Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award

Geovany Soto was awarded the National League Rookie of the Year award in 2008.

In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is given annually to one player from each league as voted upon by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA). The award was established in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA who alone selected a rookie of the year. Starting in 1947, all members of the national BBWAA organization voted. Jackie Robinson was awarded the first official Rookie of the Year award. When casting their ballots each BBWAA voter used their own discretion as to who qualified as a rookie until 1957 when they defined the term as someone with less than 75 at-bats or 45 innings pitched in any previous season. 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. It was amended to the current standards in 1971 to 130 at-bats, 50 innings pitched or 45 days on the active roster of a major league club (excluding time on the disabled list) before September 1. 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 one point. The award goes to the player with the most overall points. Prior to that time, each voter cast one ballot for each league.

Originally the award was known as the J. Louis Comiskey Memorial Award, after the Chicago White Sox owner of the 1930s. In 1987, in honor of the 40th year since Jackie Robinson broke the baseball color line, it became known as the Jackie Robinson Award. Only two players, both in the American League, have been named Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same year, Fred Lynn in 1975 and Ichiro Suzuki in 2001. The only Rookie of the Year to win the Cy Young Award in the same year was Fernando Valenzuela in 1981. Initially, the award was simply called the "Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award." From 1947 to 1948, only one award was given to a single player. Since 1949, the honor has been given to one player in both the National League and American League.

The award has come under scrutiny in recent years, as several Japanese players (namely Hideo Nomo in 1995, Kazuhiro Sasaki in 2000, and Suzuki in 2001) with prior experience in Japan have won the award during their first year playing in the United States. While rookies to Major League Baseball, these players were already tested professionals before coming to the United States, leading some baseball writers to question whether they should be considered true rookies. However, the policy remains in place that experience outside the U.S. major leagues does not affect one's status as a rookie. The issue was raised again in 2003, as Hideki Matsui narrowly lost the balloting to Angel Berroa. Robinson, the first recipient of the award, had already played in the Negro Leagues before playing in the major leagues, as did 1950 NL Rookie of the Year Sam Jethroe, who is currently the oldest player, at 32 years of age, to win the award.

Key

Jackie Robinson, inaugural winner, 1947

1B	First base
2B	Second base
3B	Third base
SS	Shortstop
P	Pitcher
C	Catcher
OF	Outfield

Award winners

Evan Longoria, 2008 winner

Dustin Pedroia, 2007 winner

Justin Verlander, 2006 winner

Ryan Howard, 2005 winner

Major Leagues combined (1947–48)

Year	Player	Team	Position
1947	Jackie Robinson	DodgersBrooklyn Dodgers	1B
1948	Alvin Dark	BravesBoston Braves	SS

National and American League winners (1949–present)

