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1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft

{{Short description|Selection of players by the Mariners and Blue Jays}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox sports draft

| name = 1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| logo =

| logosize =

| sport = Baseball

| date = November 5, 1976

| time =

| location =

| network =

| league =

| teams =

| first = Ruppert Jones (Seattle Mariners)

| fewest =

| most =

| overall = 60

| prev = 1968

| next = 1992

}}

The 1976 MLB Expansion Draft was held November 5, 1976. This expansion draft was conducted by Major League Baseball to stock the major league rosters of the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners, new major league expansion franchises established via the 1977 Major League Baseball expansion that were set to start play in the {{Baseball year|1977}} season.

Background

{{Location map+ | USA

| width = 400

| caption = 1977 MLB Expansion Teams

| places =

{{Location map~ | USA

| lat_deg = 47.59

| lon_deg = -122.33

| mark = Black pog.svg

| label_size = 80

| position = bottom

| label = Mariners}}

{{Location map~ | USA

| lat_deg = 43.63

| lon_deg = -79.42

| mark = Black pog.svg

| label_size = 80

| position = top

| label = Blue Jays}}

}}

Seattle was promised a franchise by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn.{{cite news|title=Seattle Gets Promise of Big-League Baseball|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19750702&id=OQ9PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dwIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7166,371051|access-date=5 January 2015|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Toledo Blade|date=2 July 1975|page=25}} During the summer of 1975, there was speculation that the Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox, or San Francisco Giants could move to Seattle. When none of these plans proved successful, the American League added a team in Seattle. With thirteen teams in a league creating scheduling problems, the league awarded a franchise to Toronto over Washington, D.C. in March 1976.

Both Seattle and Toronto had purchased or otherwise acquired a handful of players shortly before the draft, but nowhere near enough to fill a roster (or even assemble a nine-man squad). Drafted players were selected only from American League teams, in keeping with the practices of the A.L.'s expansion of 1961, the National League's expansion of 1962, and the expansion of both leagues in 1969. Beginning with the next expansion in 1993, the new teams would select players from teams in both the American and National Leagues.

Danny Kaye, part-owner of the Mariners, announced the club's first selection.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1997/11/13/expansion-draft-no-joke-anymore/ |title=Expansion Draft No Joke Anymore|first=Jerome|last=Holtzman|author-link=Jerome Holtzman|newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=November 13, 1997|access-date=October 19, 2011}}

Draft results

class="wikitable" style="width:20%;"

|+Key

! scope="row" style="background:#cfc;"|{{center|{{double-dagger}}}}

|All-Star

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center; width:70%;"

!scope="col"| Round

!scope="col"| Pick

!scope="col"| Player

!scope="col"| Position

!scope="col"| Selected from

!scope="col"| Selected by

!scope="col"| Notes

11

!scope="row" style="background:#cfc; text-align:center"|{{sortname|Ruppert|Jones}}{{sup|{{double-dagger}}}}

|OF

Kansas City RoyalsSeattle Mariners
12

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Bob|Bailor}}

|OF

Baltimore OriolesToronto Blue Jays
13

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Gary|Wheelock}}

|P

California AngelsSeattle Mariners
14

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Jerry|Garvin}}

|P

Minnesota TwinsToronto Blue Jays
15

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Bill|Stein}}

|3B

Chicago White SoxSeattle Mariners
16

!scope="row" style="background:#cfc; text-align:center"|{{sortname|Jim|Clancy|dab=baseball}}{{sup|{{double-dagger}}}}

|P

Texas RangersToronto Blue Jays
17

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Dick|Pole}}

|P

Boston Red SoxSeattle Mariners
18

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Gary|Woods}}

|OF

Oakland AthleticsToronto Blue Jays
19

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Dan|Meyer|dab=first baseman}}

|1B

Detroit TigersSeattle Mariners
110

!scope="row" style="background:#cfc; text-align:center"|{{sortname|Rico|Carty}}{{sup|{{double-dagger}}}}

|DH

Cleveland IndiansToronto Blue JaysShortly after the draft, traded by Toronto to the Cleveland Indians for Rick Cerone and John Lowenstein. Toronto later reacquired Carty, who played for them in 1978 and 1979.
111

!scope="row" style="background:#cfc; text-align:center"|{{sortname|Grant|Jackson|dab=baseball}}{{sup|{{double-dagger}}}}

|P

New York YankeesSeattle MarinersShortly after the draft, traded by Seattle to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Craig Reynolds and Jimmy Sexton.
112

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Butch|Edge}}

|P

Milwaukee BrewersToronto Blue JaysDid not make big league squad until 1979.
213

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Al|Fitzmorris}}

|P

Kansas City RoyalsToronto Blue JaysImmediately traded on the day of the draft by Toronto to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Alan Ashby and Doug Howard.
214

