1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft

none August 2023 1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft Baseball October 14, 1968 National Leaguenowlin Each portion of the draft was limited to one league; while the National League and American 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 Montreal ExposSan Diego Padres 1969 Manny Mota (Montreal Expos) 60 1961 1976 1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft Baseball October 15, 1968 American Leaguenowlin Kansas City RoyalsSeattle Pilots 1969 Roger Nelson (Kansas City Royals) 60 1961 1976 The 1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft was conducted to stock up the rosters of four expansion teams in Major League Baseball—two teams each in the American League and National League—created via the 1969 Major League Baseball expansion and that would begin play in the 1969 season. The expansion draft for the Montreal ExposThe Montreal Expos competed in the National League through the 2004 season; the franchise then relocated to Washington, D.C., and became the Washington Nationals. and the San Diego Padres was held on October 14, 1968. These two new franchises selected players from other National League teams. The expansion draft for the Kansas City Royals and the Seattle PilotsAfter just a single season in the American League, the Seattle Pilots relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and became the Milwaukee Brewers, who later moved to the National League in 1998. was held on October 15, 1968. These two new franchises selected players from other American League teams. Background USA 300 1969 major-league expansion teams USA 45.53 -73.63 Black pog.svg 80 top Expos USA 39.09 -94.56 Black pog.svg 80 bottom Royals USA 32.78 -117.12 Black pog.svg 80 right Padres USA 47.58 -122.30 Black pog.svg 80 right Pilots Montreal Expos On December 2, 1967, Gerry Snyder presented a bid for a Montreal franchise to Major League Baseball's team owners at their winter meetings in Mexico City. One potential wild card in Montreal's favor was that the chair of the National League's expansion committee was influential Los Angeles Dodgers president Walter O'Malley, under whom the minor league Montreal Royals had become affiliated with the Dodgers. On May 27, 1968, O'Malley announced that franchises were being awarded to Montreal and San Diego, beginning play the following year (1969). Key dates in Expos history http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/expos/timeline.html 2008-02-24 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation 2004-09-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20080226045649/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/expos/timeline.html 26 February 2008 live Business executive Charles Bronfman of the Seagram's distilling empire owned the new team.http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nl/mtlexpos/expos.html Montreal Expos (1969–2004) July 10, 2008 January 25, 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20060125041121/http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nl/mtlexpos/expos.html dead With a long history of use in Montreal, the "Royals" was one of the candidate nicknames for the new franchise, but the American League's new Kansas City team adopted this name, so the new owners conducted a contest to name the team. Many names were suggested by Montrealers (including the "Voyageurs" and in a coincidental twist, the "Nationals" — now used by the team in its new home in Washington, D.C.) but there was a clear winner. At the time, the city was still basking in the glow of the recently completed Expo 67, the most popular World's Fair to date, and so the name "Expos" was used.http://www.wordorigins.org/index.php/more/850/ Wordorigins.org 2008-07-10 2007-10-12 https://web.archive.org/web/20071012090403/http://www.wordorigins.org/index.php/more/850/ dead The Expos name also had the advantage of being the same in both English and French, the city's two dominant languages. San Diego Padres The Padres adopted their name from the Pacific Coast League team which arrived in San Diego in 1936. That minor league franchise won the PCL title in 1937, led by then-18-year-old San Diego native Ted Williams. Their original owner was C. Arnholt Smith, a prominent San Diego businessman and former owner of the PCL Padres whose interests