Wrapping Up Dennis Saunders

Inspired by the most recent Topps 1971 blog, I looked up the career of pitcher Dennis Saunders, who had a short major league stop with the Tigers before finishing in the Mets and Twins organizations.

He started the 1971 season in AAA Toledo before heading to Tidewater and the Mets' organization and then to Memphis and AA. How did he get there? We consult the Traverse City Record-Eagle of May 12, 1971...

"Right-handed pitcher Dennis Saunders, previously on option to Detroit's Toledo farm Club, was sold to Tidewater of the International League Tuesday. The Mets' top farm team obtained Saunders after he cleared major league waivers unclaimed."

That would make the sale to the Mets on May 11, 1971.

Saunders would last just one year in the Mets group, and would head to spring training with the big club for 1972. According to the Bloomington (IL) Pantagraph of March 30, 1972, he didn't make the cut...

"The New York Mets reached the major league's 25-man limit Wednesday by returning 10 players to the minor leagues, including three members of the 1971 team....The Mets also sold pitcher Dennis Saunders to Tacoma, a Minnesota Twins' minor league team in the Pacific Coast League..."

That would make the sale to the Twins on March 29, 1972.

So we get to put the full dressing on the unknown transactions for Dennis Saunders!

Pic from the Topps 1971 blog!