Rookie of the Year: Nomar Garciaparra, 1997

Shortstop, Boston Red Sox

Age:  24 (July 23)

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 165

Prior to 1997:

A California native of Mexican descent, Garciaparra quickly proved in his youth to be talented in soccer as well as baseball. He excelled at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower where he also was kicker on the football team as well as a member of the soccer team.  His seriousness and intensity earned him the nickname “No-Nonsense Nomar”. Chosen by the Milwaukee Brewers in the fifth round of the 1991 amateur draft, Garciaparra chose to attend college at Georgia Tech. Following an outstanding freshman season he gained selection to the 1992 US Olympic baseball squad as a walk-on.  He capped his college career in 1994 when Georgia Tech reached the College World Series for the first time and Garciaparra contributed a .427 average with 16 home runs and 73 RBIs. The Red Sox chose him with the twelfth overall pick in the first round of the ’94 amateur draft. Garciaparra signed and made his professional debut with Sarasota of the advanced Class A Florida State League where he batted .295 with 16 RBIs in 28 games. He also made an impression with his range and throwing arm at shortstop. His next stop in 1995 was with the Trenton Thunder of the Class AA Eastern League where he hit .267 with 20 doubles, 8 triples, 8 home runs, and 47 RBIs. His fidgety batting ritual drew plenty of inside pitches in response. In the offseason he went on a major bodybuilding campaign in order to gain strength and stamina. Garciaparra suffered a knee injury in 1996 that delayed his progress. Following a brief Rookie League rehab stint, he advanced to Class AAA Pawtucket of the International League where in 43 games he batted .343 with 16 home runs and 46 RBIs to earn advancement to the Red Sox for the last month of the season. In 24 games of his first taste of major league action Garciaparra batted .241 with 4 home runs and 16 RBIs. Veteran shortstop John Valentin was shifted to third base to make room for Garciaparra in the lineup for 1997.

1997 Season Summary

Appeared in 153 games

SS – 153, PR – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 734 [3]

At Bats – 684 [1]

Runs – 122 [2]

Hits – 209 [1]

Doubles – 44 [4]

Triples – 11 [1]

Home Runs – 30 [15, tied with Carlos Delgado, Albert Belle & Chili Davis]

RBI – 98 [20]

Bases on Balls – 35

Int. BB – 2

Strikeouts – 92

Stolen Bases – 22 [13, tied with Marquis Grissom & Luis Alicea]

Caught Stealing – 9 [16, tied with Gerald Williams]

Average - .306 [12, tied with John Valentin]

OBP - .342

Slugging Pct. - .534 [12]

Total Bases – 365 [2]

GDP – 9

Hit by Pitches – 6

Sac Hits – 2

Sac Flies – 7

League-leading at bats were +26 ahead of runner-up Brian Hunter

League-leading hits were +16 ahead of runner-up Rusty Greer

League-leading triples were +1 ahead of runner-up Chuck Knoblauch

Midseason snapshot: HR – 13, RBI – 44, AVG - .291, SLG PCT - .485

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) at Seattle 4/4, (in 4 AB) at Cleveland 4/22, (in 6 AB) at Toronto 6/24, (in 7 AB) at Texas 8/5

Longest hitting streak – 30 games

Most HR, game – 2 (in 5 AB) vs. Baltimore 6/12, (in 4 AB) at Anaheim 8/22, (in 4 AB) at Milwaukee 9/12

HR at home – 11

HR on road – 19

Multi-HR games – 3

Most RBIs, game – 4 at Seattle 4/5, vs. Baltimore 6/12

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding

Chances – 720

Put Outs – 249

Assists – 450

Errors – 21

DP - 113

Pct. - .971

Awards & Honors:

AL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

All-Star

Silver Slugger

8^th in AL MVP voting (83 points, 21% share)

AL ROY Voting:

Nomar Garciaparra, Bos.: 140 pts. – 28 of 28 first place votes, 100% share

Jose Cruz, Sea./Tor.: 61 pts. – 44% share

Jason Dickson, Ana.: 27 pts. – 19% share

Deivi Cruz, Det.: 12 pts. – 9% share

Jaret Wright, Clev.: 7 pts. – 5% share

Mike Cameron, ChiWS.: 5 pts. – 4% share

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Red Sox went 78-84 to finish fourth in the AL Eastern Division, 20 games behind the division-winning Baltimore Orioles while leading the league in hits (1684), doubles (373), and batting (.291).

Aftermath of ‘97:

