Chicago Cubs’ 1B Micah Hoffpauir – a career .251 hitter over three MLB seasons – had as many hits and more than twice as many total bases in his one game against Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez as Hall of Famer (.312 career hitter) Edgar Martinez had in his entire career against Pedro (10 games).

The tale of those two batters will provide the segue into the Pedro Martinez chapter of Baseball Roundtable ongoing “Who’s your daddy?” series.

Cubs’ first baseman Micah Hoffpauir, who hit .251 over his three-season MLB career (162 games), only faced Pedro Martinez in one game (September 25, 2008). It came in Martinez’ second-to-last MLB season (age 36) and Hoffpauir’s rookie campaign (age 28). Hoffpauir homered off Martinez in the first inning (it was Hoffpauir’s first major-league dinger), slashed an RBI double off him in the third, and singled off him in the fifth.  Hoffpauir was to have a chance to complete a cycle against Martinez in the seventh inning, when he came up with two on and no outs, but Martinez was replaced by Met’s reliever Ricardo Rincon. Hoffpauir hit Ricon’s first pitch for a three-run home run.  Hoffpauir added a single off reliever Scott Schoeneweis in the eighth to complete a five-for-five, five RBI day – and the Cubs still lost 7-6.   Hoffpauir’s three-for-three day off Martinez gives him the most hits of any player never retired by the hard-throwing righty.

Then there are the Edgar/Pedro Martinez match ups.  Notably, after his 2015 election to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Pedro Martinez was asked to name the toughest hitter he ever faced.  His answer was two-time batting champ and future Hall of Famer (elected in 2019) Edgar Martinez. While Edgar Martinez was a superb hitter, his “toughest” label from Pedro was a bit of a surprise.  The two Martinez faced each other in 33 plate appearances (25 at bats) – and Pedro clearly came out on top.  Edgar collected just three hits (seven walks and one hit by pitch), for a .120 average, and fanned 11 times (one of every three plate appearances – one of every 2.3 at bats) against Pedro.  All three hits were singles and none of his hits or walks resulted in an RBI or run scored.   In all fairness, Pedro did say that Martinez always ran up the pitch count against him.   Still, Edgar Martinez did not make the BBRT Pedro Martinez “Who’s your daddy?” lineup.  Before I get into naming BBRT’s lineup of players who performed well against Martinez, here a little background on the topic.

Who’s Your Daddy?  (And, Why it’s about time we featured Pedro.)

On September 24, 2004, in the middle of a tight pennant race, the Yankees handed future Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez and the Boston Red Sox a tough 6-4 loss.  Martinez went 7 1/3 innings giving up nine hits and five earned runs.  The game came just five days after (in his previous start) Martinez had lasted just five frames against the Bronx Bombers (eight hits, eight earned runs) in a 16-7 loss.

After that second loss, Martinez candidly commented, “What can I say? I just tip my hat and call the Yankees my daddy.”  Little did he know that his comment – and a Yankee fans’ chant of “Who’s your daddy?” would follow him into future starts in New York (all the way to his final MLB start – against the Yankees for the Phillies – in Game Six of the 2009 World Series.)

The concept of “Who’s your daddy?” became the inspiration for Baseball Roundtable to take a look at the players who “had the number” of some of MLB’s premier pitchers.  I started with Nolan Ryan (see that post by clicking here) and the topic was well enough received I decided to continue the journey. I followed up with Sandy Koufax – click here for that one. Next I took a look at Bob Gibson – click here. And today, I’m appropriately looking at the pitcher who inspired these posts – Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez.  (And, I’ve since added Randy Johnson, click here.

BBRT Note:  Keep in mind, the pitchers included in the “Who’s your daddy?” series are among the “best in the business.” They are selected not because of the players who performed well against them, but rather because solid hitter performance when they were on the mound was the exception rather than the rule.

Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez had an 18-season MLB career – going 219-100, with a 2.93 earned run average and 3,154 strikeouts in 2,827 innings.  Martinez was a two-time 20-game winner eight-time All Star and three-time Cy Young Award recipient.  He led his league in wins once, winning percentage three times, earned run average five times, strikeouts three times and complete games and shutouts once each.  He struck out 300+ batter in two seasons.

Extra Credit

When filling out this lineup, BBRT granted extra credit to players’ performance against Pedro Martinez in his peak years (1997 – 2003). During that seven-season span, Martinez won all three of his Cy Young Awards and went 118-36, with a 2.20 earned run average and 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings.  Of course, his other 11 season weren’t bad (101-64, 3,65 and 8.8 K/9),  just not as spectacular as those peak years.

————————- BBRT Top  Regular-Season Performers Versus Pedro Martinez —————

Note: For the most part the lineup was limited to players with at least 10 career regular-season at bats against Martinez.

Catcher – Mike Piazza (Six home runs and a .385 average in nine games versus Martinez)

If Baseball Roundtable was putting together a lineup to face Pedro Martinez, Hall of Famer Mike Piazza would be right in the middle of it.  Piazza, as a Dodger, homered in his first at bat off Pedro Martinez (August 24, 1994).  Twelve seasons later (August 9, 2006), as a Padre, he homered in his final at bat against Martinez.   Piazza hit a total of six career home runs in just nine games versus Martinez, the most of any batter. It was also the most home runs Piazza hit off any MLB pitcher (he also had six career long balls off Tom Glavine and Jason Schmidt.)

Mike Piazza was the 1,390th pick (62^nd round) in the 1987 MLB draft.  That’s the latest draft pick ever to make it to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Piazza hit .385 with a 1.115 slugging percentage against Pedro Martinez over his career.  In 2006, Piazza faced Martinez six times in four games and collected three hits – all home runs.  Piazza played for the Dodgers, Mets, A’s, Padres and Marlins over a 16-season MLB career.  He hit .308-427-1,335 – hitting .300 or better in nine campaigns, topping 100 RBI six times and hitting 30 or more home runs in nine seasons.  He was a 12-time All Star and the 1993 NL Rookie of the Year.

Mike Piazza’s 396 home runs as a catcher are the most home runs by a backstop in MLB history.

A shout out here goes to Marlins’ backstop Charles Johnson, who hit .357-2-4 in five career games versus Martinez and .375 (three-for-eight) with a triple and a home run against the Hall of Famer during Martinez’ peak years (1997-2003).

A Pretty Productive .183

Another catcher, Jorge Posada, struck out more times against Pedro Martinez than any other batter – (33 strikeouts in 60 regular-season at bats/69 plate appearances).  Still, despite only a .183 average against Martinez, Posada hit four home runs off him (tied for second-most off Martinez) and drove in 10 career runs off him (tied for the second-most RBI against Martinez). Posada hit .333, (4-for-12), with two doubles and two RBI in five post-season games versus Martinez.

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First Base – Gregg Jefferies (.469 average in 14 games versus Martinez)

Gregg Jefferies’ 15 regular-season hits against Martinez are the sixth most collected by any batter (and those ahead of Jefferies on this list each had between 49 and 86 at bats versus Martinez, as opposed to Jefferies’ 32 at bats).   Jefferies’ .469 career average against Martinez is the third highest among batters with at least 10 at bats against Pedro.

Jefferies’ first four hits against Pedro (in his first nine at bats against him) went for a cycle (in this order) – triple, double, home run and a single (over six games).  He would get 11 more hits off Martinez over his career, but only one more extra base hit (a double).  Jefferies also struck out only once in 36 plate appearances versus Martinez.

Jefferies is one of those players who deserves a little more attention from the followers of the national pastime.  He enjoyed a 14-season MLB career (1987-2000 … Mets, Royals, Cardinals Phillies, Angels and Tigers), during which he averaged .289 (1,593 hits), with 126 home runs, 663 RBI and 196 steals. The two-time All Star put up a .342-16-83 stat line for the Cardinals in 1993 – adding 46 stolen bases and 89 runs scored.  Overall, he had four full seasons of a .300 or better average.  In the 1993-94 seasons, Jefferies hit a combined .335, with 28 home runs, 138 RBI, 141 runs scored and 58 steals (245 games).

Hitting for the Cycle

August 25, 1995, Gregg Jefferies had his best game in the majors – hitting for the cycle, scoring four times and driving in four as his Phillies topped the Dodgers 17-3.   

Greg Jefferies only home run off Pedro Martinez was a game-winner – a solo shot in the top of the tenth-inning of a Cardinals’ 3-2 win over Martinez’ Dodgers.  It was the only extra-inning home run Martinez gave up during his MLB career.

Greg Jefferies was the Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year in both 1986 and 1987. In 1986, playing at A and AA, he hit .353, with 16 home runs, 111 RBI and 57 steals in 125 games.  In 1987, at AA, he hit .367-20-101, with 26 steals in 134 games.

