1961 Major League Baseball expansion draft


The 1961 Major League Baseball expansion draft was held by Major League Baseball on October 10, 1961, to fill the rosters of the New York Mets and the Houston Colt.45s. These new franchises were set to enter the National League as part of the 1962 Major League Baseball expansion. Selections in the draft were limited to a pool of players designated by existing NL teams.
Due to the poor performance of the Mets and Colt.45s after two seasons, another draft was held for the teams on October 10, 1963. The other existing NL clubs made four players from their 40-man roster available at $30,000 apiece. A maximum of eight players could be selected between the two clubs. However, only three selections were made, two by New York and one by Houston.

1961 draft

[Major League Baseball Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game|All-Star]

PickPlayerPositionSelected byPrevious team
33Ed OlivaresIFHouston Colt.45sSt. Louis Cardinals
34Sherman JonesPNew York MetsCincinnati Reds
35Jim UmbrichtPHouston Colt.45sPittsburgh Pirates
36Jim HickmanOFNew York MetsSt. Louis Cardinals
37Jim GoldenPHouston Colt.45sLos Angeles Dodgers

PickPlayerPositionSelected byPrevious team
38Joe AmalfitanoIFHouston Colt.45sSan Francisco Giants
39Jay HookPNew York MetsCincinnati Reds
40Turk FarrellPHouston Colt.45sLos Angeles Dodgers
41Bob MillerPNew York MetsSt. Louis Cardinals
42Hal SmithCHouston Colt.45sPittsburgh Pirates
43Don Zimmer*IFNew York MetsChicago Cubs
44Al SpanglerOFHouston Colt.45sMilwaukee Braves
45Lee Walls*IF/OFNew York MetsPhiladelphia Phillies

''* All-Star only before 1961 expansion draft''

1963 draft

PlayerPositionSelected byPrevious team
1B/OFNew York MetsLos Angeles Dodgers
Claude RaymondPHouston Colt. 45sMilwaukee Braves
Jack FisherPNew York MetsSan Francisco Giants