLB 24 ’68 Bal. K.C.R. 6-+ 8.5 SP-RP
Jack Aker MLB 28 ’68 A’s Pilots 6 8.2 RP
Hoyt Wilhelm MLB 46 ’68 Chi.W. K.C.R. 4- 7.9 RP
Moe Drabowsky MLB 33 ’68 Bal. K.C.R. 4 4.8 RP
Wally Bunker aaa-MLB 23 ’68 Bal. K.C.R. 3 3.9 SP-rp
Bob Oliver AAA 25 ’68 Min. K.C.R. 6+ 3.0 OF-1b-3b
Tommy Davis MLB 29 ’68 Chi.W. Pilots 8- 0.4 OF-1b
Mike Marshall had the fourth highest AWAR of all-time: 32.3 – just ahead of Chance by 0.4. WSAB gives the edge to Chance 76.3 to 68.8. By the formula I use for the all-time team selections (AWAR + WSAB/2), Chance beats out Marshall as the fourth best expansion pick ever. Now a kinesiology doctor, Marshall was one of the more thoughtful characters portrayed in Jim Bouton’s groundbreaking insider’s exposé: Ball Four. In Marshall’s Cy Young season, he pitched 208 highly leveraged innings earning 15 wins, 21 saves, and a 2.42 ERA. His two seasons before that were equally impressive. He pitched 14 seasons earning all-star berths or Cy Young votes 6 different seasons.
Dean Chance had nearly won the pitching triple crown in 1964 with his 20 wins, 1.65 ERA, and just 10 strikeouts away from the top with 207. That was one of two occasions he won 20 games and pitched a league leading 275+ innings. He had a terrific 7 year run of outstanding pitching, although those two 20 win years were his only Cy Young vote gainers. Just as with Fregosi’s 7 year run, Chance struggled the rest of his career (1969 onward). Unlike Fregosi who stuck around until he was 36, Chance was finished at 30. Anyway, Marshall = Chance or slight edge to Chance seems about right to me.
In AWAR, starter Dick Drago (21.3) and starter/reliever Marty Pattin (20) are the top picks of the A.L. ’68 draft behind Marshall. WSAB produces a different ranking after Marshall: outfielder Lou Piniella 51.1, infielder-outfielder Tommy Harper 50.9, then Drago 47.6, then outfielder Pat Kelly 45.9, reliever Tom Burgmeier 43.8, then Pattin at 38.7. Jim Rooker comes very close at 38.3. Marshall, Piniella, and Harper were each selected by the Seattle Pilots (who after one season became the Milwaukee Brewers). Dick Drago is unanimously the top Royals pick. Just behind Piniella in AWAR is Pilot’s pick Diego Segui (David’s dad) - a native of Cuba. After pitching for the Pilots’ only season, he was acquired by the A’s for the third time in his career. This time (1970) he led the league in ERA (2.56).
The World Champion Detroit Tigers’ future pitching was pretty well devastated by the ‘68 expansion draft. Marshall, Drago, and Rooker all pitched for their ’68 Toledo Mud Hens farm team. Rooker was officially a pick off the Yankees. Shortly before the draft, the Tigers sold Rooker to the Yankees in order to gain some cash out of fear they would lose him for nothing. They were correct, but their strategy was flawed. The last Tiger drafted was Marshall. The last Royal drafted from the Tigers was Drago. Hence, if the Tigers had kept Rooker, who was drafted by the Royals, they would have been able to keep either Marshall or Drago. The Tigers still had one Toledo starter remaining who they were counting on for their future: Les Cain. However, Cain’s arm couldn’t withstand the rigours of Major League pitching. A reliever on that Toledo team – Mike Kilkenny – was converted into a starter and made the Tigers the following year. His career WSAB cane to 1.5, but he did have a 3.5 rookie season. However, two other ’68 Toledo relievers - Fred Scherman and Tom Timmerman - would go on to have outstanding seasons in the Tigers’ pen. I wonder how that ’68 Toledo pitching staff ranks in history amongst other minor league staffs.
As both Lou Piniella and Tommy Harper came from the Indians, Cleveland was also hit hard by the ’68 expansion draft. Harper was already a six year vet of Major Leagues, but at 28, he was still struggling to establish himself as a worthy regular. His career year came in his 2nd year after the draft. Playing third, second, and all outfield positions for the inaugural Milwaukee Brewers, Harper hit 35 doubles, 31 homers, and stole 38 bases – and almost hit .300 (.296/.377/.522). He had stolen 78 bases with his Pilots the year before.
