1961 MLB Expansion Draft
| 1961 MLB expansion draft | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Teams | |
| Date(s) | October 10, 1961 |
| Picks | |
| First selections | |
| Overall selections | 45 (plus two selections in 1963) |
The 1961 MLB 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. The Mets and the Colt .45s (later renamed the Astros) were the new franchises which would enter the league in the 1962 season. The pool of players out of which they could select was limited to the existing National League ballclubs.
Due to the poor performance of the Mets and Colt .45s after two seasons, another draft was held for the teams. The other existing National League clubs made four players from their 40-man roster available at $30,000 apiece. Only eight players could be selected between the two clubs.
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