Cy Young Profile: Tom Seaver, 1973

Pitcher, New York Mets

Age:  28

7^th season with Mets

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 195

Prior to 1973:

A native of Fresno, California, Seaver started in Little League at age 9 as a pitcher/outfielder. Performing well in high school, he moved on to Fresno City College, where he won 11 straight games in his second year and transferred to USC. In his first season at USC Seaver was 10-2 with 100 strikeouts in 100 innings pitched. He was selected by the Braves in the 1966 amateur draft. The Braves signed him while his college season was in progress, which was in violation of major league rules. Commissioner William Eckert voided the contract and allowed three teams, the Mets, Indians, and Phillies, to participate in a lottery for Seaver since they were willing to match the $51,500 offer made by the Braves. The Mets won the lottery. Seaver was assigned to the Jacksonville Suns of the Class AAA International League and compiled a 12-12 record with a 3.13 ERA and 188 strikeouts in 210 innings pitched in ‘66. Seaver advanced to the perennially-losing Mets in 1967. He posted a 16-13 record with a 2.76 ERA and received NL Rookie of the Year as well as All-Star recognition. Seaver followed up with another solid season in 1968, going 16-12 with a 2.20 ERA and again gaining All-Star recognition. With the Mets undergoing a transition that would pay dividends in another year, Seaver was joined in the pitching rotation by rookie LHP Jerry Koosman, to good effect. Seaver and the Mets prospered in 1969 as the club won the NL East in the first year of divisional play in the major leagues and went on to win the World Series over the Baltimore Orioles. Seaver contributed a 25-7 record with a 2.21 ERA and 208 strikeouts. In a July game against the Cubs, the chief division rival, Seaver took a perfect game into the ninth inning, only to end up with a one-hit shutout. The team’s primary leader and motivator, he added two more wins in the postseason and received the NL Cy Young Award in addition to placing second in league MVP voting. In 1970 Seaver tied the then-major league record with 19 strikeouts in a game against San Diego, the last 10 in succession. He went on to compile an 18-12 record while leading the NL in both ERA (2.82) and strikeouts (283). The Mets placed third in the NL East and Seaver finished seventh in voting for the NL Cy Young Award. He again led the NL with a 1.76 ERA and 289 strikeouts in 1971 while posting a 20-10 tally with the 83-79 Mets. The perfectionist pitcher known as “Tom Terrific” or “The Franchise”, with his excellent fastball and slider, continued to excel in 1972, going 21-12 with a 2.92 ERA and 249 strikeouts for an 83-73 club that finished last in NL team batting (.225). He tied for fifth in NL Cy Young voting.

1973 Season Summary

Appeared in 39 games

P – 36, PR – 3

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 36

Games Started – 36 [7, tied with Dave Roberts, Ross Grimsley & Rick Reuschel]

Complete Games – 18 [1, tied with Steve Carlton]

Wins – 19 [2, tied with Jack Billingham]

Losses – 10

PCT - .655 [4, tied with Jack Billingham]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 3 [7, tied with seventeen others]

Innings Pitched – 290 [3]

Hits – 219 [16, tied with Bob Moose]

Runs – 74

Earned Runs – 67

Home Runs – 23 [14, tied with Ron Bryant]

Bases on Balls – 64

Strikeouts – 251 [1]

ERA – 2.08 [1]

Hit Batters – 4 [20, tied with nineteen others]

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 5

League-leading strikeouts were +28 ahead of runner-up Steve Carlton

League-leading ERA was -0.34 lower than runner-up Don Sutton

Midseason Snapshot: 11-5, 2.02 ERA, SO – 147 in 169.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 16 (in 9 IP) at San Francisco 5/29

10+ strikeout games – 6

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 9 IP) at Pittsburgh 5/12, (in 9 IP) at San Diego 8/15

Batting

PA – 109, AB – 93, R – 9, H – 15, 2B – 2, 3B – 1, HR – 1, RBI – 5, BB – 7, SO – 34, SB – 1, CS – 0, AVG - .161, GDP – 3, HBP – 0, SH – 9, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 66

Put Outs – 26

Assists – 35

Errors – 5

DP – 1

Pct. - .924

Postseason Pitching: G – 4 (NLCS vs. Cincinnati – 2 G; World Series vs. Oakland – 2 G)

GS – 4, CG – 1, Record – 1-2, PCT – .333, SV – 0, ShO – 0, IP – 31.2, H – 26, R – 8, ER – 7, HR – 2, BB – 8, SO – 35, HB – 1, BLK – 0, WP – 2, ERA – 1.99

Awards & Honors:

NL Cy Young Award: BBWAA

NL Pitcher of the Year: Sporting News

All-Star

8^th in NL MVP voting (57 points, 17% share)

NL Cy Young Voting (Top 5):

Tom Seaver, NYM.: 71 pts. – 10 of 24 first place votes, 59% share

Mike Marshall, Mon.: 54 pts. – 9 first place votes, 45% share

Ron Bryant, SF: 50 pts. – 3 first place votes, 42% share

Jack Billingham, Cin.: 30 pts. – 2 first place votes, 25% share

Don Sutton, LAD: 7 pts. – 6% share

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Mets went 82-79 to finish first in the NL Eastern Division by 1.5 games over the St. Louis Cardinals. The pitching staff led the league in strikeouts (1027). In a down year for the NL East, the Mets were in last place at the end of August before finishing the season with a 20-8 run to narrowly take the division. Won NLCS over the Cincinnati Reds, 3 games to 2, in a series highlighted by the Game 3 fight between SS Bud Harrelson and Cincinnati LF Pete Rose in a game that was ultimately a 9-2 win for the Mets. Lost World Series to the Oakland Athletics, 4 games to 3.

