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What are the top rookie seasons in MLB history by position players? Here is our top 10 countdown:
10. Jackie Robinson (1947): .297 batting average with 12 home runs, 48 runs batted in, 125 runs scored, 29 stolen bases, a .383 on-base percentage, and a .427 slugging percentage (112 OPS+; 4.0 WAR); Robinson was Rookie of the Year, finished fifth for NL MVP, and led the league in stolen bases, all while dealing with the pressure of breaking baseball’s color barrier.
9. Tony Oliva (1964): .323 batting average with 32 home runs, 94 runs batted in, 109 runs scored, a .359 on-base percentage, and a .557 slugging percentage (150 OPS+; 6.8 WAR); Oliva was an All-Star and AL Rookie of the Year, won a batting title, finished fourth for AL MVP, and led the league in hits, extra-base hits, doubles, runs, and total bases.
8. Albert Pujols (2001): .329 batting average with 37 home runs, 130 runs batted in, 112 runs scored, a .403 on-base percentage, and a .610 slugging percentage (157 OPS+; 6.6 WAR); Pujols was an All-Star and NL Rookie of the Year, won a Silver Slugger, finished fourth for NL MVP, and set an NL rookie record for runs batted in.
7. Ted Williams (1939): .327 batting average with 31 home runs, 145 runs batted in, 131 runs scored, a .436 on-base percentage, and a .609 slugging percentage (160 OPS+; 6.8 WAR); Williams finished fourth for AL MVP, and led the league in runs batted in and total bases, while setting a rookie record for walks.
6. Fred Lynn (1975): .331 batting average with 21 home runs, 105 runs batted in, 103 runs scored, a .401 on-base percentage, and a .566 slugging percentage (162 OPS+; 7.4 WAR); Lynn was an All-Star and AL Rookie of the Year, won AL MVP and a Gold Glove, led the league in doubles, runs scored, slugging percentage, and OPS, and was the first player to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season.
5. Dick Allen (1964): .318 batting average with 29 home runs, 91 runs batted in, 125 runs scored, a .382 on-base percentage, and a .557 slugging percentage (162 OPS+; 8.8 WAR); Allen was NL Rookie of the Year, finished seventh for NL MVP, and led the league in triples, extra-base hits, runs scored, and total bases.
4. Aaron Judge (2017): .284 batting average with 52 home runs, 114 runs batted in, 128 runs scored, a .422 on-base percentage, and a .627 slugging percentage (171 OPS+; 7.9 WAR); Judge was an All-Star and AL Rookie of the Year, won a Silver Slugger, finished second for AL MVP, led the league in home runs, runs scored, and walks, and set a then-MLB record for home runs by a rookie.
3. Ichiro Suzuki (2001): .350 batting average with 8 home runs, 69 runs batted in, 127 runs scored, 56 stolen bases, a .381 on-base percentage, and a .457 slugging percentage (126 OPS+; 7.7 WAR); Ichiro was an All-Star and AL Rookie of the Year, won AL MVP, a batting title, a Gold Glove, and a Silver Slugger, and led the league in hits and stolen bases.
2. Shoeless Joe Jackson (1911): .408 batting average with 7 home runs, 83 runs batted in, 126 runs scored, a .468 on-base percentage, and a .590 slugging percentage (193 OPS+; 9.2 WAR); Jackson finished fourth for AL MVP, and led the league in on-base percentage while setting rookie records for batting average, hits, and stolen bases.
1. Mike Trout (2012): .326 batting average with 30 home runs, 83 runs batted in, 129 runs scored, 49 stolen bases, a .399 on-base percentage, and a .564 slugging percentage (168 OPS+; 10.5 WAR); Trout was an All-Star and AL Rookie of the Year, won a Silver Slugger, finished second for AL MVP, and led the league in runs scored and stolen bases.
Agree/Disagree? As always, debate/discuss, and leave your thoughts and comments below.
Note: All statistics as of time of publication.
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Countdown 39: Top 10 Undrafted Players in NFL History