included banking, tuna fishing, hotels, real estate and an airline. The team was led by longtime baseball executive Buzzie Bavasi. Kansas City Royals The "Royals" name originates from the American Royal Livestock Show, held in Kansas City since 1899. Entering Major League Baseball as an expansion franchise in 1969, the club was founded by Ewing Kauffman, a Kansas City businessman. The franchise was established following the actions of Stuart Symington, then-United States Senator from Missouri, who demanded a new franchise for the city after the Athletics—Kansas City's previous major league team—moved to Oakland, California. Seattle Pilots Seattle initially had much going for it when it joined the American League in 1969. Seattle had long been a hotbed for minor league baseball and was home to the Seattle Rainiers, one of the pillars of the Pacific Coast League (PCL). The Cleveland Indians had almost moved to Seattle in 1965. Many of the same things that attracted the Indians made Seattle a plum choice for an expansion team. Seattle was the third-biggest metropolitan area on the West Coast (behind Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Area). Draft results +KeyAll-Star Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame National League draft PickPlayerSelected fromSelected by1Ollie Brown baseballSan Francisco GiantsSan Diego Padres2Manny MotaPittsburgh PiratesMontreal Expos3Dave Giustib bSt. Louis CardinalsSan Diego Padres4Mack JonesCincinnati RedsMontreal Expos5Dick SelmaNew York MetsSan Diego Padres6John Bateman baseballHouston AstrosMontreal Expos7Al SantoriniAtlanta BravesSan Diego Padres8Gary SutherlandPhiladelphia PhilliesMontreal Expos9José ArciaChicago CubsSan Diego Padres10Jack Billinghame eLos Angeles DodgersMontreal Expos11Donn Clendenone ePittsburgh PiratesMontreal Expos12Clay KirbySt. Louis CardinalsSan Diego Padres13Jesús Aloue eSan Francisco GiantsMontreal Expos14Fred KendallCincinnati RedsSan Diego Padres15Mike WegenerPhiladelphia PhilliesMontreal Expos16Jerry MoralesNew York MetsSan Diego Padres17Skip Guinne eAtlanta BravesMontreal Expos18Nate ColbertHouston AstrosSan Diego Padres19Bill StonemanChicago CubsMontreal Expos20Zoilo VersallesLos Angeles DodgersSan Diego Padres21Maury WillsPittsburgh PiratesMontreal Expos22Frank RebergerChicago CubsSan Diego Padres23Larry Jackson baseballa aPhiladelphia PhilliesMontreal Expos24Jerry DaVanonSt. Louis CardinalsSan Diego Padres25Bob Reynolds baseballSan Francisco GiantsMontreal Expos26Larry StahlNew York MetsSan Diego Padres27Dan McGinnCincinnati RedsMontreal Expos28Dick KelleyAtlanta BravesSan Diego Padres29José Herrera 1960s outfielderHouston AstrosMontreal Expos30Al FerraraLos Angeles DodgersSan Diego Padres31Mike CorkinsSan Francisco GiantsSan Diego Padres32Jimy Williamsh hCincinnati RedsMontreal Expos33Tom DukesHouston AstrosSan Diego Padres34Remy HermosoAtlanta BravesMontreal Expos35Rick James baseballi iChicago CubsSan Diego Padres36Mudcat GrantLos Angeles DodgersMontreal Expos37Tony González baseballPhiladelphia PhilliesSan Diego Padres38Jerry Robertson baseballSt. Louis CardinalsMontreal Expos39Dave Roberts pitcherPittsburgh PiratesSan Diego Padres40Don Shaw baseballNew York MetsMontreal Expos41Ty ClineSan Francisco GiantsMontreal Expos42Ivan MurrellHouston AstrosSan Diego Padres43Garry JestadtChicago CubsMontreal Expos44Jim Williams outfielder, born 1947Los Angeles DodgersSan Diego Padres45Carl MortonAtlanta BravesMontreal Expos46Billy McCoolCincinnati RedsSan Diego Padres47Larry JasterSt. Louis CardinalsMontreal Expos48Roberto PeñaPhiladelphia PhilliesSan Diego Padres49Ernie McAnallyNew York MetsMontreal Expos50Al McBeanPittsburgh PiratesSan Diego Padres51Rafael RoblesSan Francisco GiantsSan Diego Padres52Jim FaireyLos Angeles DodgersMontreal Expos53Katawczik Fred Katawczikf fCincinnati RedsSan Diego Padres54Coco LaboySt. Louis CardinalsMontreal Expos55Ron SlocumPittsburgh PiratesSan Diego Padres56John BoccabellaChicago CubsMontreal Expos57Steve ArlinPhiladelphia PhilliesSan Diego Padres58Ron BrandHouston AstrosMontreal Expos59Cito GastonAtlanta BravesSan Diego Padres60Glass John Glassf fNew York MetsMontreal Expos American League draft PickPlayerSelected fromSelected by1Roger Nelson baseballBaltimore OriolesKansas City Royals2Don MincherCalifornia AngelsSeattle Pilots3Tommy HarperCleveland IndiansSeattle Pilots4Joe FoyBoston Red SoxKansas