From 1947 through 1956, each BBWAA voter used discretion as to who qualified as a rookie. In 1957, the term was first defined as someone with less than 75 at bats or 45 innings pitched in any previous Major League season.[1] This guideline was later amended to 90 at bats, 45 innings pitched, or 45 days on a Major League roster before September 1 of the previous year.[1] The current standard of 130 at bats, 50 innings pitched or 45 days on the active roster of a Major League club (excluding time in military service or on the disabled list) before September 1 was adopted in 1971.[1][7] Since 1980, each voter names three rookies: a first-place choice is given five points, a second-place choice three points, and a third-place choice one point. The award goes to the player who receives the most overall points.[1][8] Edinson Volquez received three second-place votes in 2008 balloting despite no longer being a rookie under the award's definition.[9][10]
The award has drawn criticism in recent years because several players with experience in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) have won the award, such as Hideo Nomo in 1995, Kazuhiro Sasaki in 2000, and Ichiro Suzuki in 2001. The current definition of rookie status for the award is based only on Major League experience, but some feel that past NPB players are not true rookies because of their past professional experience.[11][12] This issue arose in 2003 when Hideki Matsui narrowly lost the AL award to Ángel Berroa. Jim Souhan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune said he did not see Matsui as a rookie in 2003 because "it would be an insult to the Japanese league to pretend that experience didn't count."[11] The Japan Times ran a story in 2007 on the labeling of Daisuke Matsuzaka, Kei Igawa, and Hideki Okajima as rookies, saying "[t]hese guys aren't rookies."[12] Past winners such as Jackie Robinson, Don Newcombe, and Sam Jethroe had professional experience in the Negro Leagues.
Year |
Player |
Team |
Position |
Selected statistics |
Ref |
1949 |
Sievers, RoyRoy Sievers |
St. Louis Browns |
OF |
|
[15] |
1950 |
Dropo, WaltWalt Dropo |
Boston Red Sox |
1B |
|
[16] |
1951 |
McDougald, GilGil McDougald |
New York Yankees |
3B |
|
[17] |
1952 |
Byrd, HarryHarry Byrd |
Philadelphia Athletics |
P |
- 3.31 earned run average
- 15 complete games
- 15–15 record in 37 appearances (28 games started)
|
[18] |
1953 |
Kuenn, HarveyHarvey Kuenn |
Detroit Tigers |
SS |
|
[19] |
1954 |
Grim, BobBob Grim |
New York Yankees |
P |
- 3.26 earned run average
- 199 innings pitched
- 20–6 record in 37 appearances (20 games started)
|
[20] |
1955 |
Score, HerbHerb Score |
Cleveland Indians |
P |
|
[21] |
1956 |
Aparicio, LuisLuis Aparicio† |
Chicago White Sox |
SS |
|
[22] |
1957 |
Kubek, TonyTony Kubek |
