1968 – In the American League expansion draft, pitcher Roger Nelson is selected first by the Kansas City Royals and first baseman Don Mincher is the first choice of the Seattle Pilots. The National League held its draft yesterday.

This Day In Baseball

On October 15, 1968 — The American League expansion draft was held at the Sheraton Hotel in Boston for the Kansas City Royals and Seattle Pilots. The National League expansion draft for the San Diego Padres and Montreal Expos had been held the day earlier.

Seattle won the coin toss for the first pick, but they elected to give Kansas City the first choice so they would have the second and third overall picks.

With the #1 overall pick, the Royals selected right-handed starting pitcher Roger Nelson from the Baltimore Orioles. Nelson went on to a 7-13 record in 1969, with a 3.31 ERA and 193.1 innings pitched for the Royals.

The second pick then went to the Pilots, and they chose first baseman Don Mincher from the California Angels. Mincher led the Pilots with 25 home runs and was their lone representative in the 1969 All-Star game. The third pick, also by the Pilots, was outfielder Tommy Harper from the Cleveland Indians. The speedy Harper would lead the American League in stolen bases with 73 and would play in more games (148) in 1969 than any other Pilot.

None of the ten established A.L. teams appeared hurt too badly as they collected $175,000 for each of the six players they lost in the draft.

AL President Joe Cronin presided over the six-hour draft with the help of an IBM computer that “provided data on the players in lightning fashion.”

Club president Dewey Soriano felt the players were “established but not old.” Seven of the Pilots selections were age 30 or older.

GM Marvin Milkes felt the team was as good as some of the existing clubs. He said, “We are amazed and pleased with the backup players we got. I’ve already been approached by three general managers about trades. I’m not completely satisfied with our players – and I won’t be until we win the division and the World Series.”

The number of players drafted from each team by the Pilots ended with: California 4, Oakland 4, Washington 4, Boston 3, Cleveland 3, Detroit 3, New York 3, Baltimore 2, Chicago 2, Minnesota 2.

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Sources:
Baseball Reference October 15
National Pastime October 15
Retro Sheet
Hall of Fame
SABR Games Project
Replay The Game