City Royals5Ray OylerDetroit TigersSeattle Pilots6Jim RookerNew York YankeesKansas City Royals7Jerry McNertneyChicago White SoxSeattle Pilots8Joe KeoughOakland AthleticsKansas City Royals9Buzz StephenMinnesota TwinsSeattle Pilots10Steve Jones baseballWashington SenatorsKansas City Royals11Chico SalmonCleveland IndiansSeattle Pilots12Jon WardenDetroit TigersKansas City Royals13Ellie RodríguezNew York YankeesKansas City Royals14Diego SeguíOakland AthleticsSeattle Pilots15Dave MoreheadBoston Red SoxKansas City Royals16Tommy Davis Tommy Davis (outfielder)Chicago White SoxSeattle Pilots17Mike Fiore Mike Fiore (baseball, born 1944)Baltimore OriolesKansas City Royals18Marty PattinCalifornia AngelsSeattle Pilots19Bob OliverMinnesota TwinsKansas City Royals20Gerry SchoenWashington SenatorsSeattle Pilots21Gary Bell baseballBoston Red SoxSeattle Pilots22Bill Butler pitcherDetroit TigersKansas City Royals23Steve Whitaker baseballNew York YankeesKansas City Royals24Jack AkerOakland AthleticsSeattle Pilots25Wally BunkerBaltimore OriolesKansas City Royals26Rich RollinsMinnesota TwinsSeattle Pilots27Paul SchaalCalifornia AngelsKansas City Royals28Lou Piniellad dCleveland IndiansSeattle Pilots29Haynes Bill HaynesChicago White SoxKansas City Royals30Dick BatesWashington SenatorsSeattle Pilots31Dick DragoDetroit TigersKansas City Royals32Larry HaneyBaltimore OriolesSeattle Pilots33Dick BaneyBoston Red SoxSeattle Pilots34Pat Kelly outfielderMinnesota TwinsKansas City Royals35Steve HovleyCalifornia AngelsSeattle Pilots36Billy Harris baseballCleveland IndiansKansas City Royals37Steve BarberNew York YankeesSeattle Pilots38Don O'RileyOakland AthleticsKansas City Royals39Miklos John Miklosf fWashington SenatorsSeattle Pilots40Al FitzmorrisChicago White SoxKansas City Royals41Wayne ComerDetroit TigersSeattle Pilots42Moe DrabowskyBaltimore OriolesKansas City Royals43Jackie HernándezMinnesota TwinsKansas City Royals44Bucky BrandonBoston Red SoxSeattle Pilots45Mike HedlundCleveland IndiansKansas City Royals46Skip LockwoodOakland AthleticsSeattle Pilots47Tom BurgmeierCalifornia AngelsKansas City Royals48Gary TimberlakeNew York YankeesSeattle Pilots49Hoyt Wilhelmc cChicago White SoxKansas City Royals50Richmond Bob Richmondf fWashington SenatorsSeattle Pilots51Jerry AdairBoston Red SoxKansas City Royals52John Morris pitcherBaltimore OriolesSeattle Pilots53Mike Marshall pitcherDetroit TigersSeattle Pilots54Jerry CramMinnesota TwinsKansas City Royals55Jim GosgerOakland AthleticsSeattle Pilots56Fran Healy baseballCleveland IndiansKansas City Royals57Mike FerraroNew York YankeesSeattle Pilots58Scott NortheyChicago White SoxKansas City Royals59Click Paul Clickf fCalifornia AngelsSeattle Pilots60Ike Brookensg gWashington SenatorsKansas City Royals a aThe Expos acquired Bobby Wine as compensation after Larry Jackson decided to retire rather than report to Montreal."Bobby Wine heading home, will join Phils as coach," The Gazette (Montreal), Tuesday, July 18, 1972. b bDave Giusti never played for the Padres. He was traded back to the Cardinals two months later for four players."Why Cardinals traded twice for Dave Giusti in 3 months" c cHoyt Wilhelm never played for the Royals. He was traded to the California Angels on December 12, 1968, for two players. d dLou Piniella never played for the Pilots. He was traded to the Royals on April 1, 1969. e eJesus Alou, Jack Billingham and Skip Guinn never played for the Expos. Alou and Donn Clendenon were traded to Houston for Rusty Staub. When Clendenon threatened to retire rather than report, Billingham and Guinn were sent to Houston to complete the trade."The Planting of Le Grand Orange" f fKatawczik, Glass, Miklos, Richmond and Click never played in the major leagues. g gIke Brookens never played for the Royals. He did not play in the major leagues until making his debut with the Detroit Tigers in 1975. g gJimy Williams never played for the Expos or returned to the major leagues. h hRick James never played for the Padres or returned to the major leagues. See also Continental League, a proposed third major league that had planned to begin play in the 1961 season Notes References 30em Category:Major League Baseball expansion drafts Expansion draft Category:History of the Kansas City Royals Category:Seattle Pilots Category:Montreal Expos Category:History of the San Diego Padres Major League Baseball expansion draft