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Second Base – Carlos Baerga (.500 average/.938 slugging percentage in five games versus Martinez)

Carlos Baerga hit .500 versus Martinez for his career (eight-for-sixteen), with two doubles, one triple, one home runs and five RBI.

Extra Credit

Carlos Baerga gets extra credit for his 1997 performance against the mound master. That season Pedro Martinez won the NL Cy Young Award – going 17-8 for the Expos, with a league-low 1.90 ERA and .184 opponents’ batting average against.  Baerga faced Martinez ten times in three games that season, collecting seven hits (.700), including two doubles, one triple and one home run.

Carlos Baerga had a 14-season MLB career (1990-2005 … Indians, Mets, Padres, Red Sox, Diamondbacks, Nationals). The three-time All Star retired with a .291 average, 134 home runs and 774 RBI.    He had his best season in 1993, when he went .321-21-114, with 15 steals, for the Indians.

Howe Farr Did Those Shots Travel?  Or, “Steve’s your uncle.”

On April 8, 1993, Carlos Baerga became the first major leaguer to homer from both sides of the plate in the same inning. In came in the seventh inning of an Indians’ 15-5 win over the Yankees – a two-run shot off Steve Howe and a solo shot off Steve Farr.

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No Kiddin’ Around

Hall of Famer Ken Griffey, Jr. had a little trouble with Martinez.  He faced Martinez 18 times (15 at bats) and collected just one hit (.067 average) and two walks (six whiffs).

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Third Base – Enrique Wilson (.440 in 12 regular season games versus Martinez)

Enrique Wilson was a tough out for Martinez, collecting 11 hits in 25 at bats (.440 average).  In 2003, when Martinez went 14-4, with a league-low 2.22 earned run average for the Red Sox, Wilson faced him nine times and picked up seven hits (four doubles) and a walk – for a .887 average.  Batting against Martinez in the pitcher’s peak years (1997-2003), Wilson went 10-for-29 (.533 average).   Wilson’s 11 career regular-season hits versus Martinez are his most against any pitcher.   Martinez was tougher on Wilson in the post season, holding him to a lone single in eight post-season at bats.

Wilson played nine seasons in the majors (1997-2005 … Indians, Yankees, Pirates, Cubs). He was a .244 hitter (555 games) and hit 22 home runs, while driving in 141 runs and scoring 155.

Who’s your daddy? … Indeed

In 2003, when the then-Yankee Wilson hit .887 versus Pedro Martinez, Wilson hit .189 against the rest of the AL. 

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Shortstop – Jimmy Rollins   (.361 in 12 games versus Martinez)

Jimmy Rollins got off to a slow start against Martinez – with no hits and three strikeouts in his first five at bats against him.  He picked up the pace from there, going 13-for-31 (.419) for the remainder of his career (an overall .361-2-6 line against Martinez).

Jimmy Rollins played 17 MLB seasons (2000-2016, Phillies, Dodgers, White Sox), hitting .264, with 231 home runs, 936 RBI, 1,421 runs scored and 470 steals in 2,275 games.  He was a three-time All Star, four-time Gold Glover and 2007 National League MVP (when he hit .296-30-94, scored a league-leading 139 runs, hit a league-topping 20 triples, stole 41 bases and won a Gold Glove).  Over his career, Rollins stole 30 or more bases in ten seasons, and topped 20 home runs four times. He led his league in games played once, plate appearances three times, at bats four time, runs scored once, triples four times (a high of 20 in 2007), and stolen bases once.

Captain, Oh Captain

Some may have preferred Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter in this spot. After all, he had 22 regular-season hits against Martinez … the most of any batter.  However, that translated into a regular-season line of .256-3-6 in 29 games.  Jeter did better against Martinez when the chips were down. In five post-season games against Martinez, he went 5-for-16 (.313), with two doubles, one home run and ten RBI.

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OF – Marquis Grisssom (.565 average in 13 games against Martinez)

Marquis Grissom’s .565 average is the highest of any player with at least ten regular-season at bats versus Martinez.

Grissom played 17 MLB seasons (1989-2005 … Expos, Braves, Indians, Brewers, Dodgers, Giants) and put up a .272 career average, with 227 home runs, 967 RBI, 1,187 runs scored and 429 steals. He was a tw0-time All Star and twice led the NL in steals (76 SB in 199 and 78 in 1992). He was also a three-time Gold Glover.  Grissom’s best season was 1996 with the Braves, when he hit .308 (207 hits), with 23 home runs, 74 RBI, 106 runs scored and 28 steals. In his career, he hit .300 or better twice, scored 100+ runs twice, topped 50 steals three times and hit 20 or more home runs five times.

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OF – Luis Gonzalez (.388 average in 22 games versus Martinez)

Luis Gonzales collected 19 hits in 49 at bats (.388) against Martinez.  The only player with more career regular-season safeties versus Martinez was Derek Jeter (22 hits, but 37 more at bats). Gonzalez also had two home runs and seven RBI against Martinez. Notably, Gonzalez’ line versus Martinez in the pitcher’s peak (1997-2003) years was .444 (8-for-18)-1-4.

Gonzalez had a 19-season MLB career (1990-2008 … Astros, Cubs, Tigers, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Marlins). He played in 2,591 games and got an identical 2,591 hits (.283 average), with 354 home runs and 1,439 RBI. He was a five-time All Star and led the NL in hits (206) in 1999. He topped 20 home runs seven times (a high of 57 in 2001), had 100+ RBI in five seasons and hit .300 or better five times.

 Game. Set. Match. 

Luis Gonzalez got the game-winning hit the bottom of the ninth inning of Game Seven of the 2001 World Series – giving the Diamondbacks a 3-2 win and their only World Series Championship to date. Notably, the RBI single came off future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera.   Rivera came into the game in the ninth with the Yankees up 2-1 and his inning went: Mark Grace – single; Damian Miller – safe on a Rivera error; Jay Bell – sacrifice bunt; Tony Womack – run-scoring, game-tying double; Craig Counsell – hit by pitch; Luis Gonzalez – game-winning single.  This outing was like the proverbial “exception that proved the rule.”  In 96 career post-season games, Rivera had an 8-1 record, 42 saves and a 0.70 earned run average. 

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OF – Ryan Klesko (.344 with four home runs in 12 games versus Martinez)

This outfield spot saw a close race between Ryan Klesko and Jose Guillen (more on Guillen in a minute), but Klesko got the edge due to a bit more power and the fact that he hit .364 with two home runs against Martinez during the pitcher’s peak seasons.

Overall, Ryan went .344, with four home runs and eight RBI versus Martinez. Only Mike Piazza hit more home runs versus Martinez and only five players had more career RBI against him.

Klesko enjoyed a 16-season MLB career (1992-2007 … Braves, Padres, Giants), during which he hit .279, with 278 home runs, drove in 987 tallies and stole 91 bases. He was an All Star in 2001, when he hit .286-30-113 for the Padres (and swiped 23 bags).

Honorable Mention

Jose Guillen deserves a mention here. During his career, he hit .388 (13-for-35), with two home runs and eight RBI in 15 regular-season games against Pedro Martinez. In two post-season games, he touched Martinez for three hits in six at bats, getting a pair of strikeouts and grounder to the mound in his other three at bats.

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Throwing in the Towles

Astros’ catcher J.R. Towles popped two home runs in a game against Martinez – and they were his only two career plate appearances against the Hall of Famer.  The long balls came on September 30, 2009, in a Houston 10-3 lost to the Phillies in Philadelphia.  Towles led off the second and fourth innings with home runs off Martinez, who was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the fourth.  So, Towle’s career against Martinez was a 1.000 batting average, 1.000 on-base percentage and 4.000 slugging percentage.

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Pitcher – Doug Drabek (Three-for-nine versus Martinez)

As you might expect, pitchers didn’t fare too well versus Pedro Martinez, so we’ll give this spot to Astros’ righty Doug Drabek, who homered (breaking a 2-2 tie) in his first at bat against Martinez (May 16, 1993) – and ended up going three-for-nine  (.333) with two RBI (and just one strikeout) in five regular-season games against Martinez.

Drabek played 13 MLB seasons, going 155-134, 3.73 (398 games/397 starts). The one-time All Star (1994) had his best campaign in 1990, when he won 22 games (against just six losses), with a 2.76 ERA for the Pirates.  While he didn’t make the NL All Star squad that year, he was the NL Cy Young Award winner.  Drabek, by the way, was a .166 career hitter and had just two home runs in 716 at bats. In 1993, when he went yard against Martinez, Drabek hit .085 for the season.

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; MLB.com; ESPN.com; “Pedro Martinez Names the Hitter Who Gave Him the Hardest Time,” by David Stout, for Time Magazine, January 7. 2015.

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BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE TRIVIA TEASER

Can you name the major league pitcher who both won 20+ games in an MLB season and was (later) an All World Slow-Pitch Softball third baseman?  Hint:  His slow-pitch long-ball success should come as no surprise.

