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.