CONTINENTAL QUINTET

Talk of a third major league, the Continental League, forced reluctant major league

owners to expand in 1961-1962. All five original cities of Branch Rickey’s proposed league, announced in 1959, eventually received franchises: Denver, Houston, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York, and Toronto. Rickey, a former Brooklyn GM, had targeted New York as his key objective.

 

EXPANSION PICKS

Year     Team                                First Draft Choice

1960    Los Angeles Angels             Fred Newman, pitcher, Boston

            Washington Senators          Dick Donovan, pitcher, Chicago

1961    Houston Colts                    Joey Amalfitano, 2b, San Francisco

            New York Mets                 Bob Miller, pitcher, St. Louis

1968    Kansas City Royals            Roger Nelson, pitcher, Baltimore

            Seattle Pilots                      Don Mincher, 1b, California

            Montreal Expos                 Manny Mota, of, Pittsburgh

            San Diego Padres              Ollie Brown, of, San Francisco

1976    Seattle Mariners                 Ruppert Jones, of, Kansas City

            Toronto Blue Jays              Bob Bailor, ss-of, Baltimore

1992    Colorado Rockies              David Nied, pitcher, Atlanta

            Florida Marlins                   Nigel Wilson, of, Toronto

1997    Arizona Diamondbacks      Brian Anderson, pitcher, Cleveland

            Tampa Bay Devil Rays       Tony Saunders, pitcher, Florida

 

EXPANSION MARKS

Year     Team                       Won     Lost             Pct.             Pos.          Attendance

1961    Los Angeles Angels*     70             91             .435             8             603,510

1961    Washington Senators** 61           100             .370             9             597,287

1962    Houston Colts***         64             96             .400             8              924,456         

1962    New York Mets            40           120             .250             10           922,530

1969    Kansas City Royals       69             93             .426             4W          902,414

1969    Seattle Pilots****         64             98             .395             6W          677,944

1969    Montreal Expos            52            110             .321             6E         1,212,608

1969    San Diego Padres         52            110             .321             6W          512,970

1977    Seattle Mariners            64             98             .395             6W        1,338,511

1977    Toronto Blue Jays         54           107             .335             7E          1,701,052

1993    Colorado Rockies        67             95             .414             6W          4,483,350

1993    Florida Marlins             64             98             .395             6E           3,064,847

1998    Tampa Bay Devil Rays 63             99             .389             5E           2,261,158

1998    Arizona Diamondbacks 65            97             .401             5W          3,600,412

* became California Angels in 1966 and Anaheim Angels in 1997            

** became Texas Rangers in 1972            

*** became Houston Astros in 1965

****became Milwaukee Brewers in 1970