Piniella was a journeyman minor leaguer before the draft. He spent the previous three full seasons in AAA. His minor league journey went from the Indians to the new Senators to the Orioles, then back to the Indians organizations before he was drafted by the Pilots. He was traded to the Royals just before the season started – for John Gelnar (1.4 AWAR) and Steve Whitaker (-0.3 AWAR). When Piniella’s season was over, he was Rookie of the Year. Meanwhile, in 1969 the Indians suffered with outfielders Lee Maye (.250/.305/.324 – BA/OBP/Slg.), Frank Baker (.256/.312/.372), second-baseman Vern Fuller (.236/.295/.335) and for the 7th consecutive season: third-baseman Max Alvis (.225/.275/.272).
Another very hard-hit team was the California Angels who lost Pattin, Burgmeier, top pick Don Mincher, and young established thirdbaseman Paul Schaal. Pattin and another Seattle Pilot pick Steve Hovley were members of the Angels’ AAA team in Seattle before they played for the Major League Pilots in their only season.
Despite losing all that talent, neither the Angels nor Indians could claim that the expansion draft robbed them of any division titles. The Tigers remained strongly competitive for first five seasons after the expansion draft winning their division in ’72. The Orioles were probably too far ahead of them in the other years for Marshall, Drago, and Rooker to have made a difference in the final standings, but Detroit lost an extremely close A.L.C.S. to Oakland in ’72. The A’s went on to win the World Series that year.
Two of Baltimore’s heroes from the 1966 World Series were taken by the Royals. Wally Bunker pitched a complete game shutout and infamous prankster Moe Drabowsky pitched 6⅔ innings of shutout relief during the Orioles’ four game sweep of the Dodgers. It is hard to believe Bunker was still only 23 when he was made available for the expansion draft. He was 19 years old in 1964 when he posted a W-L of 19-5 over 214 innings and 2.69 ERA. His Orioles were known for their defense. Bunker was never a high strikeout pitcher.
Top 1968 National League Expansion Draft Picks
Player Level Age Year From By Years AWAR Pos.
Dave Roberts AAA 24 ’68 Pit. S.D. 12 23.9 SP
Carl Morton AA 24 ’68 Braves Mtl. 8 18.9 SP
Dave Giusti MLB 29 ’68 St.L. S.D. 9 17.5 SP-rp
Nate Colbert AAA-mlb 22 ’68 Hou. S.D. 8- 13.5 OF-1B
Manny Mota MLB 30 ’68 Pit. Mtl. 12 10.8 OF
Clay Kirby AAA 20 ’68 St.L. S.D. 8 10.8 SP
Dick Selma MLB 25 ’68 Mets S.D. 6 10.8 rp-SP
Mudcat Grant MLB 33 ’68 L.A.D. Mtl 3 8.7 sp-RP
Jack Billinghm MLB 25 ’68 L.A.D. Mtl. 11+ 8.0 RP-sp
Bill Stoneman MLB 24 ’68 Cubs Mtl. 6- 7.5 RP-sp
Ollie Brown aaa-MLB 24 ’68 S.F. S.D. 9 7.2 OF
Mack Jones MLB 29 ’68 Cin. Mtl. 3- 6.7 OF
Maury Wills MLB 36 ’68 Pit. Mtl. 4 5.8 SS-3B
Fred Kendall AA 19 ’68 Cin. S.D. 8++ -1.5 C
Cito Gaston AA-aaa 24 ’68 Atl. S.D. 10 -1.8 OF
Jerry Morales A+ 19 ’68 Mets S.D. 12++ -3.9 OF
Thirteen-year starting pitcher Dave Roberts (23.9) is the AWAR '68 National League draft picks leader, while slugging firstbaseman Nate Colbert (13.5) leads the group in WSAB 45.4 to Robert’s 37.6. Both the Expos top pick starter Carl Morton (18.9) and Padres reliever Dave Giusti (17.5) beat out Colbert (13.5) in AWAR.
Two time defending N.L. champion Cardinals not surprisingly lost a couple of significant pitchers. St. Louis was so upset about losing Dave Giusti (17.5 AWAR / 39.7 WSAB) that they traded with San Diego to get him back that off season. That was the second time they had to trade for him that fall – having acquired Giusti from Houston a week before the draft. However, it was the following year 1970, after the Pirates dealt for him that he was fully converted into a reliever and became a Cy Young or MVP vote getter in four of the next five seasons. The Padres wisely held onto Clay Kirby (10.8 / 14.0), who had several good years including a fantastic 1971: 2.83 ERA, 267 Ing., 231 K.
