Joy in Mudville: A "Friendly" Baseball League Beginning in 1970

[Joy in Mudville]

With the June 15 amateur draft approaching at the speed of a Nolan Ryan fastball, San Diego Padres co-GM Dan S. indicated that left-hander Jon Matlack will likely be the No. 1 overall pick.

"We will be keeping the first pick in the draft and taking Jon Matlack on the condition that we can get him signed," the Padres' front office man said. "That is unless some team is willing to offer up two starting pitchers, one (being) a top of the rotation guy."

San Diego holds the No. 1 overall selection in the inaugural amateur draft by virtue of the worst record in the Joy in Mudville League.

Matlack and right-hander J.R. Richard, both 20, are considered to be the top pitchers in the draft.

[Joy in Mudville]

The first trade in Joy in Mudville history is in the books.

The Milwaukee Brewers have agreed to send minor league pitcher Wayne Twitchell to the Washington Senators for right fielder Larry Biittner.

Twitchell, a 22-year-old right-hander, was 0-2 with a 1.69 for the Brewers' Triple-A affiliate. He struck out 21 hitters in 21.1 innings.

Biittner, the pride of Pocahontas, Iowa, batted .283 with one home run and eight RBI in 26 at-bats for Washington.

"These are exciting times for the Washington Senators organization," said team GM Dan S. "Pitching is the name of the game and we believe that Wayne Twitchell will be a key part to our future success."

Washington holds the ninth overall pick in tonight's amateur draft. Milwaukee will select 11th.

[Joy in Mudville]

Just hours from the start of the inaugural Joy in Mudville amateur draft, the San Diego Padres and Cincinnati Reds have swapped pitchers.

The Reds sent minor league pitcher Pedro Borbon to the Padres for starter Pat Dobson.

"We're both trying to improve our pitching," said Dan S., San Diego co-GM. "Giving up a quality starter like Pat Dobson is tough, but we believe Pedro Borbon will be a big part of our future."

Dobson posted a 3-5 record with a 2.51 ERA for the last-place Padres. San Diego has the worst record in the league. The right-handed Dobson struck out 62 batters in 89.2 innings this season. He has made 14 starts.

"This may be the move that leads to a division title," said Tim L., Cincinnati GM.

The Reds (36-26) hold down third place in the National League West. Cincinnati trails first-place Houston by only two games however.

Borbon, 23, was 1-4 with a 3.68 ERA for the Oakwood Comets, the Triple-A farm club of the Reds.

[Joy in Mudville]

As expected the San Diego Padres made pitcher Jon Matlack the historic first selection in the Joy in Mudville inaugural amateur draft.

"We're very excited to have Jon pull on the beautiful San Diego Padres uniform," said co-GM Dan S.

The Padres were reportedly contacted by numerous teams in an attempt to pry the top pick away.

"We listened to every offer, but in the end this was best for our organization," said the Padre GM.

"It's a true honor to be chosen as the top pick in this first draft," said Matlack. "Hopefully, my career will measure up to the lofty expectations."

Cleveland followed by choosing flame-throwing pitcher James Rodney "J.R." Richard, a native of Vienna, Virginia.

The string of 20-year-olds continued as St. Louis took infielder Cecil Cooper.

Minnesota then drafted 18-year-old left-handed pitcher Terry Forster. Montreal rounded out the top five by picking 20-year-old pitcher Burt Hooton from the University of Texas.

Pitching was the hot item as 16 first-round picks were hurlers. In fact, 10 of the first 11 picks were pitchers. Only four of the first 16 selections were position players.

"That's the name of the game," said Chicago Cub GM Bob B who took Ross Grimsley at No. 10.

A complete listing of all four rounds appears below.

