When the lists of available players were unveiled to the Mets and the Colt .45s, they were none too pleased with the selection they had to choose from.
Mets general manager George Weiss, who had steered the Yankees through their glorious 1950s, did not complain publicly. But Houston’s general manager, an opinionated Texan named Paul Richards, did not hold back.
“The American League talent pool of last year was at least 50% better,” he told one wire service. “The way it is now, the Colts and Mets are going to lose to the Cubs and Phillies by such scores as 17-1, 18-2 and 19-3.” The Cubs and Phillies had been the NL’s worst two teams in 1961.