BBRT Trivia Teaser Answer

Right-hander Tony Cloninger, who won 24 games for the 1965 Milwaukee Braves and was selected to the All-World Team (third base) at the 1978 United States Slow-Pitch Softball Association World Series.

Cloninger’s MLB pitching career stretched from 1961-72 (Braves/Reds/Cardinals).  Over that span, he went 113-87, 4.07 and earned a reputation as a power pitcher who sometimes lost the plate.  His best season was 1965, when he went 24-11, 3.29 for the Milwaukee Braves (only Sandy Koufax won more games than Cloninger that season), striking out 211 batters in 279 innings (but also leading the NL in walks and wild pitches).

Some Cloninger trivia:

• Cloninger started the very first regular-season Atlanta Braves game (April 12, 1966). He went all 13-innings in a Braves 3-2 loss (he gave up just one run over the first 12 frames) – allowing ten hits and three walks, while fanning a dozen.
• Cloninger had six professional (minor league) wins before turning 18.
• On June 15, 1963, Cloninger pitched an “immaculate inning” (nine pitches, three strikeouts) as his Braves topped the Phillies 5-3. It came in the eighth inning and the hitters were Tony Gonzalez, Clay Dalrymple and Ruben Amaro. Cloninger, who fanned eight batters in 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, got the win.
• In 1966, Cloninger hit .234 (26-for-11) with five home runs, five doubles and 23 RBI in 47 games.

TEEING OFF FOR TWO

On July 3, 1966, Tony Cloninger became the first National Leaguer (any position) to hit two Grand Slams in a game – as his Braves topped the Giants 17-3 at Candlestick Park.  He remains the only pitcher to hit two Grand Slams in a single contest and his nine RBI in that game remain the single-game record (tied) by a pitcher.

Cloninger’s final season as an MLB pitcher was 1972, when he was 0-2, 5.19 in 17 relief appearances for the Cardinals.  The following year, he was playing the hot corner in slow-pitch softball tournaments for the vaunted Howard’s Furniture Team (Denver, North Carolina).  That season, Cloninger hit .634, with 34 home runs in 143 at bats.  Cloninger also played part-time for Howard’s in 1974 – hitting .615, with 13 home runs in 54 at bats.  In 1975, his first full season with the squad, Cloninger hit .572, with 90 home runs in 346 at bats.

In 1978, playing for the United States Slow-pitch Softball Association Major Slow Pitch World Series Champion Howard & Carroll team, Tony Cloninger was selected as the third baseman on the Series’ All World Team.

Jumping ahead, in 1988, Cloninger was back in professional baseball as a pitching coach for the Eastern League Albany Yankees and, by 1992, he was back in the major leagues as a bullpen coach for the New York Yankees.  He was with the Yankees from 1992 through 2001, then took over as  pitching coach for the Red Sox in 2002-03. In 2003, he was sidelined with a bout with cancer. He later returned to the Red Sox as a player development consultant – a position he held from more than a dozen years.  (Cloninger passed away on July 24, 2018).

Clearly the competitive spirit and the love of the game burned passionately in the heart of Tony Cloninger.

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; Society for Americana Baseball Research; Baseball-Almanac.com; SoftballCenter.com; Softball History USA.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs.  To see the full list, click here.

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Follow/Like Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  More baseball commentary; blog post notifications; PRIZES.

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE TRIVIA TEASER:

Sandy Koufax … three-time unanimous Cy Young Award selection.

Since the Cy Young Award was first presented in 1956 (To honor Cy Young, who passed away in 1955), we have seen 23 unanimous CYA selections (17 different pitchers). No one has been a unanimous CYA selection more often than the Dodgers’ Sandy Koufax, who accomplished the feat three times (and did it when only one CYA was awarded each season). Koufax was the unanimous selection in 1963, 1965 and 1966.   In 1964, despite a 19-5 record and an NL-lowest 1.74 earned run average, Koufax finished third in the CYA balloting.  Your question?  Who were the two pitchers (one American League, one National League) who finished ahead of Koufax in that season’s CYA balloting?  Hint: Both won at least 20 games.

YOUR ANSWER:  Dean Chance and Larry Jackson.

Chance of the Los Angeles Angels won the 1964 CYA with 17 of 20 votes – based on a 20-9 season in which he led the American League in wins, ERA (1.65), complete games (15), shutouts (11),and innings pitched 278 1/3.  Two votes went to the Cubs’  Jackson, who won an MLB-tops 24 games (11 losses), with a 3.14 ERA, 19 complete games and three shutouts.  Koufax, who was shut down in mid-august due to an arm injury, got one vote.

Read on for a look at all of MLB’s unanimous Cy Young Award winners, where you can also pick up some tidbits like which of these unanimous CYA winners:

• pitched an all-strikeout perfect game in high school;
• was also a unanimous league MVP selection in his unanimous CYA season;
• was traded during his unanimous CYA season;
• after retiring from baseball played in a band that  opened for Willie Nelson;
• threw a perfect game in his unanimous CYA season;
• in his unanimous CYA season, gave up zero runs in six September starts (55 innings);
• and more.

——————UNANIMOUS CY YOUNG AWARD WINNERS —————————

1963-65-66 …. Sandy Koufax, Dodgers

In the final four seasons of an MLB career cut short by arm problems, Sandy Koufax was clearly the best pitcher in baseball – a three-time unanimous Cy Young Award winner at a time when only one award was given out each season.  In each of those three CYA seasons,  Koufax led all of MLB (or tied for the lead) in wins, earned run average and strikeouts.

In 1963, Koufax went 25-5, with a 1.88 earned run average and 306 strikeouts. He had 20 complete games and 11 shutouts in 40 starts (311 innings pitched) and was also the NL Most Valuable Player (not unanimous).

In 1965, Koufax notched 26 wins (eight losses), with a 2.04 earned run average and 382 strikeouts. He had 27 complete games and eight shutouts in 41 starts (335 2/3 innings).

In 1966, the Hall of Fame southpaw’s final season (at age 30), Koufax went 27-9, 1.73, with 317 whiffs.  He notched 27 complete games (five shutouts) in 41 starts (323 innings).

Sandy Koufax really turned it on in his final four seasons (1963-66), going 97-27, 1.86, with 1,228 strikeouts in 1,192 innings pitched.  In his first eight seasons, Koufax was 68-60, 3.17 with 1,168 strikeouts in 1,131 2/3 innings.

Over a 12-season MLB career (1955-66), Koufax went 165-87, 2.76, with 2,396 strikeouts in 2,324 1/3 innings pitched.  He was a six-time All Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner, one-time NL Most Valuable Player and two-time World Series MVP. He led his league in earned run average in six seasons (consecutively), in wins three times, complete games and innings pitched twice (his final two campaigns), shutouts three times and strikeouts four times.

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Until 1967 only one CY Young Award was presented each season.  From 1968 forward, a CYA winner was selected for each league.

1968 …. Denny McLain, Tigers

In the Year of the Pitcher, Denny McLain was arguably “The Pitcher of the Year.” The unanimous Cy Young Award winner won 31 games (just six losses), becoming the first 30-game winner since Dizzy Dean in 1934. McLain also put up a 1.96 earned run average, a league-best 28 complete games (41 starts), a league-topping 336 innings pitched, six shutouts and 280 strikeouts. That season, McLain was also the unanimous choice for American League Most Valuable Player.

In his 1968, 31-win season, Denny McLain led all MLB pitchers in home runs allowed (31).

Over a ten-season MLB career, McLain was a three-time All Star, two-time Cy Young Award winner (1968 & 1969) and, of course, the 1968 AL MVP. He led his league in wins twice, starts twice, complete games once, shutouts once and innings pitched twice.  He was a thirty-game winner once and won 20 or more in two additional seasons.  He finished with a 131-91 record, a 3.39 earned run average and 1,282 strikeouts in 1,886 innings pitched.

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1968 … Bob Gibson, Cardinals

A fierce competitor, Bob Gibson put together a dominant season in 1968. He went 22-9, with a 1.12 earned run average – the fourth-lowest in MLB history (among qualifying pitchers) and the lowest since 1914.  He logged 28 complete games in 34 starts, including an MLB-best 13 shutouts. That season, Gibson fanned 268 batters in 304 2/3 innings.  Oh, and he won a Gold Glove. This performance not only earned Gibson a unanimous selection as the NL CYA winner, but also the NL Most Valuable Player Award (not unanimous, Pete Rose got six of the 20 votes),

In June-July of the 1968 season, Bob Gibson started twelve games and went 12-0 with a 0.50 earned run average. He pitched 12 complete games in that span, including eight shutouts. He gave up three runs in his first June start (June 2) and a total of three runs in his next eleven outings Over those eleven games, his ERA was 0.27),

Over a 17-season MLB career, the Hall of Famer went 251-174, 2.91, with 3,117 strikeouts in 3,884 1/3 innings pitched. He was a nine-time All Star, two-time Cy Young Award winner, the 1968 NL Most Valuable Player, a nine-time Gold Glover and a two-time World Series MVP. Gibson, a five-time twenty -game winner, led the NL in victories once, ERA once, complete games once, shutouts four times and strikeouts once. He went 7-2, 1.89 in nine World Series starts (eight complete games) and holds the record for strikeouts in a World Series game (17 on October 2, 1968).  Gibson also pitched a no-hitter in an 11-0 win over the Pirates on August 14, 1971.