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Dave|Collins|dab=baseball}}

|OF

California AngelsSeattle Mariners
215

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Alvis|Woods}}

|OF

Minnesota TwinsToronto Blue Jays
216

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Frank|MacCormack}}

|P

Detroit TigersSeattle Mariners
217

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Mike|Darr|dab=pitcher}}

|P

Baltimore OriolesToronto Blue Jays
218

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Stan|Thomas|dab=baseball}}

|P

Cleveland IndiansSeattle Mariners
219

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Pete|Vuckovich}}

|P

Chicago White SoxToronto Blue Jays
220

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Juan|Bernhardt}}

|OF

New York YankeesSeattle Mariners
221

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Jeff|Byrd}}

|P

Texas RangersToronto Blue Jays
222

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Rick|Jones|dab=pitcher}}

|P

Boston Red SoxSeattle Mariners
223

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Steve|Bowling}}

|OF

Milwaukee BrewersToronto Blue Jays
224

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Glenn|Abbott}}

|P

Oakland AthleticsSeattle Mariners
325

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Bob|Stinson|dab=baseball}}

|C

Kansas City RoyalsSeattle Mariners
326

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Dennis|DeBarr}}

|P

Detroit TigersToronto Blue Jays
327

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Carlos|López|dab=baseball}}

|OF

California AngelsSeattle Mariners
328

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Bill|Singer}}

|P

Minnesota TwinsToronto Blue Jays
329

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Dave|Pagan}}

|P

Baltimore OriolesSeattle Mariners
330

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Jim|Mason|dab=baseball}}

|SS

New York YankeesToronto Blue Jays
331

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Roy|Thomas|dab=pitcher}}

|P

Chicago White SoxSeattle MarinersTraded by Seattle before the start of the season to the Houston Astros for infielder Larry Milbourne. Seattle later reacquired Thomas, who played for them between 1983 and 1987.
332

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Doug|Ault}}

|1B

Texas RangersToronto Blue Jays
333

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Tom|McMillan|dab=baseball}}

|SS

Cleveland IndiansSeattle Mariners
334

!scope="row" style="background:#cfc; text-align:center"|{{sortname|Ernie|Whitt}}{{sup|{{double-dagger}}}}

|C

Boston Red SoxToronto Blue Jays
335

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Pete|Broberg}}

|P

Milwaukee BrewersSeattle MarinersTraded in April (without appearing in a game for Seattle) to the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named later. The Chicago Cubs later sent Jim Todd (October 25, 1977) to the Mariners to complete the trade.
336

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sort|Weathers|Mike Weathers}}

|IF

Oakland AthleticsToronto Blue JaysJust prior to spring training, traded by Toronto back to Oakland for Ron Fairly.
437

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Steve|Staggs}}

|2B

Kansas City RoyalsToronto Blue Jays
438

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Steve|Braun|dab=baseball}}

|OF

Minnesota TwinsSeattle Mariners
439

!scope="row" style="background:#cfc; text-align:center"|{{sortname|Steve|Hargan}}{{sup|{{double-dagger}}}}

|P

Texas RangersToronto Blue Jays
440

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Leroy|Stanton}}

|OF

California AngelsSeattle Mariners
441

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Garth|Iorg}}

|3B

New York YankeesToronto Blue JaysDid not make big league squad until 1978.
442

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Bob|Galasso}}

|P

Baltimore OriolesSeattle Mariners
443

!scope="row" style="background:#cfc; text-align:center"|{{sortname|Dave|Lemanczyk}}{{sup|{{double-dagger}}}}

|P

Detroit TigersToronto Blue Jays
444

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Steve|Burke|dab=baseball}}

|P

Boston Red SoxSeattle Mariners
445

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Larry|Anderson|dab=baseball}}

|P

Milwaukee BrewersToronto Blue JaysShortly after the draft, sent by Toronto to the Chicago White Sox to complete an earlier deal made to obtain Phil Roof.
446

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Joe|Lis}}

|1B

Cleveland IndiansSeattle Mariners
447

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Jesse|Jefferson}}

|P

Chicago White SoxToronto Blue Jays
448

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Alan|Griffin|nolink=1}}

|P

Oakland AthleticsSeattle MarinersDid not make Seattle's major league squad. Played in minors through 1978.
549

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Dave|McKay|dab=baseball}}

|IF

Minnesota TwinsToronto Blue Jays
550

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Bill|Laxton}}

|P

Detroit TigersSeattle Mariners
551

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Tom|Bruno}}

|P

Kansas City RoyalsToronto Blue Jays
552

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Julio|Cruz|dab=baseball}}

|2B

California AngelsSeattle Mariners
553

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Otto|Velez}}

|OF

New York YankeesToronto Blue Jays
554

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Steve|Barr}}

|P

Texas RangersSeattle MarinersDid not make Seattle's major league squad. Played in minors through 1978.
555

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Mike|Willis|dab=baseball}}

|P

Baltimore OriolesToronto Blue Jays
556

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Puchy|Delgado}}

|OF

Boston Red SoxSeattle Mariners
557

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Sam|Ewing}}

|OF

Chicago White SoxToronto Blue Jays
558

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Tommy|Smith|dab=baseball}}

|OF

Cleveland IndiansSeattle Mariners
559

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Leon|Hooten}}

|P

Oakland AthleticsToronto Blue JaysReleased by Toronto prior to the start of the 1977 season.
560

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{sortname|Greg|Erardi}}

|P

Milwaukee BrewersSeattle Mariners

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{Seattle Mariners}}

{{Toronto Blue Jays}}

{{MLB Expansion}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1976 Major League Baseball Expansion Draft}}

Expansion draft

Category:Major League Baseball expansion drafts

Category:Toronto Blue Jays

Major League Baseball expansion draft

Major League Baseball expansion draft