Although briefly sidelined with a shoulder separation in 1998, Garciaparra put together another strong season in which he batted .323 with 37 doubles, 8 triples, 35 home runs and 122 RBIs for the Wild Card-qualifying Red Sox. He was the AL batting champion in 1999 despite being hindered by a wrist injury late in the season with a .357 average to go along with 27 home runs and 104 RBIs. He repeated as batting champ in 2000, compiling a .372 average along with 51 doubles, 3 triples, 21 home runs, and 96 RBIs. A lingering wrist injury that required surgery limited Garciaparra to 21 games in 2001, but he bounced back in 2002 to hit .310 with a league-leading 56 doubles along with 24 home runs and 120 RBIs. In 2003 he had his fifth All-Star season with the Red Sox, batting .301 with 37 doubles, 13 triples, 28 home runs, and 105 RBIs. In the offseason he married women’s soccer star Mia Hamm. With an unsettled contract situation hanging over him, Garciaparra was hindered by an Achilles heel injury in 2004 that sidelined him until June. Still swinging a potent bat when he returned, his range in the field suffered. He was batting .321 when dealt to the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline at the end of July as part of a four-team trade that also involved the Montreal Expos and Minnesota Twins. Boston ultimately received shortstop Orlando Cabrera and first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz via the complex transaction. Still dealing with the Achilles injury as well as his chronic wrist problem, Garciaparra hit .297 with just 4 home runs and 20 RBIs the rest of the way for his new team. He signed a one-year, $8.25 million contract to stay with the Cubs in 2005. A groin tear sidelined Garciaparra from late April until August. Shifted to third base upon his return, he batted .283 in a total of 62 games with 12 doubles, 9 home runs, and 30 RBIs in all. Facing free agency again he signed an incentive-loaded $6 million one-year pact with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Healthy for the first time in several seasons in 2006 he played at first base and hit .303 with 20 home runs and 93 RBIs and was an All-Star selection for the first time since 2003. As a result, he was voted NL Comeback Player of the Year and was re-signed by the Dodgers. During an injury-plagued 2007 season Garciaparra played at first and third and batted .283 in 121 games with 17 doubles, 7 home runs, and 59 RBIs.  He spent one last injury-abbreviated season with the Dodgers in 2008 and finished his career with the Oakland Athletics in 2009. Overall for his major league career Garciaparra batted .313 with 1747 hits that included 370 doubles, 52 triples, and 229 home runs. He also compiled 936 RBIs. With the Red Sox he hit .323 with 279 doubles, 50 triples, 178 home runs, and 690 RBIs. In 32 postseason games he hit .321 with 7 doubles, 1 triple, 7 home runs, and 24 RBIs. He was a six-time All-Star and on five occasions finished among the top five in league MVP voting. Garciaparra was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2014.  His #5 was retired by the Class AA Trenton Thunder.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were recipients of the Rookie of the Year Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (1947 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from its inception through 1948 and from 1949 on to one recipient from each major league. 

Cy Young Profile: Mike Flanagan, 1979

Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles

Age:  27

4^th season with Orioles

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 185

Prior to 1979:

A native of Manchester, New Hampshire, Flanagan was the son of a minor league pitcher and grandson of an ambidextrous touring pitcher. Flanagan was a successful pitcher at the Little League and Babe Ruth levels. Chosen by the Houston Astros in the 1973 amateur draft, he chose to go to the Univ. of Massachusetts instead, where he compiled a 12-1 record. Drafted by the Orioles in 1973 he signed and was initially assigned to Miami of the Class A Florida State League in ’73 where he went 4-1 in 11 games with a 2.21 ERA. With Miami and Asheville of the Class AA Southern League in 1974 he produced a combined 12-10 record with a 1.97 ERA and 181 strikeouts over 187 innings pitched. Flanagan advanced to the Rochester Red Wings of the Class AAA International League in 1975 where he went 13-4 with a 2.50 ERA and 135 strikeouts in 173 innings pitched before receiving a September call-up to the Orioles. In his first taste of major league action he appeared in two games, one a start, and was 0-1 with a 2.79 ERA. Following an 0-3 start with Baltimore in 1976 Flanagan was sent back to Rochester where he went 6-1 with a 2.12 ERA before being called back to the Orioles in August. For the year with the Orioles he appeared in 20 games, 10 of them starts, and produced a 3-5 record with a 4.13 ERA. In his first full season of major league action in 1977 Flanagan had a 15-10 tally for the 97-64 Orioles with a 3.64 ERA and 149 strikeouts. He was chosen as an All-Star during a 1978 season in which he started 40 games and compiled a 19-15 record with a 4.03 ERA and 167 strikeouts. To his fastball, slow curve, and heavy sinker, Flanagan added a changeup in 1979.

1979 Season Summary

Appeared in 39 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 39

Games Started – 38 [2]

Complete Games – 16 [5, tied with Lary Sorensen & Mike Caldwell]

Wins – 23 [1]

Losses – 9

PCT - .719 [2]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 5 [1, tied with Dennis Leonard & Nolan Ryan]

Innings Pitched – 265.2 [3]

Hits – 245 [11]

Runs – 107

Earned Runs – 91

Home Runs – 23 [17, tied with Tom Underwood]

Bases on Balls – 70

Strikeouts – 190 [3]

ERA – 3.08 [4]

Hit Batters – 3

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 6

League-leading wins were +2 ahead of runner-up Tommy John

Midseason Snapshot: 12-6, ERA - 3.83, SO - 90 in 141 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 12 (in 12 IP) vs. Chi. White Sox 8/15

10+ strikeout games – 3

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 8 IP) vs. Cleveland 9/23

Fielding

Chances – 47

Put Outs – 4

Assists – 41

Errors – 2

DP – 2

Pct. - .957

Postseason Pitching: 
G – 4 (ALCS vs. California – 1 G; World Series vs. Pittsburgh – 3 G)

GS – 3, CG – 1, Record – 2-1, PCT – .667, SV – 0, ShO – 0, IP – 22, H – 24, R – 13, ER – 9, HR – 2, BB – 3, SO – 15, ERA – 3.68, HB – 0, BLK – 0, WP – 0 

Awards & Honors:

AL Cy Young Award: BBWAA

AL Pitcher of the Year: Sporting News

6^th in AL MVP voting (100 points, 3 first place votes, 26% share)

AL Cy Young voting (Top 5):

Mike Flanagan, Balt.: 136 pts. – 26 of 28 first place votes, 97% share

Tommy John, NYY: 51 pts. – 1 first place vote, 36% share

Ron Guidry, NYY: 26 pts. – 1 first place vote, 19% share

Jim Kern, Tex.: 25 pts. – 18% share

Mike Marshall, Min.: 7 pts. – 5% share

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Orioles went 102-57 to finish first in the AL Eastern Division by 8 games over the Milwaukee Brewers. Won ALCS over the California Angels, 3 games to 1. Lost World Series to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4 games to 3 (after having led by 3 games to 1). The pitching staff led the league in ERA (3.26), shutouts (12, tied with the Milwaukee Brewers), fewest hits surrendered (1279), and fewest runs surrendered (582).

Aftermath of ‘79:

Flanagan followed up in 1980 with a 16-13 record and 4.12 ERA while striking out 128 batters. Dealing with a sore arm during the strike-interrupted 1981 season, Flanagan’s performance fell to 9-6 with a 4.19 ERA. He rebounded to 15-11 with a 3.97 ERA while pitching 236 innings in 1982. The Orioles won the AL pennant and World Series in 1983. Although limited to 20 starts due to a knee injury, Flanagan contributed a 12-4 record with a 3.30 ERA and was 1-0 in the postseason. Baltimore sank to 85-77 in 1984 and Flanagan was a mediocre 13-13 with a 3.53 ERA. He ruptured an Achilles tendon playing basketball in the offseason and missed half of the 1985 season in which he finished with a 4-5 record and a miserable 5.13 ERA. Flanagan suffered through an injury-marred 1986 season in which he was 7-11 with a 4.24 ERA. In 1987 he was traded to Toronto in August, having produced a 3-6 record and 4.94 ERA for the Orioles. Over the remainder of the season with the Blue Jays, who contended in the AL East, he was 3-2 with a 2.37 ERA. Flanagan spent another three seasons with Toronto with his performance declining each year, from 13-13 with a 4.18 ERA in 1988 to 8-10 and a 3.93 ERA in ’89 and 2-2 with a 5.31 ERA in just five games until he was released in May of 1990. Returning to the Orioles in 1991 he was utilized almost exclusively as a reliever in his last two seasons. He was part of a combined no-hitter with three other pitchers in a game against Oakland in ’91 on his way to a 2-7 record in 64 appearances with a 2.38 ERA. He appeared in 42 games in 1992 and had no decisions and an 8.05 ERA to close out his career. Overall, he produced a 167-143 record with a 3.90 ERA while starting 404 games, 101 of which were complete games. Flanagan recorded 1491 strikeouts over the course of 2770 innings pitched. With the Orioles he went 141-116 with a 3.89 ERA and 1297 strikeouts. He went on to serve as Baltimore’s pitching coach on two occasions, as well as a broadcaster and in the front office. He was inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame in 1994, 17 years prior to his death via suicide at age 59.  

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Cy Young Profiles feature pitchers who were recipients of the Cy Young Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (1956 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from its inception through 1966 and from 1967 on to one recipient from each major league.  

MVP Profile: Johnny Evers, 1914

Second Baseman, Boston Braves

Age:  33 (July 21)

1^st season with Braves

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 5’9”    Weight: 125

Prior to 1914:

A native of Troy, New York, Evers (which was pronounced Eevers) originally played sandlot baseball and became shortstop for his home-town team in the New York State League where he exhibited good range while being error-prone. He was hitting .285 with 10 home runs when he drew the interest of the Chicago Cubs during the 1902 season. Evers was a throw-in as part of a $1500 deal to purchase one of his teammates, a pitching prospect. Debuting with the Cubs in September, he was initially tried at shortstop before moving to second base. He fielded well in his 26-game trial at second but hit only .222. Regular second baseman Bobby Lowe suffered a major knee injury that lingered into the spring of 1903 and provided Evers with the opportunity to start regularly. The slightly built rookie (he weighed just 105 pounds when he first joined the Cubs) batted .293 with 27 doubles, 7 triples, 25 stolen bases, and 52 RBIs. A scrappy and argumentative player who focused his ire on opponents and umpires, hence drawing many ejections and suspensions, he was nicknamed “the Crab” due to both his disposition and the way he covered his ground at the keystone. Possessing speed, if not batting power (he didn’t hit his first major league home run until 1905), and intelligence, he became adept at the inside aspects of the game. The Cubs won three consecutive pennants from 1906 to ’08 and Evers was part of a legendary double play combination along with shortstop Joe Tinker and first baseman Frank Chance. He and Tinker shared an intense mutual dislike but performed well together. Better in the field and on the base paths rather than as a hitter, Evers became adept at drawing walks and stealing bases. He stole a career-high 49 bases in 1906 and followed up with 46 in 1907 and 36 in 1908. His batting averages during the same three seasons were .255, .250, and .300. His gamesmanship and knowledge of the rules played a crucial role in the tight 1908 pennant race with the Giants when he called for the ball and tagged second following an apparent game-winning single by the Giants when New York’s rookie first baseman Fred Merkle, who was the baserunner on first, failed to touch second and ran directly to the Polo Grounds clubhouse. In what entered baseball lore as “Merkle’s Boner”, Merkle was ruled out and the game declared a tie. Replayed later, the Cubs won both the game and the NL pennant. Evers hit .263 in both 1909 and 1910, another pennant-winning year for the Cubs. The high-strung Evers suffered a nervous breakdown that limited him to 46 games in 1911 and followed a disastrous financial loss off the field. He recovered in 1912 to hit .341 with 23 doubles, 11 triples, and a home run while knocking in 61 RBIs. In 1913 he was named player/manager and hit .285 while the Cubs finished in third place with an 88-65 record. Fired as manager after the season, the Cubs attempted to trade him and the NL owners gave him his release and he sold his contract to the Braves, where manager George Stallings appointed him team captain.  

