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Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award facts for kids

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Jrobinson
Jackie Robinson, the first winner in 1947. The award was later named after Robinson

In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is given each year to one player from each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA). The award was start in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA. They selected a winner every year from 1940 through 1946. The award became national in 1947; Jackie Robinson, the Brooklyn Dodgers' first baseman, won the first award. One award was presented for both leagues in 1947 and 1948; since 1949, the honor has been given to one player each in the National and American League. At first, the award was known as the J. Louis Comiskey Memorial Award, named after the Chicago White Sox owner of the 1930s. The award was renamed the Jackie Robinson Award in July 1987, 40 years after Jackie Robinson broke the baseball color line.

Of the 128 players named Rookie of the Year, 14 have been selected for the National Baseball Hall of Fame—Jackie Robinson, five American League players, and eight others from the National League. The award has been shared twice: once by Butch Metzger and Pat Zachry of the National League in 1976; and once by John Castino and Alfredo Griffin of the American League in 1979. Members of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers have won the most awards of any team (with 16). This is twice the total of the New York Yankees (eight), who have won the most in the American League. Fred Lynn and Ichiro Suzuki are the only two players who have been named Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in the same year. Fernando Valenzuela is the only player to have won Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award in the same year. Sam Jethroe is the oldest player to have won the award, at age 32, 33 days older than 2000 winner Kazuhiro Sasaki (also 32). Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants and Neftali Feliz of the Texas Rangers are the 2010 winners.

Qualifications and voting

HideoNomo
Hideo Nomo won in 1995, the first of several players to win with past baseball experience in Nippon Professional Baseball.

From 1947 through 1956, each BBWAA voter had their own rules for decide who was a rookie. In 1957, the BBWAA first defined the term as someone with fewer than 75 at bats or 45 innings pitched in any Major League season before the current season. This guideline was later changed to 90 at bats, 45 innings pitched, or 45 days on a Major League roster before September 1 of the last year. The current rule is 130 at bats, 50 innings pitched or 45 days on the active roster of a Major League club (except for time in military service or on the disabled list) before September 1 was first used in 1971. 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 total points. Edinson Volquez received three second-place votes in 2008 even though he was not a rookie under the award's definition.

Some baseball writers have criticized the voting in recent years because several players who played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) have won the award. These winners include Hideo Nomo in 1995, Kazuhiro Sasaki in 2000, and Ichiro Suzuki in 2001. The current definition of rookie for the award is based only on Major League playing. Some writers feel that past NPB players are not true rookies because of their past professional playing. This issue came up in 2003 when Hideki Matsui lost the AL award to Ángel Berroa in a close vote. Jim Souhan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune said he did not think Matsui was a rookie in 2003 because "it would be an insult to the Japanese league to pretend that experience didn't count." The Japan Times had a story in 2007 on calling Daisuke Matsuzaka, Kei Igawa, and Hideki Okajima as rookies, saying "[t]hese guys aren't rookies." Past winners such as Jackie Robinson, Don Newcombe, and Sam Jethroe had professional experience in the Negro Leagues.

Winners

Key

Cal Ripken Jr. in 1993
Cal Ripken, Jr. won in 1982, and is one of 14 Hall of Famers to win Rookie of the Year honors.
Year Links to the article about the corresponding Major League Baseball season
† Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
^ Denotes player who is still active
style="background-color:#eeabab;" Denotes year in which the award was shared

Major Leagues combined (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)

Evan Longoria Cropped
Evan Longoria, the 2008 AL winner
DPedroia
Dustin Pedroia, the 2007 AL winner
Verlander warms up
Justin Verlander, the 2006 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
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
1979| 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, JoséJosé 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 Andrew Bailey^ Oakland Athletics P
2010 Feliz, NeftaliNeftali Feliz^ Texas Rangers P

National League winners (1949–present)

9TH Bryce Harper
Bryce Harper, 2012 NL winner
Craig Kimbrel 9-12-11
Craig Kimbrel, 2011 NL winner
Geovany Soto - 2008 - cropped
Geovany Soto, 2008 NL winner
Ryan Braun
Ryan Braun, 2007 NL winner
Ryan Howard3
Ryan Howard, 2005 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
1976| 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

Images for kids

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