Bob Gibson is one of only two pitchers to strikeout at least one batter in every inning of a World Series game (the other is Ed Walsh, October 11, 1906). 

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After a tie for the American League Cy Yong Award in 1969 (Mike Cueller and Denny McLain), voting was changed to allow the casting of votes for a first-, second- and third-place candidate (as opposed to voting for just one pitcher).

1978 … Ron Guidry, Yankees

In his unanimous CYA season, Ron Guidry led the league in wins (25, against just three losses), earned run average (1.74) and shutouts (9). He threw 16 complete games in 35 starts and fanned 248 batters in 273 2/3 innings.

Ron Guidry’s final regular season win in his 1978 CYA season was one of the most significant in Yankee history. The Yankees and arch-rival Red Sox had tied for the Al East title at 99-63. Guidry was selected to start the one-game playoff (in Boston), matched up against the Red Sox Mike Torrez. Guidry got the win (Bucky Dent got the fame with a three-run home run in the seventh inning), going 6 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on a walk and six hits and fanning five. The Yankees went on to beat the Royals in the American League Championship Series (in four games) and the Dodgers in the World Series (six games).  Guidry got one start in each series, giving up just two runs in 17 frames.

In a 14-season MLB career (1975-88), Guidry was four-time All Star and five-time Gold Glover. He won 170 games (91 losses) and put up a 3.29 earned run average. He reached twenty or more wins in three seasons (leading the AL twice), was a two-time ERA leader and led the league in complete games and shutouts once each.  In 2,392 career innings, he fanned 1,778 batters.

The runner up to Guidry for the 1978 AL CYA was the Brewers’ Mike Caldwell (22-9, 2.36).

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1984 …. Rick Sutcliffe, Cubs

1984 did not start out like a Cy Young-worthy season for Rick Sutcliffe. He opened the season with the Indians and was 4-5, 5.15, when he was traded (June 13) to the Cubs.  It was gangbusters from there.  For the Cubbies, Sutcliffe went 16-1, 2.69 in 20 starts (seven complete games/three shutouts), fanning 155 batters in 150 1/3 innings – leading the Cubs to a Division title.

Rick Sutcliffe is one of only six players to win the Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year Award twice … and the only one to win it in both the American and National League. In 1987, Sutcliffe was the Comeback Player of the Year as a Cub – going 18-10, 3.69, following his 1986 record of 5-14, 4.64. In his 1992 Comeback Player of the Year season, Sutcliffe went 16-15, 4.47 for the Orioles, following a 6-5,4.10 1991 season for the Cubs.

Sutcliffe pitched in 19 MLB seasons (1976, 1978-94), going 171-139, 4.08, with 1,679 strikeouts in 3,697 2/3 innings pitched. In addition to his 1984 Cy Young Award, he was the 1979 NL Rookie of the Year and a three-time All Star. He led his league in wins once and earned run average once.

The runner up to Sutcliffe for the 1984 Cy Yong Award was NL Rookie of the Year Dwight Gooden of the Mets, who went 17-9, 2.60 and led the NL with 276 strikeouts.

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1986 and 1998 … Roger Clemens, Red So and Blue Jays

Two of Roger Clemens’ record seven Cy Young Awards saw him capture all the available first-place votes – 1986 (Red Sox) and 1998 (Blue Jays).

In 1998, Clemens won an MLB-best 24 games (just four losses) and posted the American league’s lowest earned run average (2.48). He notched ten complete games in 33 starts and fanned 238 batters in 254 innings pitched.  His performance earned him AL Most Valuable Player Honors (not unanimous.)

The runner for AL Cy Young recognition in 1986 was the Brewers’ Teddy Higuera, who went 22-11, with a 2.79 ERA.

Clemens is the only MLB pitcher to record multiple games (two) in which he fanned 20 batters in nine innings. One of those came in his 1986 unanimous CYA season.  On April 29 of that season, Clemens fanned 20 batters in a 3-1 win over the Seattle Mariners.  (He pitched nifty three-hitter, the only run scoring on a Gorman Thomas home run.) That effort made Clemens the first MLB pitcher to fan 20 batters in a nine-inning contest.  (On September 12, 1962, the Senators’ Tom Cheney fanned 21 batter in a 2-1 16-inning, complete-game win over the Orioles.)  Other pitchers to fan 20 batters in a nine-inning game: Kerry Wood, Cubs; Randy Johnson, Diamondbacks; Max Scherzer, Nationals.

In 1998, Clemens was again a unanimous Cy Young Award selection, this time with the Blue Jays.  That season, he led the AL (tied for the MLB lead) in wins with 20 and topped the junior circuit in earned run average (2.65) and strikeouts (271 in 234 2/3 innings). He threw five complete games and three shutouts in 33 starts.

The runner for American League CYA that season was the Red Sox’ Pedro Martinez (19-7, 2.89, 251 strikeouts).

Clemens enjoyed a 24-season MLB career – going 354-184, 3.12 – with 4,672 strikeouts (third all-time) in 4,916 2/3 innings pitched. He was an eleven-time All Star, seven-time Cy Young Award winner, the 1986 AL MVP and the 1986 All Star game MVP.  He led his league in earned run average seven times; shutouts six times; strikeouts five times; wins three times; and complete games three times.  He won 20 or more games in a season five times.

Roger Clemens won Cy Young Awards with four teams: Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees and Astros.

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1988 … Orel Hershiser, Dodgers

In 1988, Orel Hershiser went 23-8 (leading the NL in wins), with a 2.26 earned run average.  He tied for the MLB lead in complete games with 15, as well as in shutouts with eight.  He fanned 178 batters in 267 innings pitched.  Oh yes, and he brought home a Gold Glove.

In September of his 1988 unanimous CYA season, Orel Hershiser gave up zero – yes, zero – runs in 55 inning pitched.  His work included five complete-game shutouts and a ten-inning start in which he gave up no runs (but which the Dodgers lost 2-1 in 16 innings). The September stretch was part of a regular-season MLB record streak of 59 consecutive scoreless innings.

Hershiser pitched in 18 MLB seasons (1983-2000), going 204-150, 3.48, with 2,014 strikeouts in 3,130 1/3 innings.  He was a three-time All Star; the 1988 National League Championship Series and World Series MVP; and the 1996 American League Championship Series MVP.  He led his league in wins, complete games and shutouts once each.

The runner up to Hershiser in the 1988 CYA race was the Reds’ Danny Jackson (23-8, 2.73).

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1994 and 1995 … Greg Maddux, Braves

Hall of Famer Greg Maddux won four Cy Young Awards, two (1994 and 1995) in which he captured all the first-place votes.

In the strike-shortened 1994 MLB season, Maddux led the National League in wins with 16 (six losses) and topped all of MLB with a 1.56 earned run average.  He topped MLB with ten complete games and tied for the NL lead in shutouts with three. He fanned 156 batters (walking just 31) in 202 innings pitched. He also earned a Gold Glove.

The runner up to Maddux for the 1994 NL CYA was the Expos’ Ken Hill (16-5, 3.32.)

Greg Maddux was the first pitcher to win four consecutive Cy Young Awards (1992-95).  Randy Johnson (Diamondbacks) matched that feat from 1999-2002. During his streak of four straight CYAs, Maddux went 56-27, with a 2.08 earned run average.  He struck out 552 batters (153 walks) in 737 innings pitched.

In 1995, another strike-shortened season (144 games), Maddux again led the National League in wins with 19 (just two losses, a .905 winning percentage). He posted a league-best 1,63 earned run average, topped MLB in compete games (ten) and led the NL in shutouts (three); fanning 183 batters (just 23 walks) in 209 2/3 innings.

The runner up for the 1995 NL CYA was the Reds’ Pete Schourek, who went 19-7, 3.22 in 29 starts.

Greg Maddux led his league in fewest walks per nine innings pitched in nine seasons.

Maddux pitched in 23 MLB seasons (1986-2008), earning his way into the Hall of Fame with 355 wins (eighth all time) versus 227 losses, a 3.16 earned run average and 3,371 strikeouts (999 walks) in 5,008 1/3 innings pitched.  He was an eight-time All Star, four-time Cy Young Award winner and an 18-season Gold Glover. He led his league in wins three times (only twice reaching 20 wins, however); ERA four times; complete games three times; shutouts five times; and innings pitched five times.

