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Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award facts for kids

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Rookie of the Year Award
A man swings a bat; he is wearing a dark cap with a "B" on it and a jersey with the word "Dodgers" on his chest.
Jackie Robinson, the first winner in 1947 and the person the award is now named after.
Sport Baseball
League Major League Baseball
Given for Best regular-season rookie in American League and National League
History
First award 1947
Most recent Corbin Carroll (NL)
Gunnar Henderson (AL)
Website Rookie of the Year

In Major League Baseball (MLB), the Rookie of the Year Award is a special prize given each year to two amazing new players. One player is chosen from the American League (AL) and one from the National League (NL). Baseball writers from the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) vote for the winners.

The award started in 1940, but it became a national award for all of MLB in 1947. That year, Jackie Robinson, a second baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers, was the very first winner. For two years (1947 and 1948), only one award was given for all of MLB. But since 1949, they've given one award for the NL and one for the AL.

The award was first called the J. Louis Comiskey Memorial Award. It was named after a former owner of the Chicago White Sox. In 1987, 40 years after Jackie Robinson broke the baseball color line (meaning he was the first Black player in modern MLB), the award was renamed the Jackie Robinson Award in his honor.

Many great players who won this award have gone on to become famous. Nineteen winners are now in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Sometimes, two players have even shared the award in the same year. This happened in 1976 in the NL and in 1979 in the AL. The Brooklyn Dodgers and Los Angeles Dodgers teams have had the most winners, with 18 players winning the award.

Only two players, Fred Lynn and Ichiro Suzuki, have won both Rookie of the Year and the Most Valuable Player award in the same year. Fernando Valenzuela is the only player to win Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award (for best pitcher) in the same year. The oldest player to win the award was Sam Jethroe, who was 32 years old. The most recent winners are Gunnar Henderson from the Baltimore Orioles and Corbin Carroll from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

How Rookies Are Chosen

HideoNomo
Hideo Nomo won in 1995. He had played professional baseball in Japan before joining MLB.

To be considered a "rookie" for this award, a player must meet certain rules. These rules have changed over the years. Today, a player is a rookie if they haven't had more than 130 at-bats, pitched more than 50 innings pitched, or spent more than 45 days on a Major League team's active roster before September 1 of the previous year. (Time spent in the military service or on the injury list doesn't count).

Since 1980, the baseball writers who vote pick three rookies. Their first choice gets five points, their second choice gets three points, and their third choice gets one point. The player with the most points wins the award.

Sometimes, people discuss if players who played professionally in other countries, like Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), should be considered "rookies" in MLB. Players like Hideo Nomo and Ichiro Suzuki had a lot of experience before playing in MLB and winning the award. Some people think they aren't "true rookies" because of their past professional experience. However, others argue that it's fair because even the first winner, Jackie Robinson, played in the Negro leagues before joining MLB.

Award Winners

Key to the Tables

Cal Ripken Jr. in 1993
Cal Ripken Jr. won in 1982. He is one of many Hall of Famers to win this award.
Year Links to the article about the corresponding Major League Baseball season
† This player is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
^ This player is still actively playing baseball.
* This means the award was shared by two players in that year.
§ This player was chosen by every voter (a unanimous selection).
+ This player led all of Major League Baseball in that specific statistic.

Winners for Both Leagues (1947–48)

Year Player Team Position Selected statistics Ref
1947 Robinson, JackieJackie Robinson† Brooklyn Dodgers 1B
1948 Dark, AlvinAlvin Dark Boston Braves SS

American League Winners (1949–present)

