1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft

Selection of players by the Mariners and Blue Jays August 2023 1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft Baseball November 5, 1976 American LeagueThis draft was limited to American League teams; while the American League and National League are commonly referred to collectively as Major League Baseball, across many decades, Major League Baseball has only existed as a legal entity since 2000.https://sabr.org/journal/article/did-mlb-exist-before-the-year-2000/ Did MLB Exist Before the Year 2000? Bill Nowlin Society for American Baseball Research December 2, 2025 Seattle MarinersToronto Blue Jays 1977 Ruppert Jones (Seattle Mariners) 60 1968 1992 The 1976 Major League Baseball Expansion draft was held November 5, 1976. This expansion draft was conducted by Major League Baseball to stock the major league rosters of the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners, new American League franchises established via the 1977 Major League Baseball expansion that were set to start play in the 1977 season. Background USA 300 1977 American League expansion teams USA 47.59 -122.33 Black pog.svg 80 bottom Mariners USA 43.63 -79.42 Black pog.svg 80 top Blue Jays Seattle was promised a franchise by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn.Seattle Gets Promise of Big-League Baseball https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19750702&id=OQ9PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dwIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7166,371051 5 January 2015 Associated Press Toledo Blade 2 July 1975 25 During the summer of 1975, there was speculation that the Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox, or San Francisco Giants could move to Seattle. When none of these plans proved successful, the American League added a team in Seattle. With 13 teams in a league creating scheduling problems, the league awarded a franchise to Toronto over Washington, D.C. in March 1976. Both Seattle and Toronto had purchased or otherwise acquired a handful of players shortly before the draft, but nowhere near enough to fill a roster (or even assemble a nine-man squad). Drafted players were selected only from American League teams, in keeping with the practices of the American League expansion of 1961, the National League expansion of 1962, and the expansion of both leagues in 1969. Beginning with the next expansion, in 1993, the new teams would select players from teams in both leagues. Danny Kaye, part-owner of the Mariners, announced the club's first selection.https://www.chicagotribune.com/1997/11/13/expansion-draft-no-joke-anymore/ Expansion Draft No Joke Anymore Jerome Holtzman Jerome Holtzman Chicago Tribune November 13, 1997 October 19, 2011 Draft results +KeyAll-Star Round Pick Player Position Selected from Selected by11Ruppert JonesOFKansas City RoyalsSeattle Mariners12Bob BailorOFBaltimore OriolesToronto Blue Jays13Gary WheelockPCalifornia AngelsSeattle Mariners14Jerry GarvinPMinnesota TwinsToronto Blue Jays15Bill Stein3BChicago White SoxSeattle Mariners16Jim Clancy baseballPTexas RangersToronto Blue Jays17Dick PolePBoston Red SoxSeattle Mariners18Gary Woods Gary Woods (baseball)OFOakland AthleticsToronto Blue Jays19Dan Meyer first baseman1BDetroit TigersSeattle Mariners110Rico CartyDHCleveland IndiansToronto Blue JaysShortly after the draft, Carty was traded by Toronto to the Cleveland Indians for Rick Cerone and John Lowenstein. Toronto later reacquired Carty, who played for them in 1978 and 1979.111Grant Jackson baseballPNew York YankeesSeattle MarinersShortly after the draft, Jackson was traded by Seattle to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Craig Reynolds and Jimmy Sexton.112Butch EdgePMilwaukee BrewersToronto Blue JaysEdge did not