1914 Season Summary

Appeared in 139 games

2B – 139

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 612 [18]

At Bats – 491

Runs – 81 [9]

Hits – 137

Doubles – 20

Triples – 3

Home Runs – 1

RBI – 40

Bases on Balls – 87 [4]

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 26

Stolen Bases – 12

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .279 [16]

OBP - .390 [7]

Slugging Pct. - .338

Total Bases – 166

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 2

Sac Hits – 31 [3]

Sac Flies – N/A

Midseason snapshot: HR – 0, RBI – 20, AVG. - .303, OBP – .402

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Most hits, game – 3 on eight occasions

Longest hitting streak – 8 games

HR at home – 0

HR on road – 1

Most home runs, game – 1 (in 1 AB) at Brooklyn 10/6

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 2 vs. NY Giants 6/27, vs, NY Giants 9/7

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding

Chances – 715

Put Outs – 301

Assists – 397

Errors – 17

DP – 73

Pct. - .976

Postseason Batting: 4 G (World Series vs. Phila. A’s)

PA – 18, AB – 16, R – 2, H – 7, 2B – 0, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 2, BB – 2, IBB – N/A, SO – 2, SB – 1, CS – N/A, AVG - .438, OBP - .500, SLG - .438, TB – 7, GDP – N/A, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – N/A

Awards & Honors:

NL MVP: Chalmers Award

Top 5 in NL MVP Voting:

Johnny Evers, BosB.: 50 pts. - 78% share

Rabbit Maranville, BosB.: 44 pts. – 69% share

Bill James, BosB.: 33 pts. – 52% share

George Burns, NYG: 31 pts. – 48% share

Dots Miller, StLC.: 18 pts. – 28% share

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Braves went 94-59 to win the NL pennant by 10.5 games over the New York Giants. The team led the league in walks drawn (502). “The Miracle Braves” were in last place on July 4 before taking off on a 43-13 stretch that put them in first on Sept. 8. Won World Series over the Philadelphia Athletics, 4 games to 0.

Aftermath of ‘14:

Evers appeared in only 83 games in 1915 due to injuries and suspensions, and he hit .263 with six extra-base hits. Following a mediocre 1916 season and poor first half in 1917, he was waived by the Braves and finished the year with the Philadelphia Phillies. Overall for the season Evers batted just .214. Signed by the Boston Red Sox in 1918, he was released without seeing any action. Evers served as a coach with the New York Giants in 1920 and managed the Cubs for 96 games in 1921 and appeared in one game for the White Sox in 1922, another team that he later managed with unimpressive results. He eventually returned to the Braves as a coach and scout. Overall for his major league playing career Evers hit .270 with 1659 hits that included 216 doubles, 70 triples, and 12 home runs. He also accumulated 536 RBIs and 324 stolen bases. With the Braves he batted .254 with 278 hits that included 28 doubles, 5 triples, and 2 home runs while also accumulating 77 RBIs and 25 stolen bases. In 20 postseason games, he hit .316. Evers ran a sporting goods store after his retirement from baseball. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946, a year before his death at age 65. His younger brother Joe appeared in one game with the Giants in 1913.

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MVP Profiles feature players in the National or American leagues who were winners of the Chalmers Award (1911-14), League Award (1922-29), or Baseball Writers’ Association of America Award (1931 to present) as Most Valuable Player.

Cy Young Profile: Randy Johnson, 2001

Pitcher, Arizona Diamondbacks

Age:  38 (Sept. 10)

3^rd season with Diamondbacks

Bats – Right, Throws – Left

Height: 6’10” Weight: 225

Prior to 2001:

A native of California, Johnson starred in baseball and basketball in high school. He received a scholarship to USC for both sports and was originally drafted as an amateur by the Braves in 1982, without signing a contract. Johnson spent three seasons playing college baseball and was drafted by Montreal in 1985, this time signing. With his great pitching speed, he moved up quickly through the minor league system, where he worked on his control. Johnson made his first major league appearance with the Expos late in the 1988 season, after having gone 8-7 with a 3.26 ERA for Class AAA Indianapolis, and started four games, compiling a 3-0 record and 2.42 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 26 innings pitched. Off to an 0-4 start in 1989, “The Big Unit” was traded to Seattle in May and went 7-9 in 22 starts with his new club and had a 4.40 ERA. In 1990, Johnson pitched the first no-hitter in franchise history against Detroit as part of a breakout season in which he compiled a 14-11 record with 3.65 ERA and continued to struggle with his control while leading the AL with 120 walks to go along with 194 strikeouts in 219.2 innings. He was also chosen to his first All-Star game. Continuing to improve, Johnson accumulated over 200 strikeouts for the first time in 1991 (228) and led the league for the first of four consecutive years with 241 in ’92 (the last of three straight seasons in which he topped the circuit in walks). He was again an All-Star in 1993, a year in which he compiled a 19-8 record and was 13-6 during the strike-abbreviated 1994 season. In 1995 the Mariners reached the postseason for the first time in franchise history and Johnson contributed an 18-2 record and AL-leading 294 strikeouts and 2.48 ERA. He received the AL Cy Young Award for his performance. In 1996 major back surgery limited “The Big Unit” to eight games, but he rebounded with a 20-4 record and 291 strikeouts in ’97. With talk of a trade swirling throughout the 1998 season, Johnson got off to a 9-10 record and 4.33 ERA before being dealt to the Houston Astros at the trade deadline. He helped his new club to a division title with a 10-1 record and 1.28 ERA. Entering the free agent market, Johnson signed a four-year contract worth $52 million with the second-year Diamondbacks in 1999. He had an excellent season for Arizona in ’99, posting a 17-9 record while leading the NL in ERA (2.48), strikeouts (364), innings pitched (271.2), and complete games (12), garnering another Cy Young Award. The team topped the NL West, although the Diamondbacks lost to the Mets in the NLDS. Johnson followed up with another Cy Young Award-winning season in 2000, compiling a 19-7 record with 347 strikeouts and a 2.64 ERA for the 85-77 Diamondbacks. He created a productive tandem with RHP Curt Schilling, who was acquired midway through the 2000 season.

