Drago threw nine complete games in that inaugural season. He threw the first complete game in Kansas City history in his first start, a five hit, 3-2 win against the Angels on May 2 nd, 1969. It really didn’t feel like you were on a big-league team, other than you were traveling and playing big league teams.”ĭrago started the 1969 season in the Royals bullpen, but soon moved into the starting rotation and became a workhorse. It was a beautiful place, and it was a bunch of guys starting a whole new team. At the time I didn’t even know where Kansas City was. All I ever wanted to do was pitch for the Tigers. Said Drago, “I was playing winter ball in Puerto Rico when I found out I was going to Kansas City.

Also, on that Detroit staff were future Royals Jim Rooker and Jon Warden.ĭetroit left Drago exposed in the 1968 expansion draft and the Royals were delighted to get him. The ’68 Tigers were loaded with pitching including 31 game winner Denny McLain and star lefty Mickey Lolich. Based on my research, I believe this is the only time in baseball history where no-hitters were thrown in both games of a double header.īy 1968, Drago was pitching for his hometown team, the Toledo Mud Hens, where he won 15 games for the third consecutive season. In the nightcap of the doubleheader, his roommate, Darrell Clark, threw another no-hitter. In 1966, while pitching for the Tigers affiliate in Rocky Mount, N.C., Drago threw a seven-inning no-hitter against Greensboro. It was a dream come true for Drago, who rooted for the Tigers as a youth.

He caught the attention of scouts, and the Detroit Tigers signed him to a free-agent contract in 1964.

Louis Cardinals for the World Series championship.ĭrago grew up in Toledo, Ohio, where he was a Connie Mack All-Star. With the 31 st pick in the draft, Cedric Tallis selected one Richard “Dick” Drago off the roster of the Tigers.ĭrago had narrowly missed making the roster of the Detroit Tigers in the 1968 campaign, which saw the Tigers defeat the St. Both of those teams had assembled powerhouse squads in the late 1960’s that the baby Royals hoped to emulate. When the Royals participated in the expansion draft, they leaned heavily on pitchers taken from two successful organizations, the Baltimore Orioles and the Detroit Tigers.

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