Rookie of the Year: Roy Sievers, 1949

Outfielder, St. Louis Browns

Age:  22

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 195

Prior to 1949:

A St. Louis native who lived three blocks from Sportsman’s Park, home of the Browns and Cardinals, while growing up, Sievers was an all-district baseball and basketball player in high school. Tall and lanky, he was nicknamed “Squirrel” due to his basketball exploits. He also played American Legion baseball and drew the attention of major league scouts. He signed with the Browns in 1945 and was also drafted into Army service. Following his military commitment, Sievers was assigned to the Hannibal Pilots of the Class C Central Association where he played at third base and in the outfield and batted .317 with 34 home runs and 141 RBIs. Advancing to Elmira of the Class A Eastern League in 1948, he was hitting just .179 after 16 games and was demoted to Springfield of the Class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa (or Three I) League where he batted .309 in 96 games with 19 home runs. With the Browns much in need of a power hitter, Sievers made it to the majors in 1949 and was in the lineup twelve games into the season.

1949 Season Summary

Appeared in 140 games

CF – 77, LF – 50, PH – 9, 3B – 7, PR – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 545

At Bats – 471

Runs – 84 [14, tied with Dave Philley]

Hits – 144

Doubles – 28 [7, tied with Dick Kokos]

Triples – 1

Home Runs – 16 [15]

RBI – 91 [6, tied with Yogi Berra]

Bases on Balls – 70

Int. BB – 1

Strikeouts – 75 [6]

Stolen Bases – 1

Caught Stealing – 5 [17, tied with four others]

Average - .306 [8, tied with Johnny Pesky]

OBP - .398 [12]

Slugging Pct. - .471 [5]

Total Bases – 222 [18]

GDP – 15

Hit by Pitches – 2

Sac Hits – 2

Sac Flies – N/A

 

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 15, HR – 5, RBI – 37, AVG – .302, SLG - .459, OBP - .391

 

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Most hits, game – 5 (in 5 AB) vs. Chi. White Sox 10/2

Longest hitting streak – 8 games

Most HR, game – 1 on sixteen occasions

HR at home – 6

HR on road – 10

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 6 at Washington 9/20

Pinch-hitting/running – 2 for 6 (.333) with 3 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI & 1 BB

 

Fielding

Chances – 337

Put Outs – 314

Assists – 14

Errors – 9

DP - 1

Pct. - .973

 

Awards & Honors:

AL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

18^th in AL MVP voting, tied with Alex Kellner, Phila. A’s, Eddie Robinson, Wash. & Birdie Tebbetts, Bos. RