I haven't decided yet if I will continue the KC story here. Tiger Fan gave me permission to continue the thread he started. I will cover at least a few things.
The Kansas City Times
The new Kansas City Baseball Club has announced their new team name as voted on by the fans. There were several quality submissions including the Monarchs, Bison, Renegades and Blues. But the winner of the name the team contest goes to Cynthia A McIntosh of Kansas City who was one of many who submitted the name of the Kansas City Bulls. So the Bulls will now be running wild in the streets of KC at Independence Park.
The Kansas City Times
Bulls Pick 1st in Expansion Draft
The Bulls had the 1st overall pick in the expansion draft as they and their expansion cousins in Washington DC attempt to fill out their rosters. With the 1st pick in the draft, the Bulls selected former St. Louis OF Orlando Gutierrez (25). Gutierrez was originally drafted in the first round of the 1951 draft (#16 overall) by the Explorers. After about half a season he took over the starting 1B job and hit 280 with 5 homeruns and 43 RBI's. He continued at 1B in 1953 hitting 286 with 21 home runs and 87 RBI's. This last season he moved to the outfield and primarily played LF. He came into his own as well being named to the All-Star team and hitting 336/391/923 with 21 home runs and a career high 98 RBI's. He will immediately slot into LF and bat 4th in the expansion team's lineup.
The Washington team then selected 2 players and then it was KC's turn once again. KC had been eyeing both players taken by Washington as they took OF Jimmy Crawford and C Bill LaFleur both from Brooklyn.
KC then took someone who many were surprised that was available in SP Harry Vickers (Boston) and little known SS John Mincks (19). Many scoffed at the Mincks pick and he is a bit of a project, but KC management likes him for the long term. KC then selected 2 more St Louis Explorers in SP Doug Hansen and RP Ray McGuire.
Below are the players that were taken by KC in the expansion draft by position.
Pitchers -
Harry Vickers (29) Boston
Doug Hansen (24) St. Louis
Ray McGuire (27) St. Louis
Rick Welle (20) Toronto
Paul McCullough (22) Seattle
Jimmie Johnson (27) Montreal
Stan Collier (21) Baltimore
Ed McDermott (23) Cleveland
Manny Garter (22) Cleveland
Milo Crowell (29) Chicago Traders
Catchers
Joe Benjamin (27) Chicago Hawks
Eddie Tobin (20) Pittsburgh
Infielders
IF Ray Jones (30) Cleveland
SS John Mincks (21) LA
3B Phil Castro (26) Brooklyn
SS Stan Thompson (28) LA
1B Roy Dunphy (21) San Francisco
2B Larry Salt (22) Chicago Traders
3B Phil Martin (19) San Francisco
2B Al Campbell (30) Pittsburgh
Outfielders
OF Orlando Gutierrez (25) St. Louis
OF Bob Femire (21) San Francisco
OF/3B Robin Fry (28) Montreal
CF Alex Saucedo (26) Detroit
*CF Will Troy (28) Toronto
The Kansas City Times
Expansion Team announces first trade
The Bulls announced after the expansion draft that OF Will Troy who was drafted in the 9th round of the expansion draft from Toronto will be sent to
the Dallas Wranglers for a 3rd round draft pick. The deal appears to have been agreed too by both parties prior to the draft. Dallas 3rd round pick will be the #4 pick in the 3rd round (#48 overall).