The 1961 Major League Baseball 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. These new franchises were set to enter the National League (NL) as part of the 1962 Major League Baseball expansion. Selections in the draft were limited to a pool of players designated by existing NL teams.

Due to the poor performance of the Mets and Colt .45s after two seasons, another draft was held for the teams on October 10, 1963. The other existing NL clubs made four players from their 40-man roster available at $30,000 apiece. A maximum of eight players could be selected between the two clubs. However, only three selections were made, two by New York and one by Houston.

1961 draft

1961 Major League Baseball expansion draft is located in the United States
1962 National League expansion teams
All-Star
Regular phase, $75,000 per player
PickPlayerPositionSelected byPrevious team
1Eddie BressoudIFHouston Colt .45sSan Francisco Giants
2Hobie LandrithCNew York MetsSan Francisco Giants
3Bob AspromonteIFHouston Colt .45sLos Angeles Dodgers
4Elio ChacónIFNew York MetsCincinnati Reds
5Bob LillisIFHouston Colt .45sSt. Louis Cardinals
6Roger CraigPNew York MetsLos Angeles Dodgers
7Dick DrottPHouston Colt .45sChicago Cubs
8Gus Bell*OFNew York MetsCincinnati Reds
9Al HeistOFHouston Colt .45sChicago Cubs
10Joe ChristopherOFNew York MetsPittsburgh Pirates
11Román MejíasOFHouston Colt .45sPittsburgh Pirates
12Félix MantillaIFNew York MetsMilwaukee Braves
13George WilliamsIFHouston Colt .45sPhiladelphia Phillies
14Gil Hodges*1BNew York MetsLos Angeles Dodgers
15Jesse HickmanPHouston Colt .45sPhiladelphia Phillies
16Craig AndersonPNew York MetsSt. Louis Cardinals
17Merritt RanewCHouston Colt .45sMilwaukee Braves
18Ray DaviaultPNew York MetsSan Francisco Giants
19Don TaussigOFHouston Colt .45sSt. Louis Cardinals
20John DeMeritOFNew York MetsMilwaukee Braves
21Bobby Shantz*PHouston Colt .45sPittsburgh Pirates
22Al JacksonPNew York MetsPittsburgh Pirates
23Norm Larker*1BHouston Colt .45sLos Angeles Dodgers
24Sammy DrakeIFNew York MetsChicago Cubs
25Sam Jones*PHouston Colt .45sSan Francisco Giants
26Chris CannizzaroCNew York MetsSt. Louis Cardinals
27Paul RoofPHouston Colt .45sMilwaukee Braves
28Choo-Choo ColemanCNew York MetsPhiladelphia Phillies
29Ken JohnsonPHouston Colt .45sCincinnati Reds
30Ed Bouchee1BNew York MetsChicago Cubs
31Dick Gernert1BHouston Colt .45sCincinnati Reds
32Bob SmithOFNew York MetsPhiladelphia Phillies
Regular phase, $50,000 per player
PickPlayerPositionSelected byPrevious team
33Ed OlivaresIFHouston Colt .45sSt. Louis Cardinals
34Sherman JonesPNew York MetsCincinnati Reds
35Jim UmbrichtPHouston Colt .45sPittsburgh Pirates
36Jim HickmanOFNew York MetsSt. Louis Cardinals
37Jim GoldenPHouston Colt .45sLos Angeles Dodgers
Premium phase, $125,000 per player
PickPlayerPositionSelected byPrevious team
38Joe AmalfitanoIFHouston Colt .45sSan Francisco Giants
39Jay HookPNew York MetsCincinnati Reds
40Turk FarrellPHouston Colt .45sLos Angeles Dodgers
41Bob MillerPNew York MetsSt. Louis Cardinals
42Hal SmithCHouston Colt .45sPittsburgh Pirates
43Don Zimmer*IFNew York MetsChicago Cubs
44Al SpanglerOFHouston Colt .45sMilwaukee Braves
45Lee Walls*IF/OFNew York MetsPhiladelphia Phillies

* All-Star only before 1961 expansion draft

1963 draft

All-Star
Regular phase, $30,000 per player
PlayerPositionSelected byPrevious team
1B/OFNew York MetsLos Angeles Dodgers
Claude RaymondPHouston Colt. 45sMilwaukee Braves
Jack FisherPNew York MetsSan Francisco Giants

See also

  • Continental League, a proposed third major league that had planned to begin play in the 1961 season

Notes

Further reading

External links