2001 Season Summary

Appeared in 35 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 35

Games Started – 34 [4, tied with twelve others]

Complete Games – 3 [7, tied with six others]

Wins – 21 [3]

Losses – 6

PCT - .778 [2]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 2 [3, tied with Randy Wolf, Todd Ritchie & Albie Lopez]

Innings Pitched – 249.2 [2]

Hits – 181

Runs – 74

Earned Runs – 69

Home Runs – 19

Bases on Balls – 71 [20]

Strikeouts – 372 [1]

ERA – 2.49 [1]

Hit Batters – 18 [3]

Balks – 1 [12, tied with many others]

Wild Pitches – 8 [9, tied with six others]

League-leading strikeouts were +79 ahead of runner-up Curt Schilling

League-leading ERA was -0.49 lower than runner-up Curt Schilling

Midseason Snapshot: 11-5, ERA - 2.71, SO - 202 in 132.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 20 (in 9 IP) vs. Cincinnati 5/8 (Tied MLB record)

10+ strikeout games – 23

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 1 (in 7.1 IP) vs. San Diego 7/24, (in 7 IP) at San Diego 7/18

Batting

PA – 91, AB – 80, R – 2, H – 8, 2B – 0, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 2, BB – 3, SO – 38, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .100, GDP – 3, HBP – 1, SH – 7, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 33

Put Outs – 2

Assists – 27

Errors – 4

DP – 1

Pct. - .879

Postseason Pitching:

G – 6 (NLDS vs. St. Louis – 1 G; NLCS vs. Atlanta – 2 G; World Series vs. NY Yankees – 3 G)

GS – 5, CG – 2, Record – 5-1, PCT – .833, SV – 0, ShO – 2, IP – 41.1, H – 25, R – 7, ER – 7, HR – 2, BB – 8, SO – 47, ERA – 1.52, HB – 0, BLK – 0, WP – 0 World Series co-MVP

Awards & Honors:

NL Cy Young Award

All-Star (starting P for NL)

11^th in NL MVP voting (23 points, 5% share)

NL Cy Young voting:

Randy Johnson, Ariz: 156 pts. – 30 of 32 first place votes, 98% share

Curt Schilling, Ariz.: 98 pts. – 2 first place votes, 61% share

Matt Morris, StL.: 31 pts. – 3 first place, 19% share

Jon Lieber, ChiC.: 2 pts. – 1% share

Roy Oswalt, Hou.: 1 pt. – 1% share

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Diamondbacks went 92-70 to finish first in the NL Western Division by 2 games over the San Francisco Giants. The pitching staff led the league in complete games (12), and fewest hits allowed (1352). A 9-game August winning streak advanced the Diamondbacks from third to first in the division, a position that they never relinquished the rest of the way. Won NLDS over the St. Louis Cardinals, 3 games to 2. Won NLCS over the Atlanta Braves, 4 games to 1. Won World Series over the New York Yankees, 4 games to 3. In Game 7 the Diamondbacks overcame a 2-1 9^th inning deficit as New York’s star closer Mariano Rivera gave up 2 runs as Johnson, who relieved Series co-MVP Curt Schilling a day after starting and winning Game 6 came away with a 3-2 Series-clinching win. Johnson became the first pitcher since Detroit’s Mickey Lolich in 1968 to win three games in a single Series.

Aftermath of ‘01:

Johnson was recipient of another Cy Young Award in 2002 following a 24-5 tally and 2.32 ERA with 334 strikeouts. The Diamondbacks fell short in the postseason but “The Big Unit” was re-signed. Knee surgery cut short his 2003 season and Johnson dropped to 6-8 with a 4.26 ERA.  Off to a 3-4 start at age 40 in 2004, Johnson pitched a perfect game against Atlanta. He went on to a 16-14 record and 2.60 ERA and league-leading 290 strikeouts. Looking to shed salary in 2005, the Diamondbacks dealt Johnson to the New York Yankees where he won another 34 games over two seasons before returning to Arizona in 2007. Johnson spent 2007 and ’08 with the Diamondbacks before finishing out his career with San Francisco in 2009. For his major league career, Johnson appeared in 618 games, 603 of which were starts, and compiled 303 wins and 166 losses with a 3.29 ERA and 4875 strikeouts, the second highest total in MLB history to date. His record with Arizona alone was 118-62 with a 2.83 ERA and 2077 strikeouts.  He added another 14 wins in the postseason against 18 losses. He compiled five 300-strikeout seasons, was chosen to ten All-Star Games and won five Cy Young Awards (one in the AL and 4 in the NL with the Diamondbacks). Johnson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015. His #51 was retired by the Diamondbacks.

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Cy Young Profiles feature pitchers who were recipients of the Cy Young Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (1956 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from its inception through 1966 and from 1967 on to one recipient from each major league.  

Rookie of the Year: Carl Morton, 1970

Pitcher, Montreal Expos

Age:  26

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’2”    Weight: 190

Prior to 1970:

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Morton grew up in West Tulsa, Oklahoma where he starred in basketball and football as well as baseball in high school. He moved on to the Univ. of Oklahoma where he was a standout in the outfield and was signed by the Braves in 1964. Playing in the outfield for two Class A teams in 1965 Morton batted .250 with 13 home runs and 63 RBIs. With Kinston of the Class A Carolina League in 1966 his average dropped to .227 with 13 home runs and 40 RBIs. The decision was made to convert him into a pitcher in 1967 where, still with Kinston, he produced a 10-9 record in 22 starts with a 3.19 ERA and 125 strikeouts over 161 innings pitched. Moving up to Shreveport of the Class AA Texas League in 1968 he was 13-5 with a 2.72 ERA and 130 strikeouts over the course of 179 innings pitched. Chosen by the Expos in the expansion draft for the 1969 season, Morton started and finished the season with Montreal but was with the Vancouver Mounties of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League in between, compiling an 8-6 record with a 3.52 ERA and 86 strikeouts over 133 innings pitched. With the Expos in his first taste of major league action he was 0-3 in 8 games with a 4.60 ERA. Reliant on his fastball, Morton joined the youthful pitching rotation in 1970.