Pittsburgh was stripped of the most talent in the ‘68 National League draft. That’s where Dave Roberts (23.9/37.6) came from. Manny Mota (10.8/26.6) the first player taken by Montreal did well enough to be the Expos’ 2nd best pick and the 5th best N.L. pick overall. He had a long career as an outstanding pinch hitter. Maury Wills (5.8/5.6) was the biggest "star" in the N.L. draft. They were all picked from the Pirates.
No doubt the Pirates had the most talent to lose. After the Mets’ wild ride in ’69, Pittsburgh won five of the next 6 division titles including a World Championship in 1971. Having Roberts, Mota, and Wills would not have earned Pittsburgh any further play-off appearances, but they might have helped in some of their frequent post seasons vs. the Reds in ’70, ’72, and ’75 or the Dodgers in ’74.
The Expos’ 2nd pick was outfielder Mack Jones coming from the other emerging powerhouse: Cincinnati. The Reds lost catcher Fred (Jason’s dad) Kendall. These losses did not hurt them as they had Rookie of the Year Johnny Bench, and an outfield with Pete Rose and two others Bobby Tolan and Alex Johnson who were younger and probably better than Jones.
There are a couple things I don’t understand about Mack Jones’s history. From his hitting stats and the fact that he usually played centerfield, it is difficult to see how he wasn’t the first player taken, or at least the first outfielder. Ollie Brown was younger, but not nearly as productive. Manny Mota was a year older and coming off an off year. Indeed, Jones had an excellent first season – much more productive (by WAR) than any season either Brown or Mota ever produced and he was a terrific platoon hitter his second year as well. Left-handers may always have been a struggle for Jones, but in his third year past the expansion draft, he suddenly couldn’t hit anybody and was released mid season at age 32. What happened? I don’t know, but the answer to both of these questions might be the same. Perhaps, these teams noticed something about Jones that predicted a rapid flame out.
You might assume one of those original Mets was the oldest expansion pick ever taken. Gil Hodges was 37. Gene Woodling arrived to the Mets by trade. He was selected by the Senators the year before at 38. Neither was close. Hoyt Wilhelm was 46 when the Royals took the knuckleball tossing future Hall of Famer from the White Sox – and he still had some good years left in him. Larry Jackson (37) was the oldest player taken in the National League that year edging Maury Wills (36). Grant Jackson (34) was the third oldest player taken in the 1976 draft topped by Rico Carty (37) and Steve Hargen (34). Danny Jackson (30) was the third oldest player taken in the 1992 draft topped by Tom Edens (31) and Jim Corsi (31). There were no Jacksons drafted in 1997, but there were two Springers. Only two players were drafted over the age of 30 in ‘97: Dennis Springer (32) and Chuck McElroy (30). The only 29 year old Russ Springer had just turned 29 eleven days before the draft.
Until Trevor Hoffman is elected (or Bobby Abreu or Maury Wills or Gil Hodges or someone gets in as a manager – Lou Piniella?) Hoyt Wilhelm is the only guy with an official plaque in Cooperstown to have the indignity of being an expansion pick – hardly an indignity, though, at 46. Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn was an original Met, but was purchased outright, not picked in the draft.
Top 1976 American League Expansion Draft Picks
Player Level Age Year From By Years AWAR Pos.
Ruppert Jones AAA-mlb 21 ’76 K.C.R. Sea.M. 11 20.7 CF-OF
Jim Clancy AA 20 ’76 Tex. Tor. 14+ 18.7 SP
Pete Vuckovich MLB 24 ’76 Chi.W. Tor. 8+ 17.1 sp-RP
Ernie Whitt aa-AAA-mlb 24 ’76 Bos. Tor. 12+- 16.6 C
Dave Collins aaa-MLB 24 ’76 Angels Sea.M. 14 14.1 OF
Julio Cruz A+-aa-aaa 21 ’76 Angels Sea.M. 10 13.2 2B
Jerry Garvin AA-aaa 21 ’76 Min. Tor. 5+ 8.9 SP
Otto Velez MLB 25 ’76 N.Y.Y. Tor. 6-+ 7.9 OF-1B
Bob Bailor AAA-mlb 25 ’76 Bal. Tor. 9 6.0 SS-if-of
Bob Stinson MLB 31 ’76 K.C.R Sea.M. 4 4.8 C
Glenn Abbott MLB 25 ’76 A’s Sea.M. 7- 4.1 SP-RP
Jesse Jefferson MLB 27 ’76 Chi.W. Tor. 5 3.9 SP-rp
Grant Jackson MLB 34 ’76 N.Y.Y. Sea.M. 6- 3.4 RP-sp
Steve Braun MLB 28 ’76 Min. Sea.M. 9 2.4 3b-OF
Garth Iorg AA 22 ’76 N.Y.Y. Tor. 8+- 1.8 if-2B
Al Woods AAA 23 ’76 Min. Tor. 6- 1.2 OF
In the 1976 draft, Ruppert Jones (20.7/41.5 AWAR/WSAB from the Royals to the Mariners) was both the first pick and the best pick. Toronto didn’t do badly in the draft, though, snagging the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th best careers post drat: Jim Clancy (18.7/43.5 from Tex. – arguably as valuable as Jones - both make the all-time expansion pick team), Pete Vuckovich (17.1/34.7 from Chi.W.), and Ernie Whitt (16.6/30.4 from Bos.).