Aftermath of ‘73:

Seaver was rewarded in the offseason with a $172,000 contract that made him the highest-paid pitcher at the time but was dogged by shoulder and hip pain in 1974 and dropped to an 11-11 record with a 3.20 ERA and 201 strikeouts over 236 innings pitched. He missed being an All-Star for the first time in his career but came back strong in 1975 with a 22-9 tally and 2.38 ERA, leading the NL with 243 strikeouts. For his performance he won his third Cy Young Award. In a September game he took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against the Cubs in Chicago, gave up a hit, and the scoreless contest went into extra innings with the Mets losing in the eleventh (Seaver pitched 10 shutout innings, surrendering three hits in all in his second no-hit near-miss against the Cubs). 1976 was a relative down year for Seaver in which he produced a 14-11 record for the light-hitting Mets with a respectable 2.59 ERA and NL-leading 235 strikeouts. Seaver became embroiled in a contract dispute with board chairman M. Donald Grant that became highly publicized in the media and led to his being traded to the Cincinnati Reds for four players in the so-called “Midnight Massacre” in June of 1977. Seaver was 7-3 with a 3.00 ERA at the time of the deal and finished up the year with a 21-6 record and 2.58 ERA and 196 strikeouts, tying for third in NL Cy Young balloting. He followed up with a 16-14 tally in 1978 with a 2.88 ERA and 226 strikeouts. Battling injuries in 1979 Seaver went 16-6 with a 3.14 ERA and 131 strikeouts for the division-topping Reds. Arm trouble limited him to 168 innings in 1980 and a 10-8 record with a 3.64 ERA and 101 strikeouts. He bounced back to 14-2 with a 2.54 ERA in the strike-interrupted 1981 season and placed second in NL Cy Young Award voting. Suffering from a respiratory infection during spring training in 1982, Seaver’s record dropped to a dismal 5-13 with a 5.50 ERA for the last-place Reds, with a sore shoulder finishing his season in August. In the offseason, the 38-year-old fading star was traded back to the Mets. The result was a 9-14 mark in 1983 with a 3.55 ERA and 135 strikeouts in 231 innings pitched. He changed teams again in the ensuing offseason when the Chicago White Sox took him as a free agent compensation selection. He spent two ordinary years with the White Sox, producing a 15-11 record with a 3.95 ERA in 1984 and going 16-11, including his 300^th career win, in ‘85 with a 3.17 ERA. During the 1986 season he was dealt to the Boston Red Sox, who were on the way to their first pennant since 1975, where his long career came to an end.  Overall for his major league career, Seaver compiled a 311-205 record with a 2.86 ERA and 3640 strikeouts in 4783 innings pitched. He pitched over 250 innings ten times and reached 200 strikeouts also on ten occasions, leading the NL five times. With the Mets Seaver was 198-124 with a 2.57 ERA and 2541 strikeouts. He was a 12-time All-Star (9 with the Mets) and won three Cy Young Awards (all with the Mets). In the postseason Seaver was 3-3 with a 2.77 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 61.2 innings pitched. The Mets retired his #41 and he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992 by receiving 98.84 % of votes cast (a record at the time).

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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: Justin Morneau, 2006

First Baseman, Minnesota Twins

Age:  25 (May 15)

4^th season with Twins

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 6’4”    Weight: 220

Prior to 2006:

A native of New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada, Morneau grew up playing ice hockey as well as baseball and was named New Westminster High School’s Athlete of the Year in 1999. Selected by the Twins in the third round of the ’99 amateur draft, the 18-year-old Morneau was first assigned to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League where he batted .302 in 17 games. With two Rookie-level teams in 2000 he hit .382 with 11 home runs and 61 RBIs. Playing for three clubs from Class A to AA in 2001 he hit a combined .314 with 16 home runs and 97 RBIs. Spending 2002 with New Britain of the Class AA Eastern League, Morneau batted .298 with 16 home runs and 80 RBIs. Due to the presence of Doug Mientkiewicz at first base in Minnesota, Morneau anticipated another year of minor league play in 2003, but he was called up to the Twins in June and, appearing primarily as a Designated Hitter and pinch-hitter, he hit .226 with 4 home runs and 16 RBIs, which landed him back in Class AAA. Following a stint of winter ball in Puerto Rico, Morneau started 2004 with Rochester of the Class AAA International League. When Mientkiewicz was injured, Morneau returned to the Twins to take over at first base and, while not yet up to par defensively, he batted .271 with 19 home runs and 58 RBIs. The front office was satisfied enough to deal Mientkiewicz at midseason. The team won the AL Central Division title. A series of illnesses afflicted Morneau in the offseason, but once healthy he suffered a concussion due to a beaning in April of 2005. While he hit very well following his return to the lineup, he slumped in May, prior to suffering an elbow injury. For the year, his average dipped to .239 and he hit 22 home runs with 79 RBIs.  

2006 Season Summary

Appeared in 157 games

1B – 153, DH – 4, PH – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 661

At Bats – 592

Runs – 97 [19, tied with Paul Konerko & Tadahito Iguchi]

Hits – 190 [7, tied with Grady Sizemore]

Doubles – 37 [18, tied with Miguel Tejada & Victor Martinez]

Triples – 1

Home Runs – 34 [12, tied with Richie Sexson]

RBI – 130 [2]

Bases on Balls – 53

Int. BB – 9 [14]

Strikeouts – 93

Stolen Bases – 3

Caught Stealing – 3

Average - .321 [7, tied with Manny Ramirez]

OBP - .375 [18, tied with Grady Sizemore]

Slugging Pct. - .559 [6]

Total Bases – 331 [5, tied with Vernon Wells]

GDP – 10

Hit by Pitches – 5

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 11 [1, tied with Kevin Youkilis & Orlando Cabrera]

Midseason snapshot: HR – 23, RBI – 73, AVG – .300, SLG – .587

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Most hits, game – 5 (in 5 AB) at Boston 9/19

Longest hitting streak – 16 games

HR at home – 17

HR on road – 17

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 4 AB) at Cleveland 4/7, (in 5 AB) at Texas 5/9, (in 4 AB) vs. Baltimore 6/9 – 12 innings

Multi-HR games – 3

Most RBIs, game – 6 at Texas 5/9

Pinch-hitting – 0 of 1 (.000)

Fielding

Chances - 1416

Put Outs – 1297

Assists – 111

Errors – 8

DP – 113

Pct. - .994

Postseason: 3 G (ALDS vs. Oakland)

PA – 12, AB – 12, R – 3, H – 5, 2B – 1,3B – 0, HR – 2, RBI – 2, BB – 0, IBB – 0, SO – 0, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .417, OBP - .417, SLG -1.000, TB – 12, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Awards & Honors:

AL MVP: BBWAA

Silver Slugger

Top 5 in AL MVP Voting:

Justin Morneau, Min.: 320 pts. - 15 of 28 first place votes, 82% share

Derek Jeter, NYY: 306 pts. – 12 first place votes, 78% share

David Ortiz, Bos.: 193 pts. – 49% share

Frank Thomas, Oak.: 174 pts. – 44% share

Jermaine Dye, ChiWS.: 156 pts. – 40% share

(1 first place vote for Johan Santana, Min., who ranked seventh)

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Twins went 96-66 to finish first in the AL Central Division by 1 game over the Detroit Tigers, while leading the league in hits (1608, tied with the New York Yankees), batting (.287), and fewest batter strikeouts (872). Off to a slow start that had them 10.5 games behind the Tigers by the end of May, the Twins surged in the second half to catch Detroit on Sept. 28 and clinched the AL Central title on the season’s last day. Lost ALDS to the Oakland Athletics, 3 games to 0.