New York Yankees |
SS |
|
[23] |
1958 |
Pearson, AlbieAlbie Pearson |
Washington Senators |
OF |
|
[24] |
1959 |
Allison, BobBob Allison |
Washington Senators |
OF |
|
[25] |
1960 |
Hansen, RonRon Hansen |
Baltimore Orioles |
SS |
|
[26] |
1961 |
Schwall, DonDon Schwall |
Boston Red Sox |
P |
|
[27] |
1962 |
Tresh, TomTom Tresh |
New York Yankees |
SS |
|
[28] |
1963 |
Peters, GaryGary Peters |
Chicago White Sox |
P |
- 2.33 earned run average
- 243 innings pitched
- 19–8 record in 41 appearances (30 games started)
|
[29] |
1964 |
Oliva, TonyTony Oliva |
Minnesota Twins |
OF |
|
[30] |
1965 |
Blefary, CurtCurt Blefary |
Baltimore Orioles |
OF |
|
[31] |
1966 |
Agee, TommieTommie Agee |
Chicago White Sox |
OF |
|
[32] |
1967 |
Carew, RodRod Carew† |
Minnesota Twins |
2B |
|
[33] |
1968 |
Bahnsen, StanStan Bahnsen |
New York Yankees |
P |
|
[34] |
1969 |
Piniella, LouLou Piniella |
Kansas City Royals |
OF |
|
[35] |
1970 |
Munson, ThurmanThurman Munson |
New York Yankees |
C |
|
[36] |
1971 |
Chambliss, ChrisChris Chambliss |
Cleveland Indians |
1B |
|
[37] |
1972 |
Fisk, CarltonCarlton Fisk† |
Boston Red Sox |
C |
|
[38] |
1973 |
Bumbry, AlAl Bumbry |
Baltimore Orioles |
OF |
|
[39] |
1974 |
Hargrove, MikeMike Hargrove |
Texas Rangers |
1B |
|
[40] |
1975 |
Lynn, FredFred Lynn |
Boston Red Sox |
OF |
|
[41] |
1976 |
Fidrych, MarkMark Fidrych |
Detroit Tigers |
P |
|
[42] |
1977 |
Murray, EddieEddie Murray† |
Baltimore Orioles |
DH |
|
[43] |
1978 |
Whitaker, LouLou Whitaker |
Detroit Tigers |
2B |
|
[44] |
1979* |
Castino, JohnJohn Castino |
Minnesota Twins |
3B |
|
[45] |
1979* |
Griffin, AlfredoAlfredo Griffin |
Toronto Blue Jays |
SS |
|
[46] |
1980 |
Charboneau, JoeJoe Charboneau |
Cleveland Indians |
OF |
|
[47] |
1981 |
Righetti, DaveDave Righetti |
New York Yankees |
P |
|
[48] |
1982 |
Ripken, CalCal Ripken, Jr.† |
Baltimore Orioles |
SS |
|
[49] |
1983 |
Kittle, RonRon Kittle |
Chicago White Sox |
OF |
|
[50] |
1984 |
Davis, AlvinAlvin Davis |
Seattle Mariners |
1B |
|
[51] |
1985 |
Guillén, OzzieOzzie Guillén |
Chicago White Sox |
SS |
|
[52] |
1986 |
Canseco, JoséJosé Canseco |
Oakland Athletics |
OF |
|
[53] |
1987 |
McGwire, MarkMark McGwire |
Oakland Athletics |
1B |
|
[54] |
1988 |
Weiss, WaltWalt Weiss |
Oakland Athletics |
SS |
|
[55] |
1989 |
Olson, GreggGregg Olson |
Baltimore Orioles |
P |
|
[56] |
1990 |
Alomar Jr, SandySandy Alomar Jr |
Cleveland Indians |
C |
|
[57] |
1991 |
Knoblauch, ChuckChuck Knoblauch |
Minnesota Twins |
2B |
|
[58] |
1992 |
Listach, PatPat Listach |
Milwaukee Brewers |
SS |
|
[59] |
1993 |
Salmon, TimTim Salmon |
California Angels |
OF |
|
[60] |
1994 |
Hamelin, BobBob Hamelin |
Kansas City Royals |
DH |
|
[61] |
1995 |
Cordova, MartyMarty Cordova |
Minnesota Twins |
OF |
|
[62] |
1996 |
Jeter, DerekDerek Jeter^ |