1970 Season Summary

Appeared in 43 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 43

Games Started – 37 [6, tied with Gary Nolan & Claude Osteen]

Complete Games – 10 [13, tied with Don Sutton, Phil Niekro & Wayne Simpson]

Wins – 18 [5, tied with Tom Seaver, Bill Hands & Gary Nolan]

Losses – 11

PCT - .621 [9]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 4 [2, tied with Dock Ellis, Don Sutton & Claude Osteen]

Innings Pitched – 284.2 [6]

Hits – 281 [2]

Runs – 123 [9, tied with Steve Carlton]

Earned Runs – 114 [5]

Home Runs – 27 [9, tied with Gaylord Perry, Steve Renko & George Stone]

Bases on Balls – 125 [1]

Strikeouts – 154 [16, tied with Clay Kirby]

ERA – 3.60 [16]

Hit Batters – 4

Balks – 3 [1, tied with Ron Herbel, Jerry Koosman & Woodie Fryman]

Wild Pitches – 2

League-leading bases on balls were +5 ahead of runner-up Clay Kirby

Midseason Snapshot: 10-6, ERA - 3.79, SO - 75 in 130.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 10 (in 9 IP) vs. NY Mets 5/20

10+ strikeout games – 1

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 9 IP) vs. Philadelphia 9/11

Batting

PA – 112, AB – 93, R – 6, H – 15, 2B – 2, 3B – 0, HR – 2, RBI – 7, BB – 6, SO – 29, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .161, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 11, SF – 2

Fielding

Chances – 73

Put Outs – 29

Assists – 42

Errors – 2

DP – 2

Pct. - .973

Awards & Honors:

NL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

27th in NL MVP voting, tied with Bob Robertson, Pitt. (3 points, 1% share)

9^th in NL Cy Young voting (2 points, 2% share)

NL ROY Voting:

Carl Morton, Mon.: 11 of 24 votes, 46% share

Bernie Carbo, Cin.: 8 votes, 33% share

Larry Bowa, Phila.: 3 votes, 13% share

Cesar Cedeno, Hou.: 1 vote, 4% share

Wayne Simpson, Cin.: 1 vote, 4% share

The second-year Expos went 73-89 to finish sixth in the NL Eastern Division, 16 games behind the division-winning Pittsburgh Pirates. The pitching staff led the league in walks issued (716).

Aftermath of ‘70:

Bothered by a sore elbow in 1971, Morton’s record dropped to 10-18 with a 4.80 ERA. Limited to 27 starts in 1972 he finished at 7-13 with a 3.92 ERA. In the offseason he was traded to the Braves for RHP Pat Jarvis. Morton rebounded to 15-10 with a 3.41 ERA in 1973 and improved to 16-12 with a 3.15 ERA in 1974. Morton developed a screwball and straight change-up in 1975 and produced a 17-16 record for the 67-94 Braves with a 3.50 ERA. He then endured a 22-game winless streak that lasted through the first half of 1976 on his way to a 4-9 tally and 4.17 ERA in 1976 with the last-place Braves. Morton was dealt to the Texas Rangers in the offseason as part of the trade that brought slugging outfielder Jeff Burroughs to Atlanta. Failing to make the Rangers in 1977 he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies and was 9-12 for their Class AAA club, the Oklahoma City 89ers of the American Association. Released by the Phillies he then failed to catch on with Pittsburgh in 1978, which marked the end of his career. Over the course of his major league career that started with such promise, Morton compiled an 87-92 record with a 3.73 ERA and 650 strikeouts over 1648.2 innings pitched. With the Expos he was 35-45 with a 4.09 ERA and 305 strikeouts over 699.2 innings. He died of a heart attack after jogging at age 39 in 1983.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were recipients of the Rookie of the Year Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (1947 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from its inception through 1948 and from 1949 on to one recipient from each major league. 

Cy Young Profile: Roy Halladay, 2003

Pitcher, Toronto Blue Jays

Age:  26 (May 14)

5^th season with Blue Jays

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’6”    Weight: 225

Prior to 2003:

A native of Colorado, Halladay played baseball at the Little League, Babe Ruth, and American Legion levels while growing up. Coached in pitching by Bus Campbell, a long-time youth instructor in the Denver area, he was highly successful at Arvada West High School, producing a 26-2 record that included two no-hitters. Halladay was also second-team All-State in basketball. He was chosen by the Blue Jays in the first round of the 1995 amateur draft and signed for $895,000. Halladay was first assigned to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and produced a 3-5 record with a 3.40 ERA and 48 strikeouts over 50.1 innings pitched. Moving on to Dunedin of the advanced Class A Florida State League in 1996 he started 27 games and went 15-7 with a 2.73 ERA and 109 strikeouts. He also added a change-up to his pitching repertoire along with his fastball. Halladay spent 1997 with Knoxville of the Class AA Southern League and Syracuse of the Class AAA International League, compiling a 9-13 overall record with a 4.77 ERA and 94 strikeouts. Back with Syracuse in 1998 he missed a month due to a strained pitching shoulder but still finished with a 9-5 record and 3.79 ERA. Earning a September call-up to the Blue Jays, he started two games and won one of them in which he took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against Detroit before giving up a two-out home run and still completed the 2-1 win. Utilized as both a starter and reliever in 1999 Halladay pitched 149.1 innings and was 8-7 with a 3.92 ERA and a save and 82 strikeouts. He encountered difficulties in 2000 which had him going back-and-forth between Toronto and Syracuse. With the Blue Jays he started 13 of his 19 games and compiled a 4-7 record with an ungainly 10.64 ERA. He was demoted back to Class A Dunedin to start the 2001 season and at Class AA Tennessee he worked on his mechanics and delivery and went 2-1 with a 2.12 ERA in five games. Moving back up to Syracuse, Halladay appeared in two games before returning to the Blue Jays in July. Over the remainder of the season he produced a 5-3 record with a 3.16 ERA and 96 strikeouts over 105.1 innings pitched. Halladay broke out in 2002 with a 19-7 tally and 2.93 ERA while striking out 168 batters over the course of a league-leading 239.1 innings pitched. With a strong sinker to go along with his cutter and curve Halladay was effective at generating ground ball outs. Furthermore, he was christened with the nickname “Doc” after the legendary Wild West figure Doc Holliday.

2003 Season Summary

Appeared in 36 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 36

Games Started – 36 [1]

Complete Games – 9 [1, tied with Bartolo Colon & Mark Mulder]

Wins – 22 [1]

Losses – 7

PCT - .759 [2]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 2 [1, tied with four others]

Innings Pitched – 266 [1]

Hits – 253 [1]

Runs – 111 [10, tied with Brad Radke, Nate Cornejo & Mark Hendrickson]

Earned Runs – 96

Home Runs – 26 [16]

Bases on Balls – 32

Strikeouts – 204 [3]

ERA – 3.25 [5]

Hit Batters – 9 [19, tied with four others]

Balks – 1 [18, tied with many others]

Wild Pitches – 6

League-leading games started were +1 ahead of runners-up Mark Buehrle, John Thomson & Barry Zito

League-leading wins were +1 ahead of runners-up Esteban Loaiza, Jamie Moyer & Andy Pettitte

League-leading innings pitched were +24 ahead of runner-up Bartolo Colon

League-leading hits allowed were +3 ahead of runner-up Mark Buehrle

Midseason Snapshot: 13-2, ERA - 3.41, SO – 115 in 153 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 10 (in 7 IP) vs. Boston 4/10, (in 9 IP) vs. NY Yankees 9/1

10+ strikeout games – 2

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 7 IP) vs. Baltimore 7/27

Batting

PA – 9, AB – 9, R – 2, H – 1, 2B – 0, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 0, BB – 0, SO – 3, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .111, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 74

Put Outs – 23

Assists – 50

Errors – 1

DP – 5

Pct. - .986

Awards & Honors:

AL Cy Young Award: BBWAA

AL Pitcher of the Year: Sporting News

All-Star

AL Cy Young voting (Top 5):

Roy Halladay, Tor.: 136 pts. – 26 of 28 first place votes, 97% share

Esteban Loaiza, ChiWS.: 63 pts. – 2 first place votes, 45% share

Pedro Martinez, Bos.: 20 pts. – 14% share

Tim Hudson, Oak.: 15 pts. – 11% share

Jamie Moyer, Sea.: 12 pts. – 9% share

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Blue Jays went 86-76 to finish third in the AL Eastern Division, 15 games behind the division-winning New York Yankees. A poor April was followed by a strong May performance by the Blue Jays, after which they fell out of contention the rest of the way.

Aftermath of ‘03:

Halladay was hampered by a sore shoulder in 2004 and dropped to 8-8 with a 4.20 ERA. His performance was stronger in 2005 until a leg fracture ended his season in July. He finished with a 12-4 tally and 2.41 ERA and his five complete games still ended up leading the AL. He had already been named to the AL All-Star team as well. Back healthy in 2006 Halladay was again an All-Star on his way to a 16-5 record, which gave him a league-leading .762 winning percentage, with a 3.19 ERA and 132 strikeouts over 220 innings pitched. 2007 was another strong year for Halladay in which he was 16-7 with a 3.71 ERA and league-leading 7 complete games while pitching 225.1 innings and accumulating 139 strikeouts. In 2008 he was a 20-game winner with a 20-11 record and 2.78 ERA, also topping the AL in innings pitched (246) and complete games (9). He struck out 206 batters and finished second in AL Cy Young Award voting in addition to being an All-Star. Halladay had another outstanding season in 2009 amid trade rumors due to Toronto’s recent lack of success on the field and at the gate and the pitcher being a year away from free agency. He finished the season with the Blue Jays and was 17-10 with a 2.79 ERA and a league-leading 9 complete games and 4 shutouts. Following the season Halladay was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for three players and his new club extended his contract through 2013. A strong 2010 season was highlighted by a perfect game against the Marlins in Miami on his way to a 21-10 record for the NL East-winning Phillies with a 2.44 ERA and 219 strikeouts. He led the NL with 9 complete games, 4 shutouts, and 250.2 innings pitched and received the league’s Cy Young Award. In his first taste of postseason action Halladay no-hit the Cincinnati Reds in the first game of the NLDS, only the second postseason no-hitter in major league history. Philadelphia went on to sweep the Reds and lost the NLCS to the Giants despite two strong efforts by Halladay. He was outstanding once again in 2011, compiling a 19-6 record with a 2.35 ERA and 220 strikeouts while again topping the league with 8 complete games. The Phillies once again finished first in the NL East but lost the NLDS to the St. Louis Cardinals. Halladay was hindered by a sore back in 2012 and stumbled to an 11-8 tally with a 4.49 ERA and 132 strikeouts over the course of 156.1 innings pitched. Suffering from several injuries in 2013 Halladay started only 13 games and went 4-5 with a 6.82 ERA. It marked the end of his pitching career. Overall he compiled a 203-105 record with a 3.38 ERA. 20 of his 67 complete games were shutouts. Halladay was 148-76 with the Blue Jays with a 3.43 ERA, 15 shutouts, and 1495 strikeouts. He was an eight-time All-Star as well as two-time Cy Young Award-winner. He died in the crash of his amphibious airplane in the Gulf of Mexico off the Florida coast in 2017 at age 40. The Blue Jays retired Halladay’s #32 and the Phillies named him to their Wall of Fame. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019 and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017.        

