Photo by OlympianX<\/a> <\/a><\/small><\/p><\/div>\n

Baseball Roundtable continues to reflect on past seasons, while looking forward to the return of “new” baseball.\u00a0 In this post, I’m taking a look at players who delivered 200 or more base hits in their rookie season.\u00a0 By the way, that’s not a very large group. Only 16 MLB rookies have collected 200 or safeties.<\/p>\n

Now, to perhaps entice readers to make their way through this post, here are a handful of questions about this sweet sixteen.\u00a0 And, to help you on your way, here is a hint – the initials of the sixteen players sin reverse chronological order. IS; NG; KS; TO; D (or R) A; JP; JD; HT; DA; RJ; JF; LW; EC; JW.<\/p>\n

Now the questions:<\/p>\n

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1. Which one of the six 200-hit rookies who achieved the feat after the Rookie of the Year Award was established in 1947 did not win the ROY?<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
2. Which three of the 16 players with 200-hit rookie seasons are in the Hall of Fame?<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
3. Only one of the 200-hit rookies whose rookie season occurred after the first MLB all Star Game never<\/em> made an MLB All Star team. Name him.\u00a0 Extra hint here: HT<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
4. Seven of the 16 rookies with 200-hit seasons never reached 200 safeties in another campaign. How many can you name\/guess?<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
5. Which four 200-hit rookies led their league in triples in their initial 200-safety season? Hint: One from the 1990s; one from the 1960s; one from the 1930s; and one from the 1890s.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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   \n<\/a>Before we take an in-depth look at these 200-hit rookies, here are the answers to the questions.<\/p>\n

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   1. Kevin Seitzer<\/li>\n
   2. Joe DiMaggio, Lloyd Waner, Earle Combs<\/li>\n
   3. \u00a0Hal Trosky<\/li>\n
   4. Nomar Garciaparra, Kevin Seitzer, Dick Allen, Dick Wakefield, Dale Alexander, Roy\u00a0 Johnson, Jimmy Williams<\/li>\n
   5. \u00a0Nomar Garciaparra, Dick Allen, Joe DiMaggio, Jimmy Williams<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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      Now a closer look at MLB\u2019s 200-hit rookie seasons.<\/p>\n

      Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners, 2001<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      Ichiro Suzuki holds the record for \u00a0the most hits by any MLB rookie, racking up 242 safeties for the Mariners in 2001.\u00a0 That season, he led the American League in hits, batting average (.350) and stolen bases (56) \u2013 earning Rookie of the Year and<\/em> Most Valuable Player honors. \u00a0\u00a0A free-swinger, he drew only 30 walks (and ten of those were intentional) in a league-topping 738 plate appearances.\u00a0 There are those who would support an asterisk by this rookie-hits record (I\u2019m not one of them<\/em>), since Suzuki came to MLB (as a 27-year-old rookie) after nine seasons with Japanese Baseball\u2019s Orix Blue Wave \u2013 where he put up a .353 batting average (1,278 hits) in 951 games.<\/p>\n

      Suzuki played 19 MLB seasons (2001-2019 \u2026 Mariners, Yankees, Marlins), collecting 3,089 hits (.311 average), leading the league in hits seven times and setting the all-time, single-season hits record of 262 in 2004. \u00a0He was a ten-time All Star, a two-time batting champion and ten-time Gold Glover in the outfield.\u00a0 Over his MLB career, he scored 1,420 runs (topping 100 in eight seasons), hit 117 home runs, drove in 780 and stole 509 bases (topping 30 steals ten times).<\/p>\n

      Keep the Line Moving<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      After collecting 242 hits in his rookie campaign, Ichiro Suzuki garnered 200 or more safeties in each the next nine seasons. His ten consecutive 200-hit seasons are an MLB record. and tie him with Pete Rose for the most 200-hit seasons in a career. Over his first ten MLB seasons, Suzuki’s average season was .331, with 224 hits, 105 runs scored, 56 RBI, nine home runs and 38 steals.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      Nomar Garciaparra, Red Sox, 1997<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      Nomar Garciaparra kept his rookie status into 1997, after hitting .241-4-16 in 24 games in 1996.\u00a0 In his 1997 Rookie of the Year season, the Red Sox ‘shortstop hit .306 (a league-leading 209 hits), with 30 home runs, 98 RBI, 122 runs scored and 22 stolen bases. He also led the American League in triples with 11.<\/p>\n

