Wednesday, October 16, 1968
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
9
Baseball expansion dilutes player pool
KC's Royals accent youth in expansion draft picks
BOSTON (UPI)—The Seattle Pilots and Kansas City Royals made a $10.5 million dip into the American League's player grabbag yesterday and came up with rosters both new clubs think will be the best ever produced by an expansion draft.
The Royals settled for a "youth movement" that began with top choice Roger Nelson, a 24-year-old Baltimore righthander rated the "best unprotected pitcher" by both new teams.
Kansas City acrefully followed with what was immediately named the "Kiddie Korps," a squad that averaged 23 years of age until late in the selections. The Royals then picked 45-year-old Hoyt Wilhelm of Chicago and 33-year-old Moe Drabowsky of Baltimore for an aged, but potentially effective, bullpen tandem.
In the meantime, the Royals took Boston third baseman Joe Foy, one of the few regulars apparently available in the draft. Outfielder Joe Keough of Oakland, pitchers Wally Bunker of Baltimore and Steve Jones of Washington, and infielders Paul Schaal of California and Jerry Adair of Boston were added.
Seattle went the "representative team" route by grabbing slugger Don Mincher of California, and former two-time National League batting champion Tommy Davis of Chicago.
Other veterans such as pitchers Gary Bell of Boston, Jack Aker of Oakland, and Steve Barber of New York; infielders Ray Oyler of Detroit, Chico Salmon of Cleveland, and Rich Rollins of Missesota; and outfielders Tommy Harper of Cleveland and Jim Gosger of Oaklnd were also picked.
When the draft of players, at $175,000 each, was completed in under five hours, the Pilots had acquired 16 pitchers along with two catchers, six infielders, and six outfielders.
The Royals' 30 choices included 17 pitchers, 12 of them right-handers; two catchers, six infielders, and five outfielders.
NEW YORK (UPI)-Baseball, which prefers to believe it gets better every year, is likely to be worse than ever next year.
The St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers, who romped into the World Series, can spare a little talent in the expansion draft. They may be the best teams anyone will see for quite a spell.
They're going to make 24 Major League teams out of the current 20 in next year's expansion to Montreal, San Diego, Kansas City and Seattle—thereby diluting a player pool that's already less than sensational.
Youngsters keep coming into baseball-82 of them were around long enough to qualify for this year's All-Rookie team—and that's just about average for 20 clubs.
But the kids aren't bringing any bats with them from the Little Leagues, the sandlots, the high schools and colleges where they were getting their forced feeding. Of the 82 rookies, 40 were pitchers.
Montreal gambles on Wills
MONTREAL (UPI)—The Montreal Expos, accenting experience, picked Maury Wills, Larry Jackson, and Donn Clendon while the San Diego Padres, going with youth, chose Ollie Brown, Dick Selma and Jose Arcia in the National League's expansion draft Monday.
The Expos caused the draft's biggest stir when they nabbed the controversial Wills on the 11th round from the Pirates.
The 10-year veteran infielder batted .278 last season, but ran into differences with the Pirates' front office, once when he sat out a game following the assassination of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, and again when he failed to report for a team physical. Prior to the end of the campaign, Wills had threatened to quit if he was chosen in the draft.
Stocking their clubs for their inaugural season of play next year, the NL's two newest clubs forked over $5 million each for the right to choose 30 players apiece.
In sharp contrast is pro football, now riding an all-time boom from the impetus of a bigger talent market than ever. Better coaching in football-playing high schools is developing more good players for more colleges.
Other experienced players taken by the Expos included outfielder Mack Jones of Cincinnati, catcher John Bateman of Houston, and outfielders Jesus Alou of San Francisco and Jose Herrera of Houston.
The Padres, carefully combing the minors for potential stars, nabbed pitchers Al Santorini, Clay Kirby, and Frank Reberger in addition to proven veterans such as pitcher Dave Giusti of St. Louis, Zoilo Versalles of Los Angeses, and Larry Stahl of New York.
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The Renegades are at
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The football pros have little trouble finding hot young prospects who want to make pro football a career.
Statistically, maybe baseball is better than ever in some respects. All-time records are set in quantity every season and this
Picked at other positions:
Dave Nelson, Cleveland, second base, .230; Bobby Cox, Yankees, third base, .229; Hector Torres, Houston, shortstop, .221; outfielders Bobby Bonds, San Francisco, .262, and Del Unser, Washington, .230.
Jerry Koosman (19-12) of the New York Mets and Stan Bahnsen (16-12) of the New York Yankees were standout pitchers and made the All-Rookie team. Next biggest winner among the yearlings, however, was Ron Reed (11-10) of Atlanta.
Only Torres and Unser played in more than 100 games; they played for teams that finished dead last.
Since many a veteran batsman fell under the spell of the pitching curse in 1968, it may be unfair to condemn the lack of hitting among the non-pitching rookies.
one—a pitcher's year—had its share.
Only two catchers in the National League—Tom Haller of Los Angeles and Jerry Grote of the Mets-out-hit him. It's all downhill after Bench, however.
Gary Holman of Washington, picked as the All-Rookie first baseman, batted .274 but played only 72 games.
Johnny Bench of Cincinnati,
the All-Rookie catcher, came up
with a respectable .275 average
in 150 games. He belted 15
homers and drove in 81 runs.
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Where does an engineer intern?
Before you decide on the job that's to start you on your professional career, it's good to ask a few point blank questions . . . like:
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- Are engineering careers with this company stable . . . or do they depend upon proposals and market fluctuations?
Why not ask these questions about Bendix Kansas City when Mr. R. E. Cox visits the
University of Kansas
Oct. 21,22,1968
Or you may write Mr. Cox at:
Box 303-AF, Kansas City, Mo. 64131
PRIME CONTRACTOR FOR THE ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
AND AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Kansas City Division