In the 1968 expansion draft, the Royals and the Pilots took very different approaches. Seattle went for veteran players who they thought could contribute immediately, guys like Don Mincher, Tommy Harper, Ray Oyler, Tommy Davis and Diego Segui. The Royals went with younger, more unproven guys that they believed could develop, such as Dick Drago, Bob Oliver, Jim Rooker, Al Fitzmorris, Mike Hedlund and Tom Burgmeier. The Royals’ approach paid off.
General Manager Cedric Tallis had a genius for recognizing developing talent. Of the 30 players Tallis drafted, he squeezed 5,553 games, 1,704 innings pitched and over 96 WAR out of them.