make a major-league league squad until 1979.213Al FitzmorrisPKansas City RoyalsToronto Blue JaysFitzmorris was immediately traded on the day of the draft by Toronto to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Alan Ashby and Doug Howard.214Dave Collins baseballOFCalifornia AngelsSeattle Mariners215Alvis WoodsOFMinnesota TwinsToronto Blue Jays216Frank MacCormackPDetroit TigersSeattle Mariners217Mike Darr pitcherPBaltimore OriolesToronto Blue Jays218Stan Thomas baseballPCleveland IndiansSeattle Mariners219Pete VuckovichPChicago White SoxToronto Blue Jays220Juan BernhardtOFNew York YankeesSeattle Mariners221Jeff ByrdPTexas RangersToronto Blue Jays222Rick Jones pitcherPBoston Red SoxSeattle Mariners223Steve BowlingOFMilwaukee BrewersToronto Blue Jays224Glenn AbbottPOakland AthleticsSeattle Mariners325Bob Stinson baseballCKansas City RoyalsSeattle Mariners326Dennis DeBarrPDetroit TigersToronto Blue Jays327Carlos López baseballOFCalifornia AngelsSeattle Mariners328Bill SingerPMinnesota TwinsToronto Blue Jays329Dave PaganPBaltimore OriolesSeattle Mariners330Jim Mason baseballSSNew York YankeesToronto Blue Jays331Roy Thomas pitcherPChicago White SoxSeattle MarinersThomas was traded by Seattle before the start of the season to the Houston Astros for infielder Larry Milbourne. Seattle later reacquired Thomas, who played for them between 1983 and 1987.332Doug Ault1BTexas RangersToronto Blue Jays333Tom McMillan baseballSSCleveland IndiansSeattle Mariners334Ernie WhittCBoston Red SoxToronto Blue Jays335Pete BrobergPMilwaukee BrewersSeattle MarinersBroberg was traded in April (without appearing in a game for Seattle) to the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named later. The Cubs later sent Jim Todd to the Mariners to complete the trade. 336Weathers Mike WeathersIFOakland AthleticsToronto Blue JaysJust prior to spring training, Weathers was traded by Toronto back to Oakland for Ron Fairly.437Steve Staggs2BKansas City RoyalsToronto Blue Jays438Steve Braun baseballOFMinnesota TwinsSeattle Mariners439Steve HarganPTexas RangersToronto Blue Jays440Leroy StantonOFCalifornia AngelsSeattle Mariners441Garth Iorg3BNew York YankeesToronto Blue JaysIorg did not make a major-league league squad until 1978.442Bob GalassoPBaltimore OriolesSeattle Mariners443Dave LemanczykPDetroit TigersToronto Blue Jays444Steve Burke baseballPBoston Red SoxSeattle Mariners445Larry Anderson baseballPMilwaukee BrewersToronto Blue JaysShortly after the draft, Anderson was sent by Toronto to the Chicago White Sox to complete an earlier deal made to obtain Phil Roof.446Joe Lis1BCleveland IndiansSeattle Mariners447Jesse JeffersonPChicago White SoxToronto Blue Jays448Alan Griffin 1POakland AthleticsSeattle MarinersGriffin did not make Seattle's major-league squad. He played in the minors through 1978.549Dave McKay baseballIFMinnesota TwinsToronto Blue Jays550Bill LaxtonPDetroit TigersSeattle Mariners551Tom BrunoPKansas City RoyalsToronto Blue Jays552Julio Cruz baseball2BCalifornia AngelsSeattle Mariners553Otto VelezOFNew York YankeesToronto Blue Jays554Steve BarrPTexas RangersSeattle MarinersBarr did not make Seattle's major-league squad. He played in minors through 1978.555Mike Willis baseballPBaltimore OriolesToronto Blue Jays556Puchy DelgadoOFBoston Red SoxSeattle Mariners557Sam EwingOFChicago White SoxToronto Blue Jays558Tommy Smith baseballOFCleveland IndiansSeattle Mariners559Leon HootenPOakland AthleticsToronto Blue JaysHooten was released by Toronto prior to the start of the 1977 season.560Greg ErardiPMilwaukee BrewersSeattle Mariners Notes References Expansion draft Category:Major League Baseball expansion drafts Category:History of the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball expansion draft Major League Baseball expansion draft Category:History of the Seattle Mariners