New York Yankees |
SS |
|
[63] |
1997 |
Garciaparra, NomarNomar Garciaparra |
Boston Red Sox |
SS |
|
[64] |
1998 |
Grieve, BenBen Grieve |
Oakland Athletics |
OF |
|
[65] |
1999 |
Beltrán, CarlosCarlos Beltrán^ |
Kansas City Royals |
OF |
|
[66] |
2000 |
Sasaki, KazuhiroKazuhiro Sasaki |
Seattle Mariners |
P |
|
[67] |
2001 |
Suzuki, IchiroIchiro Suzuki^ |
Seattle Mariners |
OF |
|
[68] |
2002 |
Hinske, EricEric Hinske^ |
Toronto Blue Jays |
3B |
|
[69] |
2003 |
Berroa, AngelAngel Berroa^ |
Kansas City Royals |
SS |
|
[70] |
2004 |
Crosby, BobbyBobby Crosby^ |
Oakland Athletics |
SS |
|
[71] |
2005 |
Street, HustonHuston Street^ |
Oakland Athletics |
P |
|
[72] |
2006 |
Verlander, JustinJustin Verlander^ |
Detroit Tigers |
P |
|
[73] |
2007 |
Pedroia, DustinDustin Pedroia^ |
Boston Red Sox |
2B |
|
[74] |
2008 |
Longoria, EvanEvan Longoria^ |
Tampa Bay Rays |
3B |
|
[75] |
2009 |
Andrew Bailey^ |
Oakland Athletics |
P |
|
[76] |
Year |
Player |
Team |
Position |
Selected statistics |
Ref |
1949 |
Newcombe, DonDon Newcombe |
Brooklyn Dodgers |
P |
|
[77] |
1950 |
Jethroe, SamSam Jethroe |
Boston Braves |
OF |
|
[78] |
1951 |
Mays, WillieWillie Mays† |
New York Giants |
OF |
|
[79] |
1952 |
Black, JoeJoe Black |
Brooklyn Dodgers |
P |
|
[80] |
1953 |
Gilliam, JimJim Gilliam |
Brooklyn Dodgers |
2B |
|
[81] |
1954 |
Moon, WallyWally Moon |
St. Louis Cardinals |
OF |
|
[82] |
1955 |
Virdon, BillBill Virdon |
St. Louis Cardinals |
OF |
|
[83] |
1956 |
Robinson, FrankFrank Robinson† |
Cincinnati Reds |
OF |
|
[84] |
1957 |
Sanford, JackJack Sanford |
Philadelphia Phillies |
P |
|
[85] |
1958 |
Cepeda, OrlandoOrlando Cepeda† |
San Francisco Giants |
1B |
|
[86] |
1959 |
McCovey, WillieWillie McCovey† |
San Francisco Giants |
1B |
|
[87] |
1960 |
Howard, FrankFrank Howard |
Los Angeles Dodgers |
OF |
|
[88] |
1961 |
Williams, BillyBilly Williams† |
Chicago Cubs |
OF |
|
[89] |
1962 |
Hubbs, KenKen Hubbs |
Chicago Cubs |
2B |
|
[90] |
1963 |
Rose, PetePete Rose |
Cincinnati Reds |
2B |
|
[91] |
1964 |
Allen, DickDick Allen |
Philadelphia Phillies |
3B |
|
[92] |
1965 |
Lefebvre, JimJim Lefebvre |
Los Angeles Dodgers |
2B |
|
[93] |
1966 |
Helms, TommyTommy Helms |
Cincinnati Reds |
2B |
|
[94] |
1967 |
Seaver, TomTom Seaver† |
New York Mets |
P |
|
[95] |
1968 |
Bench, JohnnyJohnny Bench† |
Cincinnati Reds |
C |
|
[96] |
1969 |
Sizemore, TedTed Sizemore |
Los Angeles Dodgers |
2B |
|
[97] |
1970 |
Morton, CarlCarl Morton |
Montreal Expos |
P |
- 3.60 earned run average
- 2842⁄3 innings pitched
- 18–11 record in 43 appearances (37 games started)
|
[98] |
1971 |
Williams, EarlEarl Williams |
Atlanta Braves |
C |
|
[99] |
1972 |
Matlack, JonJon Matlack |
New York Mets |
P |
|
[100] |
1973 |
Matthews, GaryGary Matthews |
San Francisco Giants |
OF |
|
[101] |
1974 |