      Home Cookin\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      Nomar Garciaparra is one of only 13 players with two Grand Slams in a single game \u2013 and the only one to do it in his home park.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      In a 14-season MLB career (1996-2009 \u2026 Red Sox, Cubs, Dodgers, A\u2019s), Garciaparra (while never again reaching 200 hits), was a six-time All Star and two-time batting champion (.357 in 1999 and .372 in 2000 \u2013 both with the Red Sox). Garciaparra also led the league in doubles once (topping 50 doubles in two season), scored 100+ ruins six times, topped 100 RBI four times and hit 20 or more round trippers in seven seasons.\u00a0 His career average was .313, with 229 home runs, 936 RBI, 927 runs scored and 95 stolen bases.\u00a0 He also hit .321-7-24 in 32 post-season contests.<\/p>\n

      Kevin Seitzer, Royals, 1987<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      Kevin Seitzer hit .323 in a September 1986 call up (28 games).\u00a0 (His trip to the Royals came after a .318-13-75 season at Triple A and Double A.<\/em>) In 1987, still retaining his rookie status, Seitzer proved 1986 was no fluke, hitting an identical .323 (207 hits) over 161 games. He also had 11 home runs, 83 RBI, 105 runs scored and 12 stolen bases. In most seasons, that would be good enough for Rookie of the Year honors. In 1987, however, Seitzer finished a distant second in the voting, as all the first-place AL votes went to Mark McGwire, who put up a .289-49-118 line.<\/p>\n

      Big Day for a Rookie<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      On August 2, 1987, as the Royals topped the Red Sox 13-5, in Kansas City, Kevin Seitzer has a six-for-six day, with two home runs, four runs scored and seven RBI. \u00a0Seitzer is one of only two Royals with a six-for-six day at the plate.\u00a0 (The other is Bob Oliver.)<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      Seitzer went on to a 12-season MLB career (1986-97 \u2026 Royals, Brewers, A\u2019s, Indians).\u00a0 He collected 1,557 hits (never again reaching 200 in a season) for a .295 average, with 74 home runs, 613 RBI, 739 runs scored and 30 steals.\u00a0 He was twice an All Star (1987 and 1995). His rookie campaign saw him record his career highs in games, plate appearances, at bats, runs, hits, triples, home runs and RBI. Over his career, he started 1,014 games at 3B, 208 at 2B, 119 at DH, nine in the OF and one at SS.<\/p>\n

      Tony Oliva, Twins, 1964<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      Twins outfielder Tony Oliva enjoyed two brief call ups (1962-63) before his first full MLB season (in 1964, when he still retained rookie status, having played in just 16 games \u2013 hitting .438 – in two previous stints with the Twins). In that 1964 campaign, Oliva led the American League in hints (217), batting average (.323), runs scored (109), doubles (43) and total bases (374), while also launching 32 home runs, driving in 94 runs and swiping 32 bases.<\/p>\n

      T(ony) for Two<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      Tony Oliva is the only player to win a batting title in his rookie and sophomore MLB seasons – .323 in 1964 and .321 in 1965.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      Oliva went on to lead the AL in hits in four of the next six seasons (reaching 200+ safeties once more), as well as to earn a third batting title (1971). He played 15 MLB seasons (1962-76), all for the Twins and was an eight-time All Star and one-time Gold Glover.\u00a0 Oliva hit .300 or better in six of the eleven seasons when he played at least 100 games.\u00a0 The eight-time All Star also led the league in doubles four times. He retired from the playing fields with a .304 average (1,917 hits), 220 home runs, 947 RBI and 870 runs scored.\u00a0 Oliva hit .314, with three home runs, in 13 post-season games.<\/p>\n

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      Dick Allen, Phillies, 1964<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      In 1963, Dick Allen played ten games for the Phillies after a September call up \u2013 primarily as a LF (one appearance at 3B).\u00a0 Then, in his 1964, Rookie of the Year season, he became the Phillies’ full-time third baseman and quickly showed his power.\u00a0 That season, Allen hit .318, with 29 home runs and 91 RBI.\u00a0 He led the NL in runs scored (125), total bases (352) and triples (13).\u00a0 He went on to a become a seven-time All Star and the 1972 American League MVP \u2013 when he hit .308-37-133 for the White Sox, leading the league in home runs and RBI. Allen played 15 MLB seasons (1963-77 \u2026 Phillies, Cardinals, Dodgers, White Sox, A\u2019s). He put up a .292 career average (hitting .300 or better in seven seasons); 351 home runs (leading his league twice and topping 30 long balls in six campaigns); and driving in 1,119 runs (leading the league once).\u00a0 Known more for his power than his speed, Allen had 79 career triples, and had ten or more three-baggers in four seasons. He also swiped 133 bases, with a high of 20 steals (in 25 attempts) in 1967. Over his career, Allen started 795 games at 1B; 646 at 3B; and 249 in the outfield. \u00a0Allen had two brothers Hank and Ron, who also played in the major leagues.<\/p>\n

      Music to My Ears<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      Dick Allen was also an accomplished doo-wop singer, performing professionally with his band \u201cRich Allen and the Ebonistics. Click below for a sample.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n