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Cy Young Profiles feature pitchers who were recipients of the Cy Young Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (1956 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from its inception through 1966 and from 1967 on to one recipient from each major league.  

Rookie of the Year: Mike Hargrove, 1974

First Baseman, Texas Rangers

Age:  24

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 195

Prior to 1974:

A native of Perryton, Texas, Hargrove played football, basketball, and golf in a high school which did not field a baseball team. Moving on to Northwestern Oklahoma State University, he joined the baseball team and led the conference in batting as a freshman. Hargrove was chosen by the Rangers in the 25^th round of the 1972 amateur draft and signed for a $2000 bonus. He was first assigned to Geneva of the short-season Class A New York-Pennsylvania League in ’72 and hit .267 in 70 games. He spent 1973 with Gastonia of the Class A Western Carolinas League and led the circuit with a .351 average. After a strong performance playing winter instructional ball Hargrove was invited to spring training with the Rangers and made the club.

1974 Season Summary

Appeared in 131 games

1B – 91, DH – 32, LF – 6, PH – 17

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 477

At Bats – 415

Runs – 57

Hits – 134

Doubles – 18

Triples – 6 [11, tied with six others]

Home Runs – 4

RBI – 66

Bases on Balls – 49

Int. BB – 4

Strikeouts – 42

Stolen Bases – 0

Caught Stealing – 0

Average - .323 [Non-qualifying]

OBP - .395 [Non-qualifying]

Slugging Pct. - .424

Total Bases – 176

GDP – 11

Hit by Pitches – 4

Sac Hits – 4

Sac Flies – 5

Midseason snapshot: HR- 3, RBI- 32, AVG - .326., SB - 20, OBP - .398

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) at Minnesota 7/2

Longest hitting streak – 7 games

Most HR, game – 1 (in 3 AB) at NY Yankees 4/28, (in 4 AB) vs. Kansas City 5/8, (in 4 AB) at Cleveland 6/6, (in 5 AB) at Detroit 8/25

HR at home – 1

HR on road – 3

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 3 vs. Chi. White Sox 7/27, at Chi. White Sox 8/4, vs. Detroit 8/10

Pinch-hitting – 4 of 13 (.308) with 1 2B & 4 RBI

Fielding

Chances – 712

Put Outs – 631

Assists – 72

Errors – 9

DP - 57

Pct. - .987

Awards & Honors:

AL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

AL ROY Voting:

Mike Hargrove, Tex.: 16 of 23 votes, 67% share

Bucky Dent, ChiWS.: 3 votes, 13% share

George Brett, KC: 2 votes, 8% share

Rick Burleson, Bos.: 1 vote, 4% share

Jim Sundberg, Tex.: 1 vote, 4% share

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Rangers went 84-76 to finish second in the AL Western Division, 5 games behind the division-winning Oakland Athletics. 

Aftermath of ‘74:

Hargrove had another good year at the plate in 1975, hitting .303 with 11 home runs and 62 RBIs. He was also an All-Star selection. Shifted to left field during the season due to personnel changes, Hargrove displayed only average speed and defensive skills. He also exhibited a fiery temper and became known for his elaborate batting rituals that caused him to be nicknamed “The Human Rain Delay”. Hargrove was back at first base, his natural position, in 1976 and batted .287 while leading the AL by drawing 97 walks. As a fielder he led all the league’s first baseman by committing 21 errors. He was better in the field in 1977 and hit .305 with 18 home runs and 69 RBIs while drawing 103 walks. Hargrove’s batting average dropped to .251 in 1978 although he still compiled a .388 on-base percentage thanks to his 107 walks drawn. In the offseason he was part of a trade to San Diego for outfielder Oscar Gamble. He was with the Padres until June of ’79 when he was dealt to the Cleveland Indians who moved him to left field. He hit .325 with 10 home runs and 56 RBIs in 100 games over the rest of 1979 with the Indians. Hargrove spent 1980 at first base due to a season-ending knee injury suffered by veteran slugger Andre Thornton in the spring. He batted .304 with 11 home runs and 85 RBIs. He continued to spell the injured Thornton during the strike-interrupted 1981 season and topped the AL with a .424 on-base percentage. Hargrove remained at first base in 1982 and batted .271 while Thornton was utilized as the designated hitter. The steady but unspectacular Hargrove lasted for three more years with Cleveland when his playing career came to an end after the 1985 season.  Overall, he batted .290 with 1614 hits that included 266 doubles, 28 triples, and 80 home runs. He also accumulated 686 RBIs. With the Rangers he averaged .293 with 730 hits, 122 doubles, 14 triples, 47 home runs, and 295 RBIs. He was a one-time All-Star. Hargrove went on to become a major league manager, guiding the Indians to a 721-591 record from 1991 to ’99 that included two AL pennants. He also managed the Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners with far less success.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were recipients of the Rookie of the Year Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (1947 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from its inception through 1948 and from 1949 on to one recipient from each major league.