Aftermath of ‘06:

Morneau followed up in 2007 by batting .271 with 31 home runs and 111 RBIs while gaining his first All-Star selection. In the offseason his contract was extended by six years for $80 million. The Twins battled the White Sox to a tie atop the AL Central in 2008, losing a one-game playoff to Chicago. Morneau contributed 23 home runs, 129 RBIs, and a .300 batting average and placed second in league MVP balloting. Hitting well in 2009, he suffered a stress fracture in his back and was held to 135 games in which he hit .274 with 30 home runs and 100 RBIs and he missed the postseason. Catcher Joe Mauer, the other half of the M & M batting duo, received league MVP honors. In 2010, Morneau was hitting very well until suffering a concussion while attempting to break up a double play against Toronto. The injury cost him the second half of the season and he ended up hitting .345 in 81 games with 18 home runs and 56 RBIs. Neck surgery cost Morneau two months of the 2011 season and then a shoulder injury finished it. Limited to 69 games, he batted just .227 with 4 home runs and 30 RBIs. Healthy in 2012, he hit .267 with 19 home runs and 77 RBIs. The Twins were looking to deal Morneau in 2013 and he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates at the end of August. Batting .259 with 17 home runs and 74 RBIs at the time of the trade, he filled a need for the Pirates at first base and hit .260 over 25 games as Pittsburgh finished second in the NL Central and reached the postseason for the first time since 1992. In the offseason he signed a two-year, $14 million contract with the Colorado Rockies. He won the NL batting championship in 2014 as he hit .319 with 17 home runs and 82 RBIs. Suffering another concussion in 2015 in addition to a neck sprain and sore left elbow, Morneau appeared in 49 games and batted .310 with three home runs and 15 RBIs. He signed with the Chicago White Sox midway through the 2016 season, while still recovering from offseason elbow surgery. He appeared in 58 games with the White Sox as a DH and pinch-hitter and hit .261 with 6 home runs and 25 RBIs in what proved to be his final season. After sitting out 2017 (other than playing for Canada in the World Baseball Classic) Morneau retired to take a position in the Twins organization. For his major league career, he batted .281 with 1603 hits that included 349 doubles, 23 triples, and 247 home runs. He scored 772 runs and further compiled 985 RBIs. With the Twins he registered 1318 hits, 669 runs, 289 doubles, 16 triples, 221 home runs, 860 RBIs, and a .278 batting average. Appearing in 13 postseason games, Morneau hit .302 with two home runs and 4 RBIs. A four-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger recipient, he twice finished in the top two in AL MVP voting (with the one win). The injury problems, most notably those involving concussions, limited his accomplishments as a player. In addition to his work with the Twins in retirement, he has also served as a baseball analyst on television.

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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.

Rookie of the Year: Jim Gilliam, 1953

Second Baseman, Brooklyn Dodgers

Age:  24

Bats – Both, Throws – Right

Height: 5’10” Weight: 175

Prior to 1953:

A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Gilliam began playing semipro baseball at 16, and the following year, he joined the Nashville Black Vols of the Negro Southern League. An intelligent student of the game, he advanced to the Baltimore Elite Giants of the Negro National League where he was a reserve infielder. Due to his difficulty with hitting curveballs by righthanded pitchers, the natural righthanded batter was converted to a switch-hitter. With impressive speed, Gilliam was a contact hitter with limited power who nevertheless tended to hit to all fields. The manager of the Elite Giants nicknamed him “Junior”, one that would prove long-lasting. A very determined player who, throughout his career, was very selective at the plate, Gilliam batted .253 in 1948 and .302 in ’49. In 1948, ’49, and ’50 he was selected to play for the East in the Negro League East-West Games. He also played winter ball in Puerto Rico. Failing in a bid to catch on with the Class AAA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs in 1950, Gilliam played one more season with the Elite Giants and hit .265. The Dodgers bought his contract in 1951 and assigned him to the Montreal Royals of the Class AAA International League. He batted a solid .287 with 22 doubles, 9 triples, 7 home runs, and 73 RBIs while scoring 117 runs. Back with Montreal in 1952 he had a bigger season, hitting .301 with 39 doubles, 9 triples, 9 home runs, and 112 RBIs while scoring 111 runs. He was named league MVP. The Dodgers were coming off a pennant-winning season and there was a feeling that there was a need for un upgrade at the lead-off spot in the lineup. Star second baseman Jackie Robinson was moved to left field to open a spot for Gilliam in the lineup.

1953 Season Summary

Appeared in 151 games

2B – 149, PH – 2, PR – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 710 [1]

At Bats – 605 [11]

Runs – 125 [4]

Hits – 168 [14, tied with Granny Hamner & Joe Adcock]

Doubles – 31 [12, tied with Ed Mathews]

Triples – 17 [1]

Home Runs – 6

RBI – 63

Bases on Balls – 100 [2, tied with Ralph Kiner]

Int. BB – 4

Strikeouts – 38

Stolen Bases – 21 [3]

Caught Stealing – 14 [1, tied with Carlos Bernier]

Average - .278

OBP - .383 [13]

Slugging Pct. - .415

Total Bases – 251

GDP – 7

Hit By Pitches – 3 [20, tied with seventeen others]

Sac Hits – 2

Sac Flies – N/A

League-leading plate appearances were +8 ahead of runner-up Richie Ashburn

League-leading triples were +3 ahead of runner-up Bill Bruton

Midseason snapshot: 3B – 6, HR – 4, RBI – 31, AVG - .236, SLG - .348

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 6 AB) at Cincinnati 9/10 – 11 innings