McBride, BakeBake McBride |
St. Louis Cardinals |
OF |
|
[102] |
1975 |
Montefusco, JohnJohn Montefusco |
San Francisco Giants |
P |
|
[103] |
1976* |
Metzger, ButchButch Metzger |
San Diego Padres |
P |
|
[104] |
1976* |
Zachry, PatPat Zachry |
Cincinnati Reds |
P |
- 2.74 earned run average
- 204 innings pitched
- 14–7 record in 38 appearances (28 games started)
|
[105] |
1977 |
Dawson, AndreAndre Dawson† |
Montreal Expos |
OF |
|
[106] |
1978 |
Horner, BobBob Horner |
Atlanta Braves |
3B |
|
[107] |
1979 |
Sutcliffe, RickRick Sutcliffe |
Los Angeles Dodgers |
P |
- 3.46 earned run average
- 242 innings pitched
- 17–10 record in 39 appearances (30 games started)
|
[108] |
1980 |
Howe, SteveSteve Howe |
Los Angeles Dodgers |
P |
|
[109] |
1981 |
Valenzuela, FernandoFernando Valenzuela |
Los Angeles Dodgers |
P |
|
[110] |
1982 |
Sax, SteveSteve Sax |
Los Angeles Dodgers |
2B |
|
[111] |
1983 |
Strawberry, DarrylDarryl Strawberry |
New York Mets |
OF |
|
[112] |
1984 |
Gooden, DwightDwight Gooden |
New York Mets |
P |
|
[113] |
1985 |
Coleman, VinceVince Coleman |
St. Louis Cardinals |
OF |
|
[114] |
1986 |
Worrell, ToddTodd Worrell |
St. Louis Cardinals |
P |
|
[115] |
1987 |
Santiago, BenitoBenito Santiago |
San Diego Padres |
C |
|
[116] |
1988 |
Sabo, ChrisChris Sabo |
Cincinnati Reds |
3B |
|
[117] |
1989 |
Walton, JeromeJerome Walton |
Chicago Cubs |
OF |
|
[118] |
1990 |
Justice, DavidDavid Justice |
Atlanta Braves |
OF |
|
[119] |
1991 |
Bagwell, JeffJeff Bagwell |
Houston Astros |
1B |
|
[120] |
1992 |
Karros, EricEric Karros |
Los Angeles Dodgers |
1B |
|
[121] |
1993 |
Piazza, MikeMike Piazza |
Los Angeles Dodgers |
C |
|
[122] |
1994 |
Mondesí, RaúlRaúl Mondesí |
Los Angeles Dodgers |
OF |
|
[123] |
1995 |
Nomo, HideoHideo Nomo |
Los Angeles Dodgers |
P |
|
[124] |
1996 |
Hollandsworth, ToddTodd Hollandsworth |
Los Angeles Dodgers |
OF |
|
[125] |
1997 |
Rolen, ScottScott Rolen^ |
Philadelphia Phillies |
3B |
|
[126] |
1998 |
Wood, KerryKerry Wood^ |
Chicago Cubs |
P |
|
[127] |
1999 |
Williamson, ScottScott Williamson^ |
Cincinnati Reds |
P |
|
[128] |
2000 |
Furcal, RafaelRafael Furcal^ |
Atlanta Braves |
SS |
|
[129] |
2001 |
Pujols, AlbertAlbert Pujols^ |
St. Louis Cardinals |
3B |
|
[130] |
2002 |
Jennings, JasonJason Jennings^ |
Colorado Rockies |
P |
|
[131] |
2003 |
Willis, DontrelleDontrelle Willis^ |
Florida Marlins |
P |
|
[132] |
2004 |
Bay, JasonJason Bay^ |
Pittsburgh Pirates |
OF |
|
[133] |
2005 |
Howard, RyanRyan Howard^ |
Philadelphia Phillies |
1B |
|
[134] |
2006 |
Ramirez, HanleyHanley Ramirez^ |
Florida Marlins |
SS |
|
[135] |
2007 |
Braun, RyanRyan Braun^ |
Milwaukee Brewers |
3B |
|
[136] |
2008 |
Soto, GeovanyGeovany Soto^ |
Chicago Cubs |
C |
|
[137] |
2009 |
Coghlan, ChrisChris Coghlan^ |
Florida Marlins |
OF |
|
[138] |