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.