Longest hitting streak – 9 games

Most HR, game – 1 on six occasions

HR at home – 4

HR on road – 2

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 4 vs. Cincinnati 6/11

Pinch-hitting – 1 of 2 (.500) with 1 R, 1 2B & 1 SB

Fielding

Chances – 777

Put Outs – 332

Assists – 426

Errors – 19

DP - 102

Pct. - .976

Postseason Batting: 6 G (World Series vs. NY Yankees)

PA – 28, AB – 27, R – 4, H – 8, 2B – 3,3B – 0, HR – 2, RBI – 4, BB – 0, IBB – 0, SO – 2, SB – 0, CS – 1, AVG - .296, OBP - .321, SLG - .630, TB – 17, GDP – 0, HBP – 1, SH – 0, SF – N/A

Awards & Honors:

NL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

NL ROY Voting:

Jim Gilliam, Brook.: 11 of 24 votes, 46% share

Harvey Haddix, StLC.: 4 votes, 17% share

Ray Jablonski, StLC.: 3 votes, 13% share

Bill Bruton, Mil.: 2 votes, 8% share

Rip Repulski, StLC.: 2 votes, 8% share

Fred Baczewski, ChiC/Cin.: 1 vote, 4% share

Jim Greengrass, Cin.: 1 vote, 4% share

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Dodgers went 105-49 to win NL pennant by 13 games over the Milwaukee Braves, while leading the league in runs scored (955), hits (1529), home runs (208), RBIs (887), stolen bases (90), bases on balls drawn (655), batting (.285), OBP (.366), slugging (.474), and total bases (2545). Lost World Series to the New York Yankees, 4 games to 2.

Aftermath of ‘53:

Gilliam followed up in 1954 by batting .282 with 28 doubles, 8 triples, 13 home runs, and 52 RBIs, while scoring 107 runs, but he was less steady defensively. Still usually at second base in 1955, he was occasionally utilized in the outfield. The Dodgers returned to the top of the National League and Gilliam contributed 110 runs, 20 doubles, 8 triples, 7 home runs, and a .249 average along with a .341 on-base percentage thanks to his 70 walks. In the seven-game World Series triumph over the Yankees he produced a .469 OBP thanks to seven hits and eight walks. The low-key and workmanlike Gilliam held off the challenge of young Charley Neal and was an All-Star for the first time in 1956 as he batted .300 with 23 doubles, 8 triples, 6 home runs, and 43 RBIs along with 102 runs scored and a .399 OBP. Brooklyn again won the pennant (but not the World Series) and Gilliam placed fifth in league MVP voting. In the final Brooklyn season for the Dodgers in 1957, “Junior” (who was also known by several other nicknames, such as “Junebug” and “Devil”) dropped to .250 with 89 runs scored and a .323 OBP while appearing almost exclusively at second base. Appreciated by manager Walt Alston for his reliability and versatility, he saw significant action at third base as well as second and the outfield in 1958, hitting .261 in the club’s first season in Los Angeles. The regular third baseman in 1959, he led the NL with 96 walks while batting .282 for the pennant-winning Dodgers. He had a .296 OBP in the World Series victory over the White Sox. In 1960, his average dropped to .248 with a still-solid .359 OBP as well as 96 runs scored and 40 RBIs. Still drawing walks and rarely striking out in 1961, Gilliam’s average was .244 with a .358 on-base percentage. The Dodgers nearly won the NL pennant in 1962 and, typically batting second to base-stealing shortstop Maury Wills, Gilliam hit .270 while drawing 93 walks for a .370 OBP. LA won the pennant and World Series in 1963 and Gilliam contributed 6 home runs, 49 RBIs, 19 stolen bases, and a .354 OBP. He placed sixth in NL MVP voting. The Dodgers dropped to sixth in 1964 and Gilliam found himself on the bench and often used as a late-inning defensive replacement. He was made a coach in 1965 but was reactivated as a player in May and returned to third base. He batted .280 with a .374 OBP as the light-hitting Dodgers won the pennant. His outstanding defensive play in Game 7 of the World Series against Minnesota helped to nail down a 2-0 win in what was the fourth World Series title of Gilliam’s career. He spent one last year as a player/coach in 1966 and retired to serve exclusively as a coach for the Dodgers. For his major league career, spent entirely with the Dodgers, Gilliam batted .265 with 1889 hits that included 304 doubles, 71 triples, and 65 home runs. He further scored 1163 runs, 558 RBIs, 203 stolen bases, and 1036 bases on balls for a .360 on-base percentage. Appearing in 39 World Series games, he hit .211 with two home runs, 12 RBIs, and a .326 OBP. He served as a coach for the Dodgers until his death in 1978 at age 49. A two-time All-Star whose contributions to the team were much appreciated, the Dodgers retired his #19.

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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: Bret Saberhagen, 1989

Pitcher, Kansas City Royals

Age:  25 (Apr. 11)

6^th season with Royals

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 160

Prior to 1989:

Born in Chicago, Saberhagen was raised in California. He played baseball at Grover Cleveland High School in Reseda where he pitched and played shortstop. He compiled a 24-2 high school pitching record that was capped by a no-hitter in the West Valley League championship game. Despite questions regarding his velocity he was chosen by the Royals in the nineteenth round of the 1982 amateur draft, Saberhagen first was assigned to the Florida Instructional League where he posted a 7-2 record with a 2.35 ERA. With teams at the Class A and AA levels in 1983 he was a combined 16-7 with a 2.55 ERA and 130 strikeouts. He advanced to the Royals at age 20 in 1984 and appeared in 38 games, 18 of them starts, finishing with a 10-11 tally and 3.48 ERA. A control pitcher with a fastball, curve, slider, and changeup he entered 1985 as part of a promising pitching rotation. The Royals won the AL West and league pennant, and Saberhagen contributed a 20-6 mark with a 2.87 ERA and 158 strikeouts. He was the MVP of the come-from-behind World Series triumph over the St. Louis Cardinals. In addition he won the AL Cy Young Award. Saberhagen and the Royals experienced difficulties in 1986, with the team dropping under .500 in a third-place finish and the pitcher posting a 7-12 record in an injury-riddled season. Saberhagen got off to a 15-3 start in 1987 on his way to an 18-10 tally with a 3.36 ERA and 163 strikeouts and he was an All-Star for the first time. He had a rough year in 1988 in which he compiled a disappointing 14-16 record with a 3.80 ERA and 171 strikeouts while leading the league by giving up 271 hits over 260.2 innings.

1989 Season Summary

Appeared in 39 games

P – 36, PR – 3

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 36

Games Started – 35 [4, tied with Jeff Ballard, Roger Clemens & Mike Moore]

Complete Games – 12 [1]

Wins – 23 [1]

Losses – 6

PCT - .793 [1]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 4 [2, tied with Kirk McCaskill]

Innings Pitched – 262.1 [1]

Hits – 209 [17]

Runs – 74

Earned Runs – 63

Home Runs – 13

Bases on Balls – 43

Strikeouts – 193 [3]

ERA – 2.16 [1]

Hit Batters – 2

Balks – 1

Wild Pitches – 8 [14, tied with Jim Abbott, Storm Davis & Frank Tanana]

League-leading wins were +2 ahead of runner-up Dave Stewart

League-leading complete games were +2 ahead of runner-up Jack Morris

League-leading win percentage was +.020 ahead of runner-up Bert Blyleven

League-leading innings pitched were +4.1 ahead of runner-up Dave Stewart

League-leading ERA was -0.41 lower than runner-up Chuck Finley

Midseason Snapshot: 8-4, ERA - 2.61, SO – 100 in 127.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 13 (in 8 IP) at Oakland 9/30

10+ strikeout games – 3

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 1 (in 7 IP) at Baltimore 9/17

Fielding

Chances – 61

Put Outs – 21

Assists – 36

Errors – 4

DP – 1

Pct. - .934

Awards & Honors:

AL Cy Young Award: BBWAA

AL Pitcher of the Year: Sporting News

Gold Glove

8^th in AL MVP voting (82 points, 21% share)

AL Cy Young voting (Top 5):

Bret Saberhagen, KC: 138 pts. – 27 of 28 first place votes, 99% share

Dave Stewart, Oak.: 80 pts. – 1 first place vote, 57% share

Mike Moore, Oak.: 10 pts. – 7% share

Bert Blyleven, Cal.: 9 pts. – 6% share

Nolan Ryan, Tex.: 5 pts. – 4% share

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Royals went 92-70 to finish second in the AL Western Division, 7 games behind the division-winning Oakland Athletics. The pitching staff led the league in fewest home runs allowed (86). The Royals got off to a 16-8 start and remained in contention until the last week of the season. The fine pitching staff, anchored by Saberhagen, was offset by the club being shut out 18 times.

Aftermath of ‘89:

1990 was a down year for Saberhagen, although he was an All-Star selection, and he missed time due to elbow surgery. He ended up at 5-9 with a 3.27 ERA while starting just 20 games. A shoulder injury put Saberhagen on the Disabled List for a time in 1991, but he was effective when he did pitch, going 13-8 with a 3.07 ERA that included a no-hitter against the White Sox in August. Having made $2.95 million in ’91 as part of a long-term contract that the Royals wanted to unload, Saberhagen was traded to the New York Mets in the offseason as part of a five-player deal. In his first year with the Mets in 1992, he started slowly and caught fire until suffering a finger injury. Saberhagen ended up appearing in only 17 games and posted a 3-5 record with a 3.50 ERA. He was awarded a three-year contract extension for $15.4 million. Always prone to be a prankster, he got himself in trouble in 1993 for setting off a firecracker in the vicinity of reporters and for spraying bleach at reporters in the clubhouse, which resulted in a fine and suspension. He was further hindered by a knee injury that required surgery and ended up at 7-7 with a 3.29 ERA while starting 19 games. Saberhagen rebounded in the strike-shortened 1994 season with a 14-4 record and 2.74 ERA with 143 strikeouts while walking only 13 batters over the course of 177.1 innings pitched. He was an All-Star and placed third in NL Cy Young voting. With the Mets performing badly in 1995, Saberhagen was dealt to the playoff-bound Colorado Rockies at the end of July and went a combined 7-6 with a 4.18 ERA and 100 strikeouts over 153 innings. Following major shoulder surgery, he missed the entire 1996 season. Saberhagen returned in 1997 as a member of the Red Sox organization, pitching for three minor league clubs before joining Boston late in the season. He was effective for the Red Sox in 1998, going 15-8 in 31 starts with a 3.96 ERA and 100 strikeouts. In an injury-plagued 1999 season Saberhagen was 10-6 with a 2.95 ERA and 81 strikeouts. Hindered by injuries, he rehabbed at the minor league level in 2000 and finished out his major league career by appearing in three games with the Red Sox in 2001, after which he called it quits. For his major league career Saberhagen compiled a record of 167-117 with a 3.34 ERA, 76 complete games, 16 shutouts, and 1715 strikeouts over 2562.2 innings. With the Royals he was 110-78 with a 3.21 ERA, 64 complete games, 14 shutouts, and 1093 strikeouts over 1660.1 innings. In 10 postseason starts he posted a 2-4 record with a 4.67 ERA and 38 strikeouts over 54 innings. Saberhagen was, in addition to being a two-time Cy Young Award-winner, a three-time All-Star. He received one Gold Glove for his fielding prowess.

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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: Hal Newhouser, 1944

Pitcher, Detroit Tigers

Age:  23 (May 20)

5^th season with Tigers

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 6’2”    Weight: 180

Prior to 1944:

A Detroit native, Newhouser was the son of a Czech immigrant gymnast. A fine all-around athlete in his youth, he became a pitcher in a sandlot baseball league at 15. Thin and with the ability to throw hard, Newhouser was a serious-minded perfectionist who could be hard on teammates, a trait that would last into adulthood. Pitching for an American Legion team in 1937, he excelled with his fastball and curve, although he had occasional difficulty with his control. At 17, he signed with the hometown Tigers in 1938, whose scout got to him just before the Cleveland Indians could make him an offer. With two minor league teams in 1939, the 18-Year-old Newhouser produced a 13-18 record with a 3.21 ERA. He was called up for one late-September game with the Tigers and lost. Sticking with Detroit in 1940 he went 9-9 with a 4.86 ERA and 89 strikeouts The Tigers edged the Indians and Yankees for the pennant and the temperamental “Prince Hal” was not used during the World Series loss to Cincinnati. He remained inconsistent in 1941 and the brooding loner posted a 9-11 tally and 4.79 ERA with 137 walks and 106 strikeouts. Exempted from World War II military duty due to a heart condition, Newhouser’s mound performance improved to 8-14 with a 2.45 ERA in 1942 for the fifth-place Tigers. With pitching ranks depleted by the war, he also was an All-Star for the first time. He had difficulty with control in 1943 and was 8-17 with a 3.04 ERA and 144 strikeouts along with a league-leading 111 walks over the course of 195.2 innings pitched. During spring training in 1944 he worked with catcher Paul Richards to develop a slider to add to his arsenal and to harness his emotions as well.

1944 Season Summary

Appeared in 47 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 47 [4, tied with Ed Klieman]

Games Started – 34 [3]

Complete Games – 25 [2]

Wins – 29 [1]

Losses – 9

PCT - .763 [2]

Saves – 2 [12, tied with nine others]

Shutouts – 6 [2]

Innings Pitched – 312.1 [2]

Hits – 264 [3]

Runs – 94 [12, tied with four others]

Earned Runs – 77 [16, tied with Mickey Haefner]

Home Runs – 6

Bases on Balls – 102 [2]

Strikeouts – 187 [1]

ERA – 2.22 [2]

Hit Batters – 1

Balks – 2 [1, tied with Carl Scheib, Al Lyons & Jack Kramer]

Wild Pitches – 4 [13, tied with nine others]

League-leading wins were +2 ahead of runner-up Dizzy Trout

League-leading strikeouts were +43 ahead of runner-up Dizzy Trout

Midseason Snapshot: 13-5, ERA - 1.93, SO - 77 in 149 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 9 (in 9 IP) at Washington 6/29, (in 9 IP) at Cleveland 9/15, (in 9 IP) vs. Phila. A’s 9/27

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 9 IP) at Washington 6/29

Batting

PA – 132, AB – 120, R – 10, H – 29, 2B – 4, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 5, BB – 6, SO – 12, SB – 1, CS – 0, AVG - .242, GDP – 5, HBP – 0, SH – 6, SF – N/A

Fielding

Chances – 71

Put Outs – 9

Assists – 61

Errors – 1

DP – 5

Pct. - .986

Awards & Honors:

AL MVP: BBWAA

AL Pitcher of the Year: Sporting News

All-Star

Top 5 in AL MVP Voting:

Hal Newhouser, Det.: 236 pts. – 7 of 24 first place votes, 70% share

Dizzy Trout, Det.: 232 pts. – 10 first place votes, 69% share

Vern Stephens, StLB.: 193 pts. – 4 first place votes, 57% share

George Stirnweiss, NYY: 129 pts. – 1 first place vote, 38% share

Dick Wakefield, Det.: 128 pts. – 2 first place votes, 38% share

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Tigers went 88-66 to finish second in the AL, 1 game behind the pennant-winning St. Louis Browns. The pitching staff led the league in ERA (3.09), complete games (87), shutouts (20), and fewest earned runs allowed (480). Buoyed by the pitching tandem of Newhouser and RHP Dizzy Trout, the Tigers battled the Browns and Yankees and were a game in front heading into the season’s final weekend. Losing two games to the Washington Senators, they finished in second place as the Browns swept the Yanks.

Aftermath of ‘44:

The Tigers won a close AL pennant race in 1945 and Newhouser was again the league MVP as he compiled a 25-9 record with a league-best 1.81 ERA and 212 strikeouts, which also topped the circuit. He was 2-1 in the World Series victory over the Chicago Cubs, losing badly in the opener but winning the fifth and seventh games. In the offseason he was offered $200,000 over three years to pitch in the Mexican League, as Jorge Pasquel, the league’s president and principal team owner, sought to raid the major leagues for talent. Offered a $10,000 bonus to stay with Detroit, Newhouser had another outstanding season in 1946 while facing the talent returning from military service. The Tigers dropped to second place and Newhouser went 26-9 with a league-leading 1.94 ERA as well as 275 strikeouts. He finished second in league MVP voting this time. A forerunner of modern pitchers, he had his games taped and ran the movies between starts to search for flaws in his delivery. Detroit again finished second in 1947 and “Prince Hal” had a 17-17 record with a 2.87 ERA, AL-leading 24 complete games, and 176 strikeouts. He bounced back to 21-12 in 1948 with a 3.01 ERA and 143 strikeouts. Dealing with a sore shoulder and relying on finesse rather than speed, Newhouser had an 18-11 tally in 1949 with a 3.36 ERA and 144 strikeouts. In 1950 the production was 15-13 with a 4.34 ERA and 87 strikeouts. Missing half of 1951 due to the ongoing shoulder woes, his record dropped to 6-6 and a 3.92 ERA in just 15 appearances. The downward spiral continued with a 9-9 mark in 25 appearances in 1952 and 0-1 with a 7.06 ERA in 7 games in 1953. Released by the Tigers and contemplating retirement, he signed with the Cleveland Indians as a reliever in 1954 at the invitation of GM Hank Greenberg, his former teammate. The Indians won the AL pennant and Newhouser contributed a 7-2 record and 7 saves plus a 2.51 ERA as part of an effective bullpen. He appeared in just two games in 1955 before retiring. For his major league career he compiled a 207-150 record with a 3.06 ERA, 26 saves, 33 shutouts, and 1796 strikeouts over 2993 innings. With the Tigers he was 200-148 with a 3.07 ERA, 212 complete games, 33 shutouts, 19 saves, and 1770 strikeouts. During the three-year stretch from 1944 to ’46, he went 80-27 with a 1.99 ERA. Appearing in four World Series games he was 2-1 with 22 strikeouts over 20.2 innings. Newhouser remains the only pitcher to win MVP awards over two consecutive seasons and was also a seven-time All-Star. The Tigers retired his #16 and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992, six years before his death at age 77.

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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.

