We get to act like kids in a candy store. Each of the Major League teams can protect a certain number of players, the rest are available in the Expansion Draft, we got the 1st pick. Let's see where we stand after 35 rounds.
#1- Ray Sadecki, SP
#2- Felipe Alou, OF
#3- Jim Cosman, RP
#4- Doc Edwards, C
#5- Pancho Herrera, 2B
#6- Al Downing, SP
#7- Joey Jay, SP
#8- Jose Pagan, SS
#9- Whitey Ford, SO
#10- Hank Allen, 3B
#11- Sonny Siebert, SP
#12- Jim Lonborg, SP
#13- Leon Wagner, RF
#14- Clete Boyer, 3B
#15- Bobby Richardson, 2B - no this is not Yankees part 2
#16- Tommy McCraw, 1B
#17- Jose Herrera, LF
#18- Jay Ritchier, RP
#19- Don Pavletich, C
#20- Jon Warden, RP
#21- Gene Garber, RP
#22- Paul Lindbland, CL
#23- Billy Williams, OF
#24- Jan Dukes, RP
#25- Zolio Versailles, SS
#26- Bobby Valentine, SS
#27- Cookie Rojas, SS
#28- Dick Radatz, RP
#29- Bill Mazeroski, 2B
#30- Jim Gentile, 1B
#31- Cesar Geronimo, OF
#32- George Foster, OF
#33- Carlton Fisk, C
#34- Rocky Colavito, OF
#35- George Gerberman, SP
We were lucky to get some great prospects late in this one, Fisk is a 21 Catching prospect who was drafted last year by the Giants, but never made it to the majors and George Foster is a 20-year old slugger who was drafted last year by Cincinnati.
Immediately following the draft the Expansion teams hit the free agent market. Trying to get some butts in the seats, we signed 37 year old Eddie Matthews to play 1B. Matthews is a 2-time AL Most Outstanding Player and a 12 time All-Star. His skills have declined some, but he is still a very popular player. We signed him for 2 years for $100,800.
After signing RP's Don Mossi and Ralph Terry, I took a long look at our finances. While we had picked up some big names, we also picked up some big salaries. I spent some time talking to Manager Ernie Williams and our Scout, Jon Adams and we decided to focus on youth and the future. With that in mind we sent Jim Gentile and Leon Wagner to Montreal, another expansion team, for 1B Mike Jorgenson and SP Mel Stottlemyre. We then sent veteran OF Billy Williams to Minnesota for back-up 1B George Stone.
Unfortunately baseball is a business and sometimes two sides can't come together on money. We lost Al Downing, Jose Pagan, and Tommy McCraw shortly after the draft. We didn't want to pay them what they wanted and wish them all the best in their baseball future.