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The Non-Trade

Bob Timmerman pointed over at Dodger Thoughts that "The only LA Dodger pitcher who has thrown more innings in a season than Broxton has this year without giving up a home run was Jack Billingham in 1968. He pitched 70 1/3 innings."

Jack Billinghams reward was to be left unprotected in the expansion draft in the winter of 68. He was picked by Montreal and subsequently traded to Houston which had huge ramifications on the 1969 World Series. This was one of the great non trades in baseball history. Don Clendenon was traded by Montreal with Jesus Alou to Houston Astros in exchange for Rusty Staub. Clendenon refused to report to the Astros so Montreal sent Billingham, Skip Guinn, and $100000 to complete trade. If Clendenon had agreed to the deal and Billingham had stayed with the Expo's then the 1969 postseaon might have been quite different.

On June 15th, 1969 Clendenon was finally traded to the Mets and became the starting 1st baseman with routine results. However in the postseason he was a monster and was the World Series MVP with an otherworldly  line of  357/438/1.071/1.509 which fueled the NY Mets to the World Championship.