1959 – San Francisco Giants slugger Willie McCovey is selected as the National League Rookie of the Year, after hitting .354 with 13 home runs and 38 RBI in just 52 games. McCovey gets all 24 votes to make him the second Giants player in a row to win the award unanimously. Teammate Orlando Cepeda ran away with the award in 1958.
1957 – Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jack Sanford, who posted a 19-8 record with 188 strikeouts and a 3.08 ERA, is named National League Rookie of the Year. Sanford beats out his teammate, first baseman Ed Bouchee.
Outfielder Frank Robinson of the Cincinnati Redlegs is unanimously voted the National League Rookie of the Year. In the American League, Chicago White Sox shortstop Luis Aparicio is voted Rookie of the Year with 22 points, beating out Baltimore’s Tito Francona and Rocky Colavito of the Indians.
The Sporting News select Cardinal outfielder Bill Virdon and Indian fireballer Herb Score as the Rookie of the Year of their respective leagues. The Cardinals flychaser, easily identified by his eyeglasses, receives 57 of the 92 writers’ votes to get NL nod, while the Tribe’s 22 year-old right-hander, who compiled a 16-10 record while establishing a freshman record for strikeouts with 245, garners 71 of 103 ballots cast for the Junior Circuit honors.
Wally Moon (.304, 12, 106) becomes the first Cardinal player to be selected by the BBWAA as the National League’s Rookie of the Year. The 24 year-old center fielder, who replaced Enos Slaughter in the St. Louis outfield, gets 17 of the 24 writers’ votes, with runners-up including future Hall of Famers Ernie Banks (4) and Hank Aaron (1).
1953 – Junior Gilliam of the Brooklyn Dodgers is named National League Rookie of the Year. Gilliam, who led the National League with 17 triples, beats out Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Harvey Haddix.
1951 – The Baseball Writers Association of America name Gil McDougald of the New York Yankees as American league Rookie of the Year. The Chicago White Sox object to McDougald’s accolade, offering the statistical accomplishments of their superlative rookie, Minnie Miñoso.
The BBWAA name Sam Jethroe of the Boston Braves as the National League Rookie of the Year. At 31 years, 2 months, 18 days of age, Jethroe becomes the oldest rookie to win the award. He has been one of the best Negro Leagues players of all time.
September 4, 1948 Rookie Roy Campanella at Ebbets Field, 1948. Campy raised his game in Flatbush, hitting for a much higher career average at home (.300) than on the road (.254), which also extended to the postseason (.302 home, .157 road) & also for 10 games at Roosevelt Stadium (.333) Campanella will win 3 MVP…
1947 – Jackie Robinson is named Rookie of the Year by The Sporting News two weeks before the season is over. At the year’s end, he will have hit .297, led the league in stolen bases and sacrifices. He will have 14 bunt hits, and in a game against the Cubs in June, he scored from first base on a sacrifice.
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