Back to the New York Mets Newsfeed

First NY Mets pick in the 1961 expansion draft led to a trade that defined year one

The Mets turned their first expansion draft pick into one of the franchise's most memorable players.

New York Mets 1962 Program And Schedule | Blank Archives/GettyImages

On October 10, 1961, the Houston Colt .45s and New York Mets went back-and-forth to build their rosters in MLB's expansion draft. With their first pick, the second overall selection, the Mets took catcher Hobie Landrith. A fascinating selection because he was a career-long backup catcher already in his 30s, he’d appear in only 23 games for the Mets.