Rookie of the Year: Herb Score, 1955

Pitcher, Cleveland Indians

Age:  22 (June 7)

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 6’2”    Weight: 185

Prior to 1955:

A native of the Rosedale section of Queens in New York City, Score overcame many childhood maladies and started out as an outfielder in high school at the Holy Name of Mary School, but once he demonstrated his talent as a pitcher his days as an outfielder were over. Moving to Lake Worth, Florida with his mother, he pitched six no-hitters during the remainder of his high school years and averaged two strikeouts per inning pitched. A hard thrower with great speed, Score was also prone to wildness. Signed by the Indians in 1952 for $60,000, he was initially assigned to Indianapolis of the Class AAA American Association, where he appeared in 12 games and posted a 2-5 record with a 5.23 ERA and struck out 61 batters and walked 62 over the course of 62 innings. Sent down to Reading of the Class A Eastern League in 1953, Score went 7-3 with a 4.68 ERA with 126 walks while giving up just 64 hits over 98 innings until an injury shut him down for the season. Back with Indianapolis in 1954, he developed his curve and changeup. He compiled a 22-5 record and a 2.62 ERA with 140 walks and 330 strikeouts over 251 innings and was named American Association MVP. He advanced to the Indians in 1955.

1955 Season Summary

Appeared in 33 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 33

Games Started – 32 [4, tied with Ned Garver]

Complete Games – 11 [10, tied with Dick Donovan]

Wins – 16 [6, tied with Billy Hoeft & Tommy Byrne]

Losses – 10 [16, tied with ten others]

PCT - .615 [7]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 2 [13, tied with eleven others]

Innings Pitched – 227.1 [8]

Hits – 158

Runs – 85 [19]

Earned Runs – 72

Home Runs – 18 [12, tied with Alex Kellner]

Bases on Balls – 154 [2]

Strikeouts – 245 [1]

ERA – 2.85 [4]

Hit Batters – 1

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 12 [1]

League-leading strikeouts were +35 ahead of runner-up Bob Turley

League-leading wild pitches were +3 ahead of runner-up Dean Stone

Midseason Snapshot: 8-7, ERA - 3.05, SO – 139 in 127 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 16 (in 9 IP) vs. Boston 5/1

10+ strikeout games – 8

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 1 (in 9 IP) at Baltimore 7/30

Batting

PA – 95, AB – 84, R – 5, H – 10, 2B – 1, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 2, BB – 3, SO – 40, SB – 0, CS – 1, AVG - .119, GDP – 2, HBP – 0, SH – 8, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 23

Put Outs – 4

Assists – 15

Errors – 4

DP – 2

Pct. - .826

Awards & Honors:

AL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

All-Star

AL ROY Voting:

Herb Score, Clev.: 18 of 24 votes, 75% share

Billy Klaus, Bos.: 5 votes, 21% share

Norm Zauchin, Bos.: 1 vote, 4% share

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Indians went 93-61 to finish second in the AL, 3 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees. The outstanding pitching staff led the league in strikeouts (877) and saves (37). The Indians hung close to the Yankees all season long and were in first by two games on Sept. 13. But a 3-6 finish dropped them into second place to stay.

Aftermath of ‘55:

Score followed up his outstanding rookie year by performing even better in 1956 despite being sidelined by a stomach ailment early in the season. He put together a strong second half on his way to a final record of 20-9 with a 2.53 ERA and 263 strikeouts over 249.1 innings while his walks dropped to 129. Once again an All-Star, he appeared to be on the cusp of greatness. He was off to a 2-1 start in 1957 when, during a game against the Yankees, a line drive off the bat of Gil McDougald struck Score in the face. Suffering from multiple facial and eye injuries, he spent three weeks in the hospital and sat out the remainder of the season due to issues with his vision. Returning to action in 1958, he pitched well in the spring and again started off at 2-1 until an elbow injury sidelined him for a month. For the season, he appeared in 12 games, five of them starts, and compiled a 2-3 record with a 3.95 ERA and 48 strikeouts over 41 innings pitched. Score started strong in 1959 and was 9-5 by midseason but went 0-6 the rest of the way to finish at 9-11 with a 4.71 ERA and 147 strikeouts over 160.2 innings. He was dealt to the Chicago White Sox just prior to the 1960 season and had a mediocre performance in which he posted a 5-10 record while starting 22 games for the Chisox with 78 strikeouts and 87 walks over the course of 113.2 innings. With his control faltering and his fastball diminished and devoid of movement, Score was sent to San Diego of the Pacific Coast League during the 1961 season, where he was 7-6 with a 5.10 ERA while issuing 136 walks and striking out 105 batters over 134 innings. He pitched briefly for the White Sox in 1962 before being sent to Indianapolis, where he had once excelled on his road to the major leagues. His performance remained mediocre and, following an 0-6 start with Indianapolis in 1963, Score retired at age 30. For his major league career, he posted a 55-46 record with a 3.36 ERA, 41 complete games, 11 shutouts, and 837 strikeouts over 858.1 innings. With the Indians he was 49-34 with a 3.17 ERA, 41 complete games, 10 shutouts, and 742 strikeouts. A two-time All-Star, one wonders at the possibilities for his career if the downward spiral that commenced with the line drive to the head had not occurred. Score went on to become a long-time broadcaster for the Indians and died at age 75 in 2008.  

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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. 

Rookie of the Year: Pete Rose, 1963

Second Baseman, Cincinnati Reds

Age:  22 (April 14)

Bats – Both, Throws – Right

Height: 5’11” Weight: 192

Prior to 1963:

A Cincinnati native, Rose excelled in football, as well as baseball, at Western Hills High School. He then played semipro baseball where he drew the notice of major league scouts and signed with the hometown Reds in 1960. Installed at second base with Geneva of the Class D New York-Pennsylvania League, Rose batted .277 in 85 games. He spent 1961 in the Class D Florida State League with Tampa and hit .331. Advancing to Macon of the Class A South Atlantic League in 1962 he batted .330 with 31 doubles, 17 triples, 9 home runs, and 71 RBIs. Invited to spring training with the Reds in 1963, he made the most of the opportunity with a strong enough performance to impress manager Fred Hutchinson and make the opening day lineup.

1963 Season Summary

Appeared in 157 games

2B – 157, LF – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 696 [6]

At Bats – 623 [9]

Runs – 101 [7]

Hits – 170 [15, tied with Tony Gonzalez]

Doubles – 25 [19, tied with Al Spangler]

Triples – 9 [7, tied with our others]

Home Runs – 6

RBI – 41

Bases on Balls – 55 [16]

Int. BB – 0

Strikeouts – 72

Stolen Bases – 13 [14, tied with George Altman & Tony Gonzalez]

Caught Stealing – 15 [2]

Average - .273

OBP - .334

Slugging Pct. - .371

Total Bases – 231

GDP – 8

Hit By Pitches – 5 [16, tied with eight others]

Sac Hits – 6

Sac Flies – 6 [9, tied with six others]

Midseason snapshot: 3B – 5, HR – 2, RBI – 18, AVG - .271, OBP - .343

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) at Pittsburgh 6/6

Longest hitting streak – 10 games

Most HR, game – 1 on six occasions

HR at home – 2

HR on road – 4

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 3 vs. Milwaukee 9/11

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding

Chances – 748

Put Outs – 360

Assists – 366

Errors – 22

DP - 78

Pct. - .971

Awards & Honors:

NL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

NL ROY Voting:

Pete Rose, Cin.: 17 of 20 votes, 85% share

Ron Hunt, NYM: 2 votes, 10% share

Ray Culp, Phila.: 1 vote, 5% share

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Reds went 86-76 to finish fifth in the NL, 13 games behind the pennant-winning Los Angeles Dodgers.

Aftermath of ‘63:

Brash and always hustling on the field, Rose picked up the nickname “Charley Hustle” from star Yankee pitcher Whitey Ford after he was observed running to first base after drawing a walk in a spring exhibition game, which became a standard feature of Rose’s style of play. He followed up his outstanding rookie season by batting .269 in 1964 and .312 in 1965, when he led the NL with 209 hits and was an All-Star for the first time. His play at second base also improved in addition to his hitting. Despite the improvement in fielding Rose was briefly switched to third base in 1966 to accommodate promising rookie second baseman Tommy Helms. The two traded positions and Rose hit .313 with 205 hits, 38 doubles, 5 triples, 16 home runs, and 70 RBIs. He was moved to left field in 1967 as Helms went to second base and Tony Perez to third. Rose’s hitting was not affected as he batted .301 with 32 doubles, 8 triples, 12 home runs, and 76 RBIs despite a shoulder injury that sidelined him for two weeks. A right fielder in 1968, “Charley Hustle” topped the NL with 210 hits and a .335 batting average. The hard-playing Rose won another batting title in 1969 while hitting .348 with 16 home runs and 82 RBIs and a league-high 120 runs scored. He also received a Gold Glove for his play in right field. In 1970 the Reds, under first-year manager Sparky Anderson, won the NL West and the league pennant and Rose contributed a league-leading 205 hits plus 37 doubles, 9 triples, 15 home runs, 52 RBIs, and a .316 batting average for the hard-hitting club dubbed “the Big Red Machine”. He also placed seventh in league MVP voting and was awarded another Gold Glove. The team dropped to fourth in 1971 but “Charley Hustle” remained productive by hitting .304 with 13 home runs and 44 RBIs. He was back in left field for the pennant-winning Reds in 1972 but his bat remained consistent as he led the NL with 198 hits while compiling a .307 average. In the fifth game of the seven-game World Series loss to Oakland, he led off by homering off ace RHP Jim “Catfish” Hunter, who he had publicly disparaged. Rose had an MVP season in 1973 as he topped the NL with 230 hits and a .338 batting average as the Reds again won the NL West. During the NLCS loss to the Mets he ignited a brawl when he slid hard into shortstop Bud Harrelson. He ended up hitting .381 with two home runs in the five-game series. Rose stayed with the Reds through the 1978 season, remaining a consistent .300 hitter who also topped the NL in doubles in 1974, ’75, ’76, and ’78. Cincinnati won the World Series in 1975 and ’76. In 1978 he put together a NL-record 44-game hitting streak to add to his list of achievements in addition to reaching his 3000^th career hit. He also made a position change to third base in 1975, where he remained through ’78. In the 1978 offseason he became a free agent and signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, who won a spirited bidding war for his services at $3.2 million for four years. Moved to first base, where incumbent Richie Hebner was dealt away, “Charley Hustle” batted .331 with a league-best .418 on-base percentage for the injury-riddled Phillies, who finished in fourth place in the NL East. Rose appeared in every game and established himself as a team leader, which helped the club regain first in the division in 1980 on the way to winning the first World Series championship in franchise history. He contributed a .282 average and league-leading 42 doubles as well as solid defensive play. During the strike-interrupted 1981 season Rose batted .325 with a league-leading 140 hits. Along the way he passed Stan Musial’s NL record for career hits. 1982 proved to be the last season that the impressively durable Rose appeared in 162 games while hitting .271 at age 41. Joined by former Reds teammates Joe Morgan and Tony Perez in 1983, Rose split time between first base and right field for the first several weeks of the season before settling back at first. Not hitting well by the end of August, he spent most of September on the bench as Len Matuszek took over at first base down the stretch. The Phillies won the NL East and the league pennant and, with Matuszek ineligible for the postseason, Rose returned to the lineup and batted .344 in nine games that ended in World Series defeat. Released in the offseason, he signed with the Montreal Expos. He hit .259 in 95 games with the Expos before he was dealt back to the Reds, where he became player/manager. Remaining in the dual role in 1985 and appearing as a first baseman and pinch-hitter, Rose broke Ty Cobb’s career record for hits with his 4192^nd. For the year he hit .264 and Cincinnati finished second in the NL West. He was active as a player for one more season in 1986, following which he stayed on as manager until August of 1989 when he was banned from organized baseball by commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti for betting on baseball games during his managerial tenure. For his major league career, Rose appeared in a record 3562 games and batted .303 with the final record total of 4256 hits that included 746 doubles, 135 triples, and 160 home runs. He scored 2165 runs and compiled 1314 RBIs and set additional career records with 15,890 plate appearances and 14,053 at bats. With the Reds he batted .307 with 3358 hits, 601 doubles, 115 triples, 152 home runs, 1036 RBIs, and 1741 runs scored. Appearing in 67 postseason games, Rose hit .321 with 5 home runs and 22 RBIs. A 17-time All-Star, he remains ineligible for Hall of Fame consideration. His managerial record with the Reds was 412-373. The Reds retired his #14. Rose also spent five months in federal prison for income tax evasion, and there have been other allegations leveled against him regarding off-field behavior. His son Pete Jr. played briefly for the Reds in 1997.

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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.