Year	Player	League	Team	Position
1949	Don Newcombe	National	DodgersBrooklyn Dodgers	P
1949	Roy Sievers	American	OriolesSt. Louis Browns	OF
1950	Sam Jethroe	National	BravesBoston Braves	OF
1950	Walt Dropo	American	Red SoxBoston Red Sox	1B
1951	Willie Mays	National	GiantsNew York Giants	OF
1951	Gil McDougald	American	YankeesNew York Yankees	3B
1952	Joe Black	National	DodgersBrooklyn Dodgers	P
1952	Harry Byrd	American	AthleticsPhiladelphia Athletics	P
1953	Jim Gilliam	National	DodgersBrooklyn Dodgers	2B
1953	Harvey Kuenn	American	TigersDetroit Tigers	SS
1954	Wally Moon	National	CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals	OF
1954	Bob Grim	American	YankeesNew York Yankees	P
1955	Bill Virdon	National	CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals	OF
1955	Herb Score	American	IndiansCleveland Indians	P
1956	Frank Robinson	National	RedsCincinnati Reds	OF
1956	Luis Aparicio	American	White SoxChicago White Sox	SS
1957	Jack Sanford	National	PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies	P
1957	Tony Kubek	American	YankeesNew York Yankees	SS
1958	Orlando Cepeda	National	GiantsSan Francisco Giants	1B
1958	Albie Pearson	American	TwinsWashington Senators	OF
1959	Willie McCovey	National	GiantsSan Francisco Giants	1B
1959	Bob Allison	American	TwinsWashington Senators	OF
1960	Frank Howard	National	DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers	OF
1960	Ron Hansen	American	OriolesBaltimore Orioles	SS
1961	Billy Williams	National	CubsChicago Cubs	OF
1961	Don Schwall	American	Red SoxBoston Red Sox	P
1962	Ken Hubbs	National	CubsChicago Cubs	2B
1962	Tom Tresh	American	YankeesNew York Yankees	SS
1963	Pete Rose	National	RedsCincinnati Reds	2B
1963	Gary Peters	American	White SoxChicago White Sox	P
1964	Dick Allen	National	PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies	3B
1964	Tony Oliva	American	TwinsMinnesota Twins	OF
1965	Jim Lefebvre	National	DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers	2B
1965	Curt Blefary	American	OriolesBaltimore Orioles	OF
1966	Tommy Helms	National	RedsCincinnati Reds	2B
1966	Tommie Agee	American	White SoxChicago White Sox	OF
1967	Tom Seaver	National	MetsNew York Mets	P
1967	Rod Carew	American	TwinsMinnesota Twins	2B
1968	Johnny Bench	National	RedsCincinnati Reds	C
1968	Stan Bahnsen	American	YankeesNew York Yankees	P
1969	Ted Sizemore	National	DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers	2B
1969	Lou Piniella	American	RoyalsKansas City Royals	OF
1970	Carl Morton	National	NationalsMontreal Expos	P
1970	Thurman Munson	American	YankeesNew York Yankees	C
1971	Earl Williams	National	BravesAtlanta Braves	C
1971	Chris Chambliss	American	IndiansCleveland Indians	1B
1972	Jon Matlack	National	MetsNew York Mets	P
1972	Carlton Fisk	American	Red SoxBoston Red Sox	C
1973	Gary Matthews	National	GiantsSan Francisco Giants	OF
1973	Al Bumbry	American	OriolesBaltimore Orioles	OF
1974	Bake McBride	National	CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals	OF
1974	Mike Hargrove	American	RangersTexas Rangers	1B
1975	John Montefusco	National	GiantsSan Francisco Giants	P
1975	Fred Lynn	American	Red SoxBoston Red Sox	OF
1976	Butch Metzger	National	San Diego Padres	P
1976	Pat Zachry	National	Cincinnati Reds	P
1976	Mark Fidrych	American	TigersDetroit Tigers	P
1977	Andre Dawson	National	NationalsMontreal Expos	OF
1977	Eddie Murray	American	OriolesBaltimore Orioles	DH
1978	Bob Horner	National	BravesAtlanta Braves	3B
1978	Lou Whitaker	American	TigersDetroit Tigers	2B
1979	Rick Sutcliffe	National	DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers	P
1979	John Castino	American	Minnesota Twins	3B
1979	Alfredo Griffin	American	Toronto Blue Jays	SS
1980	Steve Howe	National	DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers	P
1980	Joe Charboneau	American	IndiansCleveland Indians	OF
1981	Fernando Valenzuela	National	DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers	P
1981	Dave Righetti	American	YankeesNew York Yankees	P
1982	Steve Sax	National	DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers	2B
1982	Cal Ripken Jr	American	OriolesBaltimore Orioles	SS
1983	Darryl Strawberry	National	MetsNew York Mets	OF
1983	Ron Kittle	American	White SoxChicago White Sox	OF
1984	Dwight Gooden	National	MetsNew York Mets	P
1984	Alvin Davis	American	MarinersSeattle Mariners	1B
1985	Vince Coleman	National	CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals	OF
1985	Ozzie Guillén	American	Chicago White Sox	SS
1986	Todd Worrell	National	CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals	P
1986	José Canseco	American	AthleticsOakland Athletics	OF
1987	Benito Santiago	National	PadresSan Diego Padres	C
1987	Mark McGwire	American	AthleticsOakland Athletics	1B
1988	Chris Sabo	National	RedsCincinnati Reds	3B
1988	Walt Weiss	American	AthleticsOakland Athletics	SS
1989	Jerome Walton	National	CubsChicago Cubs	OF
1989	Gregg Olson	American	OriolesBaltimore Orioles	P
1990	David Justice	National	BravesAtlanta Braves	OF
1990	Sandy Alomar Jr	American	IndiansCleveland Indians	C
1991	Jeff Bagwell	National	AstrosHouston Astros	1B
1991	Chuck Knoblauch	American	TwinsMinnesota Twins	2B
1992	Eric Karros	National	DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers	1B
1992	Pat Listach	American	BrewersMilwaukee Brewers	SS
1993	Mike Piazza	National	DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers	C
1993	Tim Salmon	American	AngelsCalifornia Angels	OF
1994	Raúl Mondesí	National	DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers	OF
1994	Bob Hamelin	American	RoyalsKansas City Royals	DH
1995	Hideo Nomo	National	DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers	P
1995	Marty Cordova	American	TwinsMinnesota Twins	OF
1996	Todd Hollandsworth	National	DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers	OF
1996	Derek Jeter	American	YankeesNew York Yankees	SS
1997	Scott Rolen	National	PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies	3B
1997	Nomar Garciaparra	American	Red SoxBoston Red Sox	SS
1998	Kerry Wood	National	CubsChicago Cubs	P
1998	Ben Grieve	American	AthleticsOakland Athletics	OF
1999	Scott Williamson	National	RedsCincinnati Reds	P
1999	Carlos Beltrán	American	RoyalsKansas City Royals	OF
2000	Rafael Furcal	National	BravesAtlanta Braves	SS
2000	Kazuhiro Sasaki	American	MarinersSeattle Mariners	P
2001	Albert Pujols	National	CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals	1B
2001	Ichiro Suzuki	American	MarinersSeattle Mariners	OF
2002	Jason Jennings	National	RockiesColorado Rockies	P
2002	Eric Hinske	American	Blue JaysToronto Blue Jays	3B
2003	Dontrelle Willis	National	MarlinsFlorida Marlins	P
2003	Angel Berroa	American	RoyalsKansas City Royals	SS
2004	Jason Bay	National	PiratesPittsburgh Pirates	OF
2004	Bobby Crosby	American	AthleticsOakland Athletics	SS
2005	Ryan Howard	National	PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies	1B
2005	Huston Street	American	AthleticsOakland Athletics	P
2006	Hanley Ramirez	National	MarlinsFlorida Marlins	SS
2006	Justin Verlander	American	TigersDetroit Tigers	P
2007	Ryan Braun	National	BrewersMilwaukee Brewers	3B
2007	Dustin Pedroia	American	Red SoxBoston Red Sox	2B
2008	Geovany Soto	National	CubsChicago Cubs	C
2008	Evan Longoria	American	RaysTampa Bay Rays	3B
2009	Gordon Beckham	American	White SoxChicago White Sox	3B

References

General

• "Rookie of the Year winners". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-07-14. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

Inline citations