New York Mets In the first ever Major League Baseball
amateur draft in
1965, Campbell was selected by the
New York Mets in the 44 round. This made him the first person selected from Morehead State in MLB's amateur draft. Campbell began his professional career that season with the rookie-level
Marion Mets of the
Appalachian League. In eight games, Campbell batted .385 with 10 hits, one double, and one home run. Later that season, he was promoted to the Class-A
Greenville Mets of the
Western Carolinas League. With Greenville, he batted .220 with 37 hits, four doubles, three triples, and six home runs in 52 games. He also pitched one game for Greenville and gave up one
earned run in two
innings pitched. Combined on the 1965 season, Campbell batted .242 with 47 hits, five doubles, three triples, and seven home runs in 60 games. Campbell played most of the 1966 season with the Class-A Greenville Mets, however, he also spent time with the Double-A
Williamsport Mets. With Greenville, Campbell .279 with 114 hits, 24 doubles, 3 triples, and 22 home runs in 120 games. That season, he led the Greenville Mets in home runs; and was second in doubles, and
at-bats (408). At the Double-A level, Campbell batted .056 with one
run, one hit, one double, three
runs batted in (RBIs), and nine
bases on balls (walks) in nine games. On the season, he had a combined average of .270 between the two teams.
Chicago Cubs On November 28, 1966, during Major League Baseball's annual
rule 5 draft, Campbell was selected from the New York Mets' organization by the
Chicago Cubs. He missed most of
spring training with the Cubs due to obligations in the
United States Marine Corps, which he was a member of. In that game, Campbell had three at-bats and
struck out in all of them.
Later career After his only game in the majors, Campbell was returned to the New York Mets organization. He split the 1967 season between the Class-A
Durham Bulls, and the Class-A
Winter Haven Mets. With the Bulls, Campbell batted .198 with 26 hits, five doubles, three home runs, 11 RBIs, and three
stolen bases in 42 games. In 38 games with Winter Haven, Campbell batted .165 with 17 hits, three doubles, four home runs, 14 RBIs, and three stolen bases. On the season, he had a combined batting average of .184. In his final professional season, 1968, Campbell played for the Class-A
Raleigh-Durham Mets, and the Double-A
Memphis Blues. With Raleigh-Durham, he batted .259 with 36 hits, six doubles, and five home runs in 50 games. Campbell spent 23 games with the Blues and batted .172 with five runs, 11 hits, three doubles, 1 triple, and four RBIs. ==References==