GunnarHendersonGCL
Gunnar Henderson, the 2023 AL winner.
Year Player Team Position Selected statistics Ref
1949 Sievers, RoyRoy Sievers St. Louis Browns OF
1950 Dropo, WaltWalt Dropo Boston Red Sox 1B
1951 McDougald, GilGil McDougald New York Yankees 3B
1952 Byrd, HarryHarry Byrd Philadelphia Athletics P
1953 Kuenn, HarveyHarvey Kuenn Detroit Tigers SS
1954 Grim, BobBob Grim New York Yankees P
1955 Score, HerbHerb Score Cleveland Indians P
1956 Aparicio, LuisLuis Aparicio† Chicago White Sox SS
1957 Kubek, TonyTony Kubek New York Yankees SS
1958 Pearson, AlbieAlbie Pearson Washington Senators OF
1959 Allison, BobBob Allison Washington Senators OF
1960 Hansen, RonRon Hansen Baltimore Orioles SS
1961 Schwall, DonDon Schwall Boston Red Sox P
1962 Tresh, TomTom Tresh New York Yankees SS
1963 Peters, GaryGary Peters Chicago White Sox P
1964 Oliva, TonyTony Oliva† Minnesota Twins OF
1965 Blefary, CurtCurt Blefary Baltimore Orioles OF
1966 Agee, TommieTommie Agee Chicago White Sox OF
1967 Carew, RodRod Carew† Minnesota Twins 2B
1968 Bahnsen, StanStan Bahnsen New York Yankees P
1969 Piniella, LouLou Piniella Kansas City Royals OF
1970 Munson, ThurmanThurman Munson New York Yankees C
  • .302 batting average
  • 53 runs batted in
  • 52% caught stealing percentage in the field
1971 Chambliss, ChrisChris Chambliss Cleveland Indians 1B
1972 Fisk, CarltonCarlton Fisk†§ Boston Red Sox C
1973 Bumbry, AlAl Bumbry Baltimore Orioles OF
1974 Hargrove, MikeMike Hargrove Texas Rangers 1B
1975 Lynn, FredFred Lynn Boston Red Sox OF
1976 Fidrych, MarkMark Fidrych Detroit Tigers P
1977 Murray, EddieEddie Murray† Baltimore Orioles DH
1978 Whitaker, LouLou Whitaker Detroit Tigers 2B
1979* Castino, JohnJohn Castino Minnesota Twins 3B
Griffin, AlfredoAlfredo Griffin Toronto Blue Jays SS
1980 Charboneau, JoeJoe Charboneau Cleveland Indians OF
1981 Righetti, DaveDave Righetti New York Yankees P
1982 Ripken, CalCal Ripken Jr.† Baltimore Orioles SS
1983 Kittle, RonRon Kittle Chicago White Sox OF
1984 Davis, AlvinAlvin Davis Seattle Mariners 1B
1985 Guillén, OzzieOzzie Guillén Chicago White Sox SS
1986 Canseco, JoseJose Canseco Oakland Athletics OF
1987 McGwire, MarkMark McGwire§ Oakland Athletics 1B
1988 Weiss, WaltWalt Weiss Oakland Athletics SS
1989 Olson, GreggGregg Olson Baltimore Orioles P
1990 Alomar Jr., SandySandy Alomar Jr.§ Cleveland Indians C
1991 Knoblauch, ChuckChuck Knoblauch Minnesota Twins 2B
1992 Listach, PatPat Listach Milwaukee Brewers SS
1993 Salmon, TimTim Salmon§ California Angels OF
1994 Hamelin, BobBob Hamelin Kansas City Royals DH
1995 Cordova, MartyMarty Cordova Minnesota Twins OF
1996 Jeter, DerekDerek Jeter†§ New York Yankees SS
1997 Garciaparra, NomarNomar Garciaparra§ Boston Red Sox SS
1998 Grieve, BenBen Grieve Oakland Athletics OF
1999 Beltrán, CarlosCarlos Beltrán Kansas City Royals OF
2000 Sasaki, KazuhiroKazuhiro Sasaki Seattle Mariners P
2001 Suzuki, IchiroIchiro Suzuki Seattle Mariners OF
2002 Hinske, EricEric Hinske Toronto Blue Jays 3B
2003 Berroa, ÁngelÁngel Berroa Kansas City Royals SS
2004 Crosby, BobbyBobby Crosby Oakland Athletics SS
2005 Street, HustonHuston Street Oakland Athletics P
2006 Verlander, JustinJustin Verlander^ Detroit Tigers P
2007 Pedroia, DustinDustin Pedroia Boston Red Sox 2B
2008 Longoria, EvanEvan Longoria^§ Tampa Bay Rays 3B
2009 Bailey, AndrewAndrew Bailey Oakland Athletics P
2010 Feliz, NeftalíNeftalí Feliz Texas Rangers P
2011 Hellickson, JeremyJeremy Hellickson Tampa Bay Rays P
2012 Trout, MikeMike Trout^§ Los Angeles Angels OF
2013 Myers, WilWil Myers^ Tampa Bay Rays OF
2014 Abreu, JoséJosé Abreu^§ Chicago White Sox 1B
2015 Correa, CarlosCarlos Correa^ Houston Astros SS
2016 Fulmer, MichaelMichael Fulmer^ Detroit Tigers P
2017 Judge, AaronAaron Judge^§ New York Yankees OF
2018 Ohtani, ShoheiShohei Ohtani^ Los Angeles Angels P/DH
2019 Álvarez, YordanYordan Álvarez^§ Houston Astros DH/OF
2020 Lewis, KyleKyle Lewis^§ Seattle Mariners OF
2021 Arozarena, RandyRandy Arozarena^ Tampa Bay Rays OF
2022 Rodríguez, JulioJulio Rodríguez^ Seattle Mariners OF
2023 Henderson, GunnarGunnar Henderson^§ Baltimore Orioles SS/3B