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1999 & 2000 …. Pedro Martinez, Red Sox

Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez earned three AL Cy Young Awards (1997-1999-2000), the last two of which saw him earn unanimous-choice status.

In 1999, Martinez led MLB with 23 wins (four losses) and posted an MLB-lowest 2.07 earned run average in 31 stats.  He pitched 213 1/3 innings and fanned an AL-tops 313 batters – an ML-best 13.2 strikeouts per nine frames.

The runner up for the 1999 American League CYA was the Orioles’ Mike Mussina, who went 18-7, 3.50.

Oh, Brother!

On August 29, 996, Pedro Martinez faced a match up he didn’t really care for.  On that day, Pedro started for the Montreal Expos against the Dodgers (in Montreal).  His mound opponent?  His older brother Ramon.  The Martinez brothers acquitted themselves well.  Ramon went eight frames, giving up three hits, five walks and just one run – earning the win.  Pedro pitched a complete-game, six-hitter, with one walk and 12 whiffs – but took the loss in the 2-1 contest.

In 2000, Martinez repeated as Cy Young Award winner (again unanimously), with an 18-6 record, an MLB-lowest 1.74 earned run average and an AL-topping 284 strikeouts.  He also led the AL in shutouts with four.

The runner up to Martinez in 200 was Oakland’s Tim Hudson (20-6, 4.14).

Martinez pitched in the major leagues for 18 seasons (1992-2009), going 219-100, 2.93 and fanning 3,154 batters in 2,827 1/3 innings pitched. The Hall of Famer was an eight-time All Star and three-time Cy Young Award winner. He led his league in wins once; winning percentage three times; earned run average five times; complete games and shutouts once each; and strikeouts three times (topping 300 whiffs in two season). He also led his league in strikeouts per nine innings five times and strikeouts-to-walks ratio four times.

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2002 … Randy Johnson, Diamondbacks

Randy Johnson won five Cy Young Awards – and his 2002 NL CYA selection was unanimous. That season, Johnson led MLB in wins (24 versus five losses); complete games (tied at eight) and strikeouts (334). He led the NL in winning percentage (.828), earned run average (2.32) and innings pitched (260_.

Johnson’s Arizona teammate Curt Schilling finished second in the 2002 CYA balloting, after a 23-7, 3.23, 316 strikeout season.

In 2002, the Diamondbacks’’ Randy Johnson and Curt Schillings became the first pair of MLB teammates ever to record 300 or more strikeouts (each) in the same season.  In 2019, the Astros’ Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander matched that feat.

Randy Johnson pitched for 22 MLB seasons (1988-2009), picking up 303 wins (166 losses) and recording a 3.29 earned run average.  His 4,875 strikeouts (4,135 1/3 innings) are second all time. The Hall of Famer was a five-time Cy Young Award winner, ten-time All Star and the 2001 World Series MVP. He three times won twenty or more games in a season, led his league in earned run average four times, winning percentage four times, complete games four times, shutouts twice and strikeouts nine times – topping 300 K’s in an MLB record-tying (Nolan Ryan) six seasons.

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2004 and 2006 … Johan Santana Twins

The Twins’ Johan Santana won two Cy Young Award and was a unanimous number-one selection both times.

In 2004, Santana went 20-6, with a league-best 2.61 earned run average and an AL-topping 265 strikeouts (222 innings pitched) – which translated to an AL best 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

Curt Schilling of the Red Sox was the AL runner up in the 2004 CYA voting, after a 21-6, 3.26, 203 strikeout season.

Johan Santana was traded (by the Twins) to the Mets before the 2008 season. On June 1, 2012, he tossed a no-hitter (in New York) in an 8-0 win against the Cardinals, walking five and fanning eight.  It was the first – and is still the only – no hitter thrown by a Mets’ hurler.

In 2006, Santana led the AL in wins (19, versus six losses) and topped MLB in both earned run average (2.77) and strikeouts 245 – logging an AL-tops 9.4 whiffs per nine.

The 2006 CYA runner in the American League was the Yankees’ Chien-Mang Wang (19-6, 3.63.).

Santana pitched 13 MLB seasons (2000-10 and 2012).  He won 139 games (78 losses), with a 3.20 earned run average and 1,988 strikeouts in 2,025 2/3 innings.  He led his league in wins once, earned run average three times, starts and innings pitched twice each, strikeouts three times and strikeouts per nine innings three times. He was a four-time All Star and one-time Gold Glover.

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2007 … Jake Peavy, Padres

In 2007, Jake Peavy led the NL in wins with 19 (six losses) and earned run average at 2.54 and strikeouts with 240. That season, Peavy reached career highs in wins, winning percentage (.760), starts (34), innings pitched (233 1/3) and strikeouts.

The runner up in the 2007 NL CYA balloting was the Diamondbacks’ Brandon Webb (18-10, 3.01).

After retiring from baseball, Jake pursued another passion – music and guitars. His band Jake Peavy and The Outsiders has opened for such acts as Willie Nelson and The Tedeschi Trucks Band.  His passion for music is also reflected in the work of the Jake Peavy Foundation, which supports music and the arts, sports and financial literacy programs for young people.

Peavy pitched 15 MLB seasons (2002-16), going 152-126, 3.63, with 2,207 strikeouts in 2,377 innings. He le his league in wins once, earned run average twice and strikeouts twice. He was a three-time All Star and one-time Gold Glover.

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2010 …. Roy Halladay, Phillies

Roy Halladay was a two-time Cy Young Award winner and  a unanimous selection in 2010. That season, Halladay led MLB (tied) in wins (going 21-10), while putting up a 2.44 earned run average in an MLB-leading 250 2/3 innings (33 starts).  He also topped MLB in complete games (nine) and shutouts (four), while fanning 219 batters.

Halladay gave fans a look at things to come in his very first MLB victory (in just his second MLB appearance).  It came September 27, 1998, as Halladay and his Blue Jays faced the Tigers in Toronto. Halladay had a no-hitter going and a 2-0 lead with two outs in the top of the ninth. Pinch hitter Bobby Higginson, broke up the no-no with a home run to left. Halladay settled for a complete-game, 2-1 win in which walked none and fanned eight.

In his 2010 unanimous CYA selection season, Halladay pitched a perfect game against the Marlins in a 1-0, May 29 victory.  Then threw a no-hitter against the Reds in the first game of the National League Division Series. The only other post-season no hitter was, of course, Yankee Don Larsen’s 1956 perfect game.

The runner up to Halladay in the 2010 CYA balloting was the Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright, who went 20-11, 2.42.

In a 16-season MLB career (1998-2013), Halladay went 203-105, 3.38 – totaling 67 complete games and 20 shutouts. He struck out 2,117 batters in 2,749 1/3 innings.  The Hall of Famer was an eight-time All Star and two-time Cy Young Award winner (once in each league). He won twenty or more games in three seasons, leading his league twice.  He also led his league in complete games seven times (five straight seasons from 2007 to 2011), shutouts four times and innings pitched four times.

BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE FANS’ HALL OF FAME BALLOT

There is still time to cast a ballot in BBRT’s Baseball Hall of Fame (unofficial) Fan Voting.  And, there is a randomly selected baseball card and bobblehead prize.  Click here to access the ballot (read the introduction for prize rules.  Click here for BBRT’s take on the 2020 HOF candidates. 

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2014, Justin Verlander, Tigers

In 2014, Justin Verlander topped MLB with 24 wins, 251 innings pitched, 250 strikeouts and a 0.92 WHIP.  He also led the AL with a 2.40 earned run average. Verlander’s performance also earned him the American League MVP Award (not unanimous).

Justin Verlander is one of only six MLB pitchers with at least three no hitters (Nolan Ryan had seven, Sandy Koufax four and standing at three are Verlander, Cy Young, Bob Feller and Larry Corcoran).

The runner up to Verlander in the 2011 AL CYA voting was the Angels’ Jered Weaver (18-8, 2.41.

The still-active Verlander was the 2019 National League CYA winner – his second Cy Young Recognition.  He has been an All Star in eight of his 15 seasons and was the 2006 AL Rookie of the Year. Verlander has a 225-129, 3.33 stat line, with 3,006 strikeouts in 2,982 innings.  He has led his league in wins three times, winning percentage twice, ERA once, games started five times, innings pitched four times and strikeouts five times. He was also the 2017 AL Championship Series MVP.

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2014 … Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers

In 2014, Clayton Kershaw (still active going into 2020) won his third Cy Young Award – and was honored as a unanimous selection. That season, Kershaw led MLB with 21 wins, an 8.75 winning percentage, a 1.77 earned run average, a 0.857 WHIP and six complete games.  He fanned 239 batters in 198 1/3 innings.  That performance also earned Kershaw National League MVP honors (not unanimous).

Clayton Kershaw pitched an all-strikeout perfect game in Texas high school playoff game (fifteen batters faced, fifteen fanned – before the “mercy rule” ended the contest).   He was the USA Today High School Baseball Player of the Year that season, after going 13-0, 0.77 with 139 strikeouts in 64 innings pitched.

The runner up to Kershaw in the NL CYA race was the Reds’ Johnny Cueto, who went 20-9, 2.25.

In his 12 MLB seasons, Kershaw has gone 169-74, 2.44.  He has led his league in wins three times, earned run average five times (four straight seasons from 2011-2014), starts twice, complete games twice, shutouts three times, innings pitched once and strikeouts three times. Kershaw is eight-time All Star and one-time Gold Glover.

Primary Resources:  MLB.com; Baseball-Reference.com; ESPN.com

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BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE TRIVIA TEASER (Just to get you in the mood for this post.)

Only two MLB rookies have ever won the Most Valuable Player Award.  And. while both were selected Rookie(s) of the Year, neither was a unanimous choice.  Your question is not who were those rookies (1975, Fred Lynn, Rex Sox … 2001, Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners), but who were the two players who got the first-place votes that denied Lynn and Suzuki “unanimous status.” 

YOUR ANSWER.

In 1975, the Red Sox’ Fred Lynn went .331-21-105, won a Gold Glove and led the American League in doubles (47) and runs scored (103). His efforts earned him MVP  honors and 23 1/2 of 24 possible first-place votes for Rookie of the Year. That other one-half vote went to Lynn’s teammate and outfield partner Jim Rice, who went .309-22-102.

In 2001, The Mariners’ Ichiro Suzuki led that American Leaguer with a .350 average, 242 hits and 56 stolen bases.  He also hit eight home runs, drove in 69 runners, scored 127 times and won a Gold Glove. That performance earned him league MVP honors and twenty-three of twenty-four possible first-place votes for Rookie of the Year. The remaining vote went to Indians’ rookie C.C. Sabathia, who 17-5, 4.39 in 33 starts. 

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Now for BBRT’s post on unanimous Rookies of the Year.

The Astros Yordan Álvarez – the 2019 American League Rookie of the Year – was the first-ever primarily Designated Hitter to capture that honor. (Of Álvarez’ 83 starts – in 87 games played – 74 were as a DH.)  He also became the 22nd unanimous ROY selection, capturing all thirty first place votes and far outdistancing runner-up Orioles’ pitcher John Means.

Álvarez, who made his MLB debut June (18 days before his 22^nd birthday) hit .313, with 27 home runs and 78 RBI in 87 games. This was after going .343-23-71 in 56 games for the Triple A Round Rock Express. Runner-up Means, a 27-year-old southpaw starter, went 12-11, 3.62 for an Orioles team that finished 54 games under .500.

From BBRT’s perspective, had I been asked to predict who would be a unanimous Rookie of the Year choice, I would probably have gone with Mets’ 24-year-old first baseman Pete Alonso. The 6’3”, 235-pound Alonso played in 161 games and went .263-53-120 (with 103 runs scored) – setting a new MLB record for rookie-season round trippers and leading all major leaguers in 2019 long balls.  Alonso  got 29 of  30 possible first-place votes, with the remaining top tallies going to Braves’ RHP Mike Soroka – who went 13-4, 2,68.  The lone first-place vote for Soroka, by the way,  did not come from a Braves’ beat writer, but rather from a Giants’  beat writer, who was impressed with Soroka’s rookie-season performance in a year in which baseball’s were flying out of the park in record numbers.  The 6’-5”, 22-year-old starter allowed just 14 long balls in 173 2/3 innings.  (Soroka also collected 25 second-place votes and two third-place votes.)

Pete Alonso is the first player (since the Rookie of the Year Award was established in 1947) to break or tie the rookie home run record and not be a unanimous Rookie of the Year selection.  The Reds’ Frank Robinson tied the record (set by Braves’ Wally Berger in 1930) with 38 home runs as a rookie in 1956; the A’s Mark McGwire set a new rookie record with 48 home runs in 1987; and the Yankees’ Aaron Judge set a new rookie record with 52 round rippers in 2017.  All three were unanimous ROY selections.

In this post, BBRT will take a look at all of MLB’s unanimous Rookie of the year selections.

Jackie Robinson, the first-ever Rookie of the Year Award winner (and the award now bears his name), was not a unanimous selection. In fact, he barely edged out Giants’ right-handed pitcher Larry Jansen for the honor.  Robinson hit .296-12-48, with 125 runs and league-topping 29 steals – in a season in which he faced the pressure of breaking MLB’s color line.  Jansen went 21-5,3.16 in his rookie season (his .808 winning percentage leading the league), with 20 complete games in 30 starts.

—-UNANIMOUS ROOKIE OF THE YEAR SELECTIONS—-

1956 …. Frank Robinson, OF, Reds (HOF)

Frank Robinson started his Hall of Fame career with a bang. The unanimous choice for 1956 National League Rookie of the Year played in 152 games and hit .290, with 38 home runs (tying the MLB rookie record) and 83 RBI. The 20-year-old also led the NL in runs scored with 122 and hit-by-pitch with 20 (ouch). He went on to 21-season MLB career; was an All Star in 14 campaigns.  He finished with a career .294 average, 586 home runs, 1,812 RBI, 1,829 runs scored and 204 stolen bases.  He also was a Triple Crown winner, a two-time league MVP, a World Series MVP, an All-Star Game MVP and, after retiring as a player, honored as the American League Manager of the Year (1989, Orioles).

Frank Robinson is the only player to win the Most Valuable Player Award in both the National; (Reds, 1961) and American (Orioles, 1966) Leagues.

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1959 …. Willie McCovey, 1B, Giants (HOF)

Willie McCovey is a bit of a surprise on this list, as he was a unanimous selection for 1959 National League Rookie of the Year despite not making his MLB debut until July 30 of that season – and playing in just 52 Games for the Giants.  Still, he made the most of those games – hitting .354, with 13 home runs and 38 RBI. I also find it surprising the Giants waited until July to call him up to the “show.” He was already in his fifth professional season and was hitting .372-29-92 in 95 games) at Triple-A Phoenix at the time.

Willie McCovey was named the National League Player of the Month in his first full month in the major leagues – playing in 27 games in August of 1959 and going 38-for-102 (.373), with eight home runs and 22 RBI.

McCovey went on to a 22-season Hall of Fame MLB career. He was a six-time All Star and the 1969 NL MVP.  The three-time NL home run leader finished with a .270 average, 521 home runs and 1,555 RBI. He also went .310-2-6 in eight post-season games.

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1972 … Carlton Fisk, C, Red Sox (HOF)

Carlton Fish was the unanimous choice for the American League Rookie of the Year in 1972 (the first-ever AL unanimous ROY). The 24-year-old backstop played in 131 games for the Red Sox hitting .293, with 22 home runs and 61 RBI, 74 runs scored and five stolen bases – while also capturing the AL Gold Glove at catcher.

In his rookie season, Carlton Fisk led the American League in triples (tied with Joe Rudi) with nine.

Fisk’s MLB career stretched for 24 seasons. He was an All Star in 11 of those seasons and finished with a .269 average, 376 home runs, 1,330 RBI, 1,276 runs scored and 128 stolen bases.

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*Note a change in All Star voting allowed each voter three votes (first, second third), so BBRT will not the runner-up in each of the season that saw a unanimous number-one choice.

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1985 … Vince Coleman, OF, Cardinals

Vince Coleman came up to the Cardinals as a 23-year-old, in his fourth professional season. Over 328 minor-league games he had hit .286 – and swiped 289 bases.   He continued to show that speed as an MLB rookie, leading the National League with 110 steals in his 1986 ROY season. Coleman remains the only player to steal 100+ bases in his rookie season. He played in 151 games, hitting .267, with just one home run and 40 RBI – but scored 107 runs.

Vince Coleman led that National League in steals in each of his first six MLB seasons (tying the NL record for consecutive seasons leading the league in that category.) He also pilfered 100+ bases in each of his first three seasons, becoming the only MLB player to record three straight seasons of triple-digit steals.

Coleman played 13 MLB seasons, hitting .264, with 28 home runs, 346 RBI, 849 runs and 752 steals. He was a two-time All Star.

The runner up to Coleman for 1985 NL ROY was Reds’ LHP Tom Browning, who went 20-9, 3.55 in 38 starts.

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1987 …. Mark McGwire, 1B, A’s

Mark McGwire got the proverbial “cup of coffee” in the big leagues in  1986, hitting just .189 with three home runs in 18 games. This experience came after a late season call up from Triple a Tacoma, where he hit .318-13-59 in 78 games (he had also gone .303-10-53 in 55 games at Double A).

Then, the following season, with his rookie status still intact, the 23-year-old hit .289, mashed a then MLB rookie-record (and league-leading) 49 home runs and drove in 188 tallies. It was good start to a 16-season MLB career that would see him his .263, with 583 home runs, 1,414 RBI and 1,167 runs scored.  Over that career, McGwire was an All Star in 12 seasons, a four-time home run champion – and even won a Gold Glove (A’s – 1990). In 1998, McGwire broke Roger Maris’ single-season home run record (61), basing 70 round trippers. (Barry Bonds broke McGwire’s record in 2001, with 73 long balls.

Mark McGwire holds the career record for the best at bats-per-home run ratio (among player with at least 3,000 plate appearances) at 10.61. Babe Ruth is second at 11.76.

Runner up to McGwire was the Royals’ INF/OF Kevin Seitzer, who hit .323-15-83, with 105 runs scored and a league-leading 207 hits in 161 games.

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1987 … Benito Santiago, C, Padres

Twenty-three-year-old Padres’ backstop Benito Santiago got off to a good start as the unanimous NL Rookie of the Year choice in 1987 – batting .300, with 18 home runs, 79 RBI and 12 stolen bases.

The 22-year-old went on to a 20-season MLB career, hitting .263, with 217 home runs and 91 steals.  He was a five-time All Star and a three-time Gold Glover.

From August 25 through October 2, 1987, Benito Santiago hit safely in 34 games – the longest hitting streak ever by an MLB rookie.

Pirates’ RHP Mike Dunn was runner up to Santiago, after going 13-6, 3.03 in 23 starts.

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1990 …. Sandy Alomar, C, Indians

Like Benito Santiago (see above bio), Sandy Alomar started out as a catcher in the Padres’ system.   Alomar, however, was blocked by 1987 unanimous Rookie of the Year and 1989 All Star catcher Benito Santiago (Alomar played in just eight games for the padres in 1988-89). In December of 1989, the Padres traded Alomar (along with Carlos Baerga and Chris James) to the Indians for power-hitting Joe Carter.  Alomar got an opportunity to stick with Cleveland in 1990 – and he made the most of it.  Like Santiago, he was a unanimous Rookie of the Year selection – hitting .290-9-66 in 132 games, making the All-Star team and winning a Gold Glove.  (Carter, by the way, hit .232-24-115 for the Padres in 1990 and was traded to the Blue Jays after the 1990 season.)

Sandy Alomar was named as the Baseball America Minor League Player of the year in 1988 and 1989 – hitting .297-16-71 at Double A in 1988 and .306-13-101 at Triple A in 1989.

Alomar played 20 MLB seasons, hitting .273-112-588. He was a six-time All Star.

Yankees’ 1B Kevin Maas was the runner up to Alomar, going .252-21-41 in 79 games.

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1993 … Mike Piazza, C, Dodgers (HOF)

Over his first three minor league seasons, Mike Piazza hit .245, with 43 home runs and 150 RBI over 262 games.  Then, in 1991, the 23-year-old, put it all together – hitting .350-23-90 in 125 games at Double-A and Triple-A and earning a late season call up (.232-1-7 in 21 games) with the Dodgers.

In 1992, still considered a rookie, he was behind the plate for the Dodgers full time – and went .318-35-112 (making the NL All Star squad in the process).

Mike Piazza was the 1390^th pick of the 1989 MLB draft.

Mike Piazza went on to a 16-season Hall of Fame career – hitting .308, with 427 home runs and 1,335 RBI – and making an even dozen All Star teams. He topped 30 home runs in a season in nine seasons (reaching 40 twice) and had 100 or more RBI in six campaigns.

Runner up to Piazza was Braves relieve Greg McMichael, who went 2-3, 2.06 with 19 saves in 74 appearances.

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1993 … Tim Salmon, OF, Angels

While he did get a late season call up (August) in 1992, Tim Salmon still had his rookie status when he took a full-time spot in the Angels’ outfield in 1993.    In his full-season rookie campaign, the 24-year-old hit .283, with 31 home runs, 95 RBI and 93 runs scored. He enjoyed a 14-season MLB career, hitting .282, with 299 home runs and 1,016 RBI. Salmon – although never an All-Star Selection – hit 30 or more home runs in five seasons and drove in 100+ runs in three. In 1995, he went .330-34-105 in 143 games.

Tim Salmon was the 1992 Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year after hitting .347, with 23 home runs, 94 RBI and 12 steals in 118 games for the Triple A Edmonton Trappers.

The runner up to Salmon was White Sox RHP Jason Bere who went 12-5, 3.47 in 22 starts.

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1994 … Raul Mondesi, OF, Dodgers

Raul Mondesi made a major-league impression before his 1994 season (when he was the unanimous selection for NL Rookie of the year).   Called up to the Dodgers the previous July, the then 22-year-old had hit .291 in 42 games and showed plus defense in the outfield. In his 1994 ROY season, Mondesi played in 112 games for the Dodgers, hitting .306, with 16 home runs, 56 RBI, 63 runs scored and 11 steals.

Raul Mondesi is on of only 13 players to have multiple 30-30 (30 home runs/30 stolen bases) seasons. In 1997, Mondesi hit .310, with 30 home runs and 32 steals for the Dodgers. In 1999, he hit .253, with 33 home runs and 36 steals, again for the Dodgers.

Mondesi played 13-seasons in the major leagues, hitting .273, with 271 home runs, 860 RBI and 229 stolen bases. He was a one-time All Star and two-time Gold Glover.  He hit 30 or more home runs in three seasons and stole at least 30 bases in three seasons.

The runner up to Mondesi for the Rookie of the Year, was Astros reliever John Hudek, who went 0-2, 2.97 with 16 saves in 42 appearances.

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1996 … Derek Jeter, SS, Yankees

Derek Jeter was a first-round (sixth-overall) Yankee draft pick right out of high school (1992). He saw his first MLB action in 1995 (15 games as a September call up), before his unanimous selection as Rookie of the Year (as a 22-year-old) in 1996.   In that 1996 season, Jeter played in 157 games, hitting .314, with ten home runs, 78 RBI, 104 runs scored and 14 stolen bases.  He went on to a 20-season MLB career, during which he hit .310 (3,465 hits), with 269 round trippers, 1,311 RBI, 1,923 runs scored and 358 steals. He topped 200 hits in eight campaigns (leading the league twice), scored 100+ runs in 13 seasons (leading the league once), won five Gold Gloves and was an All Star 14 times.   He was also the 2000 World Series MVP (hitting .409 in five games) and 2000 All Star Game MVP.

Derek Jeter holds the record for post-season games played (158), hits (200), total bases (302), runs scored (111), doubles (32); triples (five, tied). His total post-season appearances (158 games) make up a solid single-season stat line (.308-20-61, with 200 hits, 111 runs scored, 61 RBI and 18 steals.)

White Sox’ pitcher James Baldwin was the runner-up to Jeter for ROY, after going 11-6, 4.42 in 28 starts for the Pale Hose.

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1997 … Nomar Garciaparra, SS, Red Sox

Garciaparra, at age 23, was in his fourth pro season when he captured 1997 AL Rookie of the Year honors.  (Garciaparra had earned a late-season – 24 games played – call up in 1996).  In 1997, the 23-year-old played in 153 games for the BoSox, hitting .306, knocking 30 home runs, 44 doubles and a league-leading eleven triples.  He drove in 98 runs, scored 122 and earned his way onto the 1997 AL All Star squad.

Garciaparra went on to a 14-season MLB career in which he hit .313-229-936; was a six-time All Star; and won a pair of batting titles.  He hit .300+ in nine seasons, scored 100+ runs six times, and hit 30 or more homes runs twice and 50 or more doubles twice.

Nomar Garciaparra is one of just 13 players to hit two Grand Slams in a single game (May 10, 1999) – and the only player to achieve this feat in his home ball park.

The runner up to Garciaparra for Rookie of the Year was outfielder Jose Cruz, who split his season between Toronto and Seattle, playing in 104 games and hitting .248-26-68.

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1997 … Scott Rolen, 3B, Phillies

Scott Rolen made his debut with the Phillies (at age 21) on August 1, 1996.  He got in 37 games with the Phils that season (preserving his rookie status for 1997), hitting .254, with four home runs and 18 RBI.  Much better things were on the horizon. In his 1997, ROY season, Rolen played in 156 games, hitting .283, with 21 home runs, 92 RBI – and 16 stolen bases.

He went on to a 17-season MLB career, hitting .281, with 316 home runs, 1.287 RBI and 118 steals.  He was s seven-time All Star and eight-time Gold Glover at the hot corner. Rolen hit 20 or more home runs in 10 seasons (topping 30 three times) and drove in 100+ runs in five campaigns.

Who knows what could have been? In 1993, as a high school senior, Scott Rolen as was named Mr. Indiana (high school) baseball and was the runner up for Mr. Indiana Basketball.  He earned a basketball scholarship to Georgia, but the Phillies offered an attractive bonus to secure his services on the diamond.