Rankings by AWAR+WSAB/2 for each expansion team’s first pick:
(Yr.X – where X indicates whether the player was the first or second overall player taken in the draft)
First Pick Yr.X From By AWAR+WSAB/2 Pos
Ruppert Jones ’76.1 K.C.R. Sea.M. 41.45 CF
Don Mincher ’68.2 Angels Sea.P. 25.20 1B
Manny Mota ’68.2 Pit. Mtl. 24.10 OF
Eddie Bressoud ’61.1 S.F. Hou. 23.40 SS
Brian Anderson ’97.2 Cle. Ariz. 17.25 SP
Bobby Shantz ’60.2 N.Y.Y. Was.2 17.15 RP-emergency starter
Roger Nelson ’68.1 Bal. Royals 17.10 SP-RP
Ollie Brown ’68.1 S.F. S.D. 17.05 OF
David Nied ’92.1 Atl. Col. 4.50 SP
Eli Grba ’60.1 N.Y.Y. Angels 4.90 RP-SP
Tony Saunders ’97.1 Flo. T.B. 4.15 SP
Bob Bailor ’76.2 Bal. Tor. 2.90 IF-OF
Nigel Wilson ’92.2 Tor. Flo. – 0.50 OF
Hobie Landrith ’61.2 S.F. Mets - 1.75 C
In hindsight, the Royals would have been happier with Ruppert Jones than who they were left with: Tom Poquette (-0.5 career WAR after 1977). The Royals were flush with young talent. They made the playoffs five out of 6 years from 1976 to 1981. A Rupert Jones might have been enough to give them their first championship one of those seasons. In fact, it is perplexing that any team would let go of a 21 year old who slugged .513 and had an OBA of .366 playing for AAA Omaha. The Royals also lost Bob Stinson, who had a couple of good years as a catcher. However, with Darrell Porter, John Watham, and Buck Martinez the Royals did not miss Stinson. Martinez was later traded to the Blue Jays and platooned with their expansion pick Ernie Whitt for 6 years (’81-’86).
Any team could have used a Jim Clancy in their rotation, but Clancy’s best years did not correspond with any of the Rangers’ second place finishes. The Rangers apparently had money burning in their pockets. A few weeks after the ’76 expansion draft, the Rangers signed up free agent starter Doyle Alexander, then added Doc Ellis mid-season. Ernie Whitt’s opportunity in Boston was blocked by Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk. Pete Vuckovich had an unimpressive 1.03 K:BB in Chicago, hence his availability. He improved in Toronto and St. Louis to well over 2.00 K:BB, then returned to that horrible 1.03 level when he won his Cy Young Award with Milwaukee. With all that we know now, his success is still baffling.
The Yankees were the only team to lose three significant players: Otto Velez (7.9 AWAR), Bob Bailor (5.9), and Garth Iorg (1.8 and over 8 seasons).
However, the hardest hit were the Angels who lost two solid regulars in the draft - both going to the Mariners: outfielder Dave Collins (14.1 AWAR) and secondbaseman Julio Cruz (13.2). From 1978 to 1986, the Angels had a good run using Bobby Grich, Brian Downing and various combinations of Rod Carew, Nolan Ryan, Don Baylor, Doug DeCines, Fred Lynn, Reggie Jackson, Don Sutton, Mike Witt, and Donnie Moore. Julio Cruz was not in the same class as the great Bobby Grich. The few years in that span that Dave Collins could have helped the team, the Angels were having an off year, anyway. So, the Angels wouldn’t have had any more success than they had.
The free agent era began the same fall as the 1976 draft, so we saw more minor leaguers in the mix. However, the initial rules were a little different; the impact of free agency was not well understood in 1976. The desire to draft minor leaguers probably had more to do with success they brought from the previous drafts: Chance, Fregosi, Roberts, Morton, Colbert, the Toledo Mud Hen trio - than anything else.