Round 1

Round 1, Pick 1 - San Diego Padres: SP J. Matlack

Round 1, Pick 2 - Cleveland Indians: SP J. Richard

Round 1, Pick 3 - St. Louis Cardinals: 1B C. Cooper

Round 1, Pick 4 - Minnesota Twins: MR T. Forster

Round 1, Pick 5 - Montreal Expos: SP B. Hooton

Round 1, Pick 6 - California Angels: SP B. Kison

Round 1, Pick 7 - Kansas City Royals: SP J. Willoughby

Round 1, Pick 8 - San Francisco Giants: MR J. Barr

Round 1, Pick 9 - Washington Senators: SP D. Alexander

Round 1, Pick 10 - Chicago Cubs: SP R. Grimsley

Round 1, Pick 11 - Milwaukee Brewers: MR M. Caldwell

Round 1, Pick 12 - Detroit Tigers: 1B D. Kingman

Round 1, Pick 13 - New York Yankees: SP A. Hassler

Round 1, Pick 14 - Philadelphia Phillies: SP S. Stone

Round 1, Pick 15 - Atlanta Braves: SP B. Greif

Round 1, Pick 16 - Boston Red Sox: 3B R. Cey

Round 1, Pick 17 - New York Mets: SP M. Montgomery

Round 1, Pick 18 - Cincinnati Reds: 1B C. Chambliss

Round 1, Pick 19 - Chicago White Sox: MR R. Corbin

Round 1, Pick 20 - Los Angeles Dodgers: SP E. McAnally

Round 1, Pick 21 - Houston Astros: C D. Porter

Round 1, Pick 22 - Pittsburgh Pirates: RF B. Oglivie

Round 1, Pick 23 - Baltimore Orioles: SS C. Speier

Round 1, Pick 24 - Oakland Athletics: 2B R. Stennett Round 2 Round 2, Pick 1 - San Diego Padres: CF G. Hendrick Round 2, Pick 2 - Cleveland Indians: SP P. Broberg Round 2, Pick 3 - St. Louis Cardinals: SP M. Thompson Round 2, Pick 4 - Minnesota Twins: RF R. Zisk Round 2, Pick 5 - Montreal Expos: SP B. Parsons Round 2, Pick 6 - California Angels: SP J. Slaton Round 2, Pick 7 - Kansas City Royals: CF B. North Round 2, Pick 8 - San Francisco Giants: SP S. Luebber Round 2, Pick 9 - Washington Senators: C D. Rader Round 2, Pick 10 - Chicago Cubs: 2B D. Thomas Round 2, Pick 11 - Milwaukee Brewers: SS J. Beniquez Round 2, Pick 12 - Detroit Tigers: 3B E. Soderholm Round 2, Pick 13 - New York Yankees: MR C. Seelbach Round 2, Pick 14 - Philadelphia Phillies: C M. Ivie Round 2, Pick 15 - Atlanta Braves: LF J. Milner Round 2, Pick 16 - Boston Red Sox: MR B. Bonham Round 2, Pick 17 - New York Mets: 3B S. Braun Round 2, Pick 18 - Cincinnati Reds: 2B L. Randle Round 2, Pick 19 - Chicago White Sox: SP B. Gilbreth Round 2, Pick 20 - Los Angeles Dodgers: 1B H. Breeden Round 2, Pick 21 - Houston Astros: MR T. House Round 2, Pick 22 - Pittsburgh Pirates: MR R. Hinton Round 2, Pick 23 - Baltimore Orioles: CF R. Miller Round 2, Pick 24 - Oakland Athletics: SS R. Meoli Round 3 Round 3, Pick 1 - San Diego Padres: MR E. Farmer Round 3, Pick 2 - Cleveland Indians: SS F. Taveras Round 3, Pick 3 - St. Louis Cardinals: MR M. Ballinger Round 3, Pick 4 - Minnesota Twins: MR S. Perzanowski Round 3, Pick 5 - Montreal Expos: MR S. Blateric Round 3, Pick 6 - California Angels: RF M. Anderson Round 3, Pick 7 - Kansas City Royals: SS E. Hernandez Round 3, Pick 8 - San Francisco Giants: MR R. Newman Round 3, Pick 9 - Washington Senators: SP D. Rose Round 3, Pick 10 - Chicago Cubs: MR R. Arroyo Round 3, Pick 11 - Milwaukee Brewers: SS B. Christensen Round 3, Pick 12 - Detroit Tigers: C B. Fahey Round 3, Pick 13 - New York Yankees: MR B. O'Brien Round 3, Pick 14 - Philadelphia Phillies: 1B P. Bourque Round 3, Pick 15 - Atlanta Braves: MR E. Stephenson Round 3, Pick 16 - Boston Red Sox: 2B R. Theobald Round 3, Pick 17 - New York Mets: MR R. Hambright Round 3, Pick 18 - Cincinnati Reds: RF R. Torres Round 3, Pick 19 - Chicago White Sox: MR J. Bell Round 3, Pick 20 - Los Angeles Dodgers: 2B K. Bevacqua Round 3, Pick 21 - Houston Astros: MR B. Capra Round 3, Pick 22 - Pittsburgh Pirates: MR B. Gebhard Round 3, Pick 23 - Baltimore Orioles: MR L. Clemons Round 3, Pick 24 - Oakland Athletics: 3B C. Arnold Round 4 Round 4, Pick 1 - San Diego Padres: CF J. Rosario Round 4, Pick 2 - Cleveland Indians: MR J. Panther Round 4, Pick 3 - St. Louis Cardinals: LF R. Chiles Round 4, Pick 4 - Minnesota Twins: LF S. Swanson Round 4, Pick 5 - Montreal Expos: SS R. Auerbach Round 4, Pick 6 - California Angels: MR C. Williams Round 4, Pick 7 - Kansas City Royals: MR C. Machemehl Round 4, Pick 8 - San Francisco Giants: MR J. Strickland Round 4, Pick 9 - Washington Senators: MR M. Muniz Round 4, Pick 10 - Chicago Cubs: 3B R. Ellis Round 4, Pick 11 - Milwaukee Brewers: CF J. Howarth Round 4, Pick 12 - Detroit Tigers: SS L. Richard Round 4, Pick 13 - New York Yankees: MR J. Foor Round 4, Pick 14 - Philadelphia Phillies: 2B B. Parker Round 4, Pick 15 - Atlanta Braves: SP J. Franklin Round 4, Pick 16 - Boston Red Sox: LF M. Lane Round 4, Pick 17 - New York Mets: MR T. Ley Round 4, Pick 18 - Cincinnati Reds: C T. Humphrey Round 4, Pick 19 - Chicago White Sox: SS J. Mason Round 4, Pick 20 -