The runner up to Rolen for ROY was Marlins pitcher Livan Hernandez, who went 9-3, 3.18 in 17 starts. Side note: Hernandez was also the MVP of the 1997 National League Championship Series and the MVP of the 1997 World Series.
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2001 … Albert Pujols, OF/1B/3B, Cardinals

Drafted by the Cardinals in 1999 (at age 19), after just one year of college ball (Maple Woods Community College), Albert Pujols played just one minor-league season (.314-19-96 in 133 games at three levels) before earning a unanimous National League Rookie of the Year selection.

In his first-ever college baseball game, Albert Pujols hit a Grand Slam and turned an unassisted Triple Play.  He finished that freshman season with a .461 average and 22 home runs and 80 RBI.

Pujols, still active, has now played in 19 MLB seasons, hitting .300 (3,202 hits, 15^th all-time) with 656 home runs (sixth all-time) and 2,075 RBI (fourth all-time).  He is a ten-time All Star, two-Gold Glover and three-time National League MVP. He has led his league in runs scored five times (topping 100 ten times), home runs twice (reaching forty or more seven times) and RBI once (exceeding 100 in 14 times) and batting average once (topping .300 in ten seasons). A sign of respect, his 311 intentional walks are second only to Barry Bonds He topped .300, 30 home runs, 100 RBI in each of his first ten seasons. (Over those first ten campaigns, his season average was .331-41-123).  In the post-season,  has hit .323 (77 games), with 19 home runs and 54 RBI.

The runner up to Pujols for 2001 NL ROY was Astros’ pitcher Roy Oswalt (14-3, 2.73 in 28 appearances).

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2011 …. Craig Kimbrel, Reliever, Braves

Craig Kimbrel, still active was a 33^rd-round draft pick (Braves) in 2007. He earned a look at the major-league level in 2010, going 4-0, 0.44 with one save in 21 games (40 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings).  In 2011, he was the Braves’ full-time closer, leading the NL with 46 saves – the first in a string of four consecutive seasons as the NL saves leader.

Craig Kimbrel holds the rookie record for saves – at 46.

In his ten MLB seasons, Kimbrel has gone 31-23, 2.08 with 346 saves (13^th  all-time) and 898 strikeouts in 553 1/3 innings pitched. He is a seven-time All Star and has led his league in saves four times (topping 30 saves in eight seasons, reaching 40 or more five times, with a high of 50 saves in 2013).

The runner up for ROY in 2011 was Kimbrel’s teammate Freddie Freeman, who hit .282, with 21 home runs and 76 RBI in 157 games.

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2012 …. Mike Trout, OF, Angels

While Mike Trout saw 40 games of MLB action as a 19-year-old in 2011 (.220-5-16), he retained his rookie status for the 2012 season.  He earned his unanimous selection as AL Rookie of the Year by going .326-30-83 in 139 games. He also led the AL in runs scored (129) and stolen bases (49).

In his rookie season, Mike Trout became the youngest MLB player ever to have a 30-30 season (30 home runs/30 stolen bases) – accomplishing it at age 20.   He hit 30 home runs and stole 49 bags.

Still active, in nine MLB seasons, Trout has hit .305, with 285 home runs, 752 RBI, 903 runs scored and 200 stolen bases. He is an eight-time All Star and has won the AL Most Valuable Player Award three times (finishing second four times). He’s led the AL in runs scored four times (topping 100 in seven seasons) and RBI once (topping 100 three times). He’s also topped the junior circuit in walks three times and on-base percentage four times.

Finishing second in the 2013 AL Rookie of the Year voting was Oakland’s Yeonis Cespedes, who went .292-23-82 with 16 steals.

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2014 …. Jose Abreu, 1B, White Sox

Jose Abreu signed with the White Sox in October 2013 after (defecting from Cuba that August). He had already established himself as a star in Cuba – where he had played ten seasons. As a 27-year-old rookie with the White Sox in 2014, Abreu hit .317, with 36 home runs and 107 RBI – earning an All-Star selection and leading the league in slugging percentage.

Jose Abreu was the Most Valuable Player in the Cuban Serie Nacional in the 2010-11 season – after hitting .453, with 33 home runs and 93 RBI in 66 games.

Still Active, Abreu’s six-season MLB stat line is .293-179-611. He is a three-time All Star and, last season, led the AL with 123 RBI.  Abreu has driven in 100 or more runs in five of his six MLB seasons and punched 30 or more home runs in four campaigns.

Angels’ pitcher Matt Shoemaker was the runner up to Abreu in the 2014 AL ROY voting, after going 16-4, 3.04 n 27 games (20 starts).

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2015 … Kris Bryant, 3B/OF, Cubs

As a 23-year-old rookie in 2015, Kris Bryant played in 151 games for the Cubs (he saw action in seven Cubs games in 2014), hitting .275, with 26 home runs and 99 RBI in 151 games – not only earning unanimous ROY honors, but also an All-Star selection. But there was more to come.  The following season, Bryant earned NL Most Valuable Player recognition, with a .292-39-102 season.

Kris Bryant picked up a lot of hardware/accolades before making his Cubs debut. He was a USA Today (High School) All American in 2010; a College All-American in 2012 and 2013; winner of the Dick Howser Trophy and Golden Spikes Award in 2013; and the USA Today and Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year in 2014.  (In 2014, Bryant, then 22-years-old, hit .325, with 43 home runs and 110 RBI in 138 games at Double-A and Triple-A.)

In five MLB seasons, the still active Bryant has a.284-138-403 stat line.  He is a three-time All Star and has topped 100 runs scored in three seasons, 100 RBI once and 30 home runs twice.

The Giants’ Matt Duffy finished second in the 2015 NL ROY balloting, after a .295-12-77 season.

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2016 … Corey Seager, SS, Dodgers

A first-round draft pick in the 2012 draft, Seager made his MLB debut in 2015 and was the unanimous choice for NL Rookie of the Year in 2016.  As an 18-year-old, Seager hit .309, with eight home runs in 46 Rookie-League (2012) games.  And, Seager just kept getting better.  When he got his first call up (September 2015), he was in the midst of a .293-18-76 season at Double-A/Triple-A.  He acquitted himself well at the MLB-level, going .337-4-17 in 27 games for the Dodgers.

In his 2016 ROY campaign, Seager hit .308, with 26 home runs and 72 RBI, making the All-Star squad and finishing third in NL MVP balloting.

Corey Seager and his brother Kyle Seager were the first siblings to hit 25 or more home runs in the same season.  Corey was .308-26-72 in 2016, while Kyle was .278-30-99 for the Mariners.

Seager has now played in five MLB season and has a .294-73-266 stat line, with a pair of All-Star sections.

The runner up in the 2016 NL ROY voting was the Nationals’ Trea Turner, who went .342-13-40 in 73 games.

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2017 … Cody Bellinger, OF/1B, Dodgers

Cody Bellinger joined the Dodgers as a 21-year-old rookie in 2017 and immediately went to work.  That season, Bellinger hit .267, with 39 home runs and 97 RBI in 132 games.  His 39 home runs were a new National League rookie record (broken by Pete Alonso of the Mets last season) and help earn him a unanimous Rookie of the Year selection.  And, like many of our unanimous selections, Bellinger had plenty left in the tank.  In 2019, he was the NL Most Valuable Player (at age 23), putting up a .305-47-115 line, with 84 runs scored and 15 steals.

On July 15, 2017, Cody Bellinger hit for the cycle as the Dodgers topped the Marlins 7-1 in Miami.

In three MLB seasons (thus far), Bellinger has hit .278, with 111 home runs, 288 RBI and 39 stolen bases. He was the 2019 NL MVP and is a two-time All Star and one-time Gold Glover.

Finishing second in the 2017 NL ROY voting was the Cardinals’ Paul DeJong, who went .285-25-65 in 108 games.

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2017 …. Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees

In 2017, Aaron Judge became the first rookie ever to hit 50 or more home runs (52) – setting a rookie record (broken by Pete Alonso last season) 52 dingers to go with a .284 average, 114 RBI, a league-topping 128 runs scored and an AL-highest 127 walks.  (He also led the league in whiffs with 208).

Aaron Judge made his MLB debut on August 13^th, 2016.  In his first at bat, he homered off Tampa Bay Rays’ pitcher Matt Andriese. Notably, Yankee Tyler Austin – who hit one spot before Judge and was also getting his first MLB at bat – had also homered.  This made Judge and Austin the first MLB teammates to hit home runs in their first at bat in the same game (much less in their first at bats back-to back.)

Four years seasons into his MLB career, Judge has  a .273-110-246 stat line (396 games). He is a two-tie All-star.

The runner up in the 2017 AL Rookie of the Year race was the Red Sox’ Andrew Benintendi, who went .271-20-90 (with 20 steals (in 151 games).

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2019 …. Yordan Álvarez, DH. Astros

See the opening paragraphs of this post.

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; MLB.com

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