National League Winners (1949–present)

Corbin Carroll 8.19.2023
Corbin Carroll, the 2023 NL winner.
Year Player Team Position Selected statistics Ref
1949 Newcombe, DonDon Newcombe Brooklyn Dodgers P
1950 Jethroe, SamSam Jethroe Boston Braves OF
1951 Mays, WillieWillie Mays† New York Giants OF
1952 Black, JoeJoe Black Brooklyn Dodgers P
1953 Gilliam, JimJim Gilliam Brooklyn Dodgers 2B
1954 Moon, WallyWally Moon St. Louis Cardinals OF
1955 Virdon, BillBill Virdon St. Louis Cardinals OF
1956 Robinson, FrankFrank Robinson†§ Cincinnati Reds OF
1957 Sanford, JackJack Sanford Philadelphia Phillies P
1958 Cepeda, OrlandoOrlando Cepeda†§ San Francisco Giants 1B
1959 McCovey, WillieWillie McCovey†§ San Francisco Giants 1B
1960 Howard, FrankFrank Howard Los Angeles Dodgers OF
1961 Williams, BillyBilly Williams† Chicago Cubs OF
1962 Hubbs, KenKen Hubbs Chicago Cubs 2B
1963 Rose, PetePete Rose Cincinnati Reds 2B
1964 Allen, DickDick Allen Philadelphia Phillies 3B
1965 Lefebvre, JimJim Lefebvre Los Angeles Dodgers 2B
1966 Helms, TommyTommy Helms Cincinnati Reds 2B
1967 Seaver, TomTom Seaver† New York Mets P
1968 Bench, JohnnyJohnny Bench† Cincinnati Reds C
1969 Sizemore, TedTed Sizemore Los Angeles Dodgers 2B
1970 Morton, CarlCarl Morton Montreal Expos P
1971 Williams, EarlEarl Williams Atlanta Braves C
1972 Matlack, JonJon Matlack New York Mets P
1973 Matthews, GaryGary Matthews San Francisco Giants OF
1974 McBride, BakeBake McBride St. Louis Cardinals OF
1975 Montefusco, JohnJohn Montefusco San Francisco Giants P
1976* Metzger, ButchButch Metzger San Diego Padres P
Zachry, PatPat Zachry Cincinnati Reds P
1977 Dawson, AndreAndre Dawson† Montreal Expos OF
1978 Horner, BobBob Horner Atlanta Braves 3B
1979 Sutcliffe, RickRick Sutcliffe Los Angeles Dodgers P
1980 Howe, SteveSteve Howe Los Angeles Dodgers P
1981 Valenzuela, FernandoFernando Valenzuela Los Angeles Dodgers P
1982 Sax, SteveSteve Sax Los Angeles Dodgers 2B
1983 Strawberry, DarrylDarryl Strawberry New York Mets OF
1984 Gooden, DwightDwight Gooden New York Mets P
1985 Coleman, VinceVince Coleman§ St. Louis Cardinals OF
1986 Worrell, ToddTodd Worrell St. Louis Cardinals P
1987 Santiago, BenitoBenito Santiago§ San Diego Padres C
1988 Sabo, ChrisChris Sabo Cincinnati Reds 3B
1989 Walton, JeromeJerome Walton Chicago Cubs OF
1990 Justice, DavidDavid Justice Atlanta Braves OF
1991 Bagwell, JeffJeff Bagwell† Houston Astros 1B
1992 Karros, EricEric Karros Los Angeles Dodgers 1B
1993 Piazza, MikeMike Piazza†§ Los Angeles Dodgers C
1994 Mondesí, RaúlRaúl Mondesí§ Los Angeles Dodgers OF
1995 Nomo, HideoHideo Nomo Los Angeles Dodgers P
1996 Hollandsworth, ToddTodd Hollandsworth Los Angeles Dodgers OF
1997 Rolen, ScottScott Rolen†§ Philadelphia Phillies 3B
1998 Wood, KerryKerry Wood Chicago Cubs P
1999 Williamson, ScottScott Williamson Cincinnati Reds P
2000 Furcal, RafaelRafael Furcal Atlanta Braves SS
2001 Pujols, AlbertAlbert Pujols§ St. Louis Cardinals 3B
2002 Jennings, JasonJason Jennings Colorado Rockies P
2003 Willis, DontrelleDontrelle Willis Florida Marlins P
2004 Bay, JasonJason Bay Pittsburgh Pirates OF
2005 Howard, RyanRyan Howard Philadelphia Phillies 1B
2006 Ramírez, HanleyHanley Ramírez Florida Marlins SS
2007 Braun, RyanRyan Braun Milwaukee Brewers 3B
2008 Soto, GeovanyGeovany Soto Chicago Cubs C
2009 Coghlan, ChrisChris Coghlan Florida Marlins OF
2010 Posey, BusterBuster Posey San Francisco Giants C
2011 Kimbrel, CraigCraig Kimbrel^§ Atlanta Braves P
2012 Harper, BryceBryce Harper^ Washington Nationals OF
2013 Fernández, JoséJosé Fernández Miami Marlins P
2014 deGrom, JacobJacob deGrom^ New York Mets P
2015 Bryant, KrisKris Bryant^§ Chicago Cubs 3B
2016 Seager, CoreyCorey Seager^§ Los Angeles Dodgers SS
2017 Bellinger, CodyCody Bellinger^§ Los Angeles Dodgers 1B
2018 Acuña Jr., RonaldRonald Acuña Jr.^ Atlanta Braves OF
2019 Alonso, PetePete Alonso^ New York Mets 1B
2020 Williams, DevinDevin Williams^ Milwaukee Brewers P
2021 India, JonathanJonathan India^ Cincinnati Reds 2B
2022 Harris II, MichaelMichael Harris II^ Atlanta Braves OF
2023 Carroll, CorbinCorbin Carroll^ § Arizona Diamondbacks OF

Teams with the Most Wins

Every MLB team has had at least one Rookie of the Year winner! The Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers have won the most awards, with 18 players earning the honor.

Teams Awards Years
Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers 18 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1960, 1965, 1969, 1979–1982, 1992–1996, 2016, 2017
New York Yankees 9 1951, 1954, 1957, 1962, 1968, 1970, 1981, 1996, 2017
Boston/Atlanta Braves 1948, 1950, 1971, 1978, 1990, 2000, 2011, 2018, 2022
Philadelphia/Oakland Athletics 8 1952, 1986–1988, 1998, 2004, 2005, 2009
St. Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles 1949, 1960, 1965, 1973, 1977, 1982, 1989, 2023
Cincinnati Reds 1956, 1963, 1966, 1968, 1976, 1988, 1999, 2021
Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins 7 1958, 1959, 1964, 1967, 1979, 1991, 1995
St. Louis Cardinals 6 1954, 1955, 1974, 1985, 1986, 2001
Boston Red Sox 1950, 1961, 1972, 1975, 1997, 2007
New York/San Francisco Giants 1951, 1958, 1959, 1973, 1975, 2010
Chicago White Sox 1956, 1963, 1966, 1983, 1985, 2014
Chicago Cubs 1961, 1962, 1989, 1998, 2008, 2015
New York Mets 1967, 1972, 1983, 1984, 2014, 2019
Detroit Tigers 5 1953, 1976, 1978, 2006, 2016
Seattle Mariners 1984, 2000, 2001, 2020, 2022
Cleveland Guardians 4 1955, 1971, 1980, 1990
Kansas City Royals 1969, 1994, 1999, 2003
Philadelphia Phillies 1957, 1964, 1997, 2005
Miami Marlins 2003, 2006, 2009, 2013
Tampa Bay Rays 2008, 2011, 2013, 2021
Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals 3 1970, 1977, 2012
Los Angeles Angels 1993, 2012, 2018
Houston Astros 1991, 2015, 2019
Milwaukee Brewers 1992, 2007, 2020
San Diego Padres 2 1976, 1987
Toronto Blue Jays 1979, 2002
Texas Rangers 1974, 2010
Arizona Diamondbacks 1 2023
Colorado Rockies 2002
Pittsburgh Pirates 2004

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Novato del año de las Grandes Ligas de Béisbol para niños

  • Esurance MLB Awards Best Rookie (in MLB)
  • Players Choice Awards Outstanding Rookie (in each league)
  • Baseball America Rookie of the Year (in MLB)
  • Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award (in each league)
  • Rookie of the Month
  • Topps All-Star Rookie Teams
  • Baseball awards
  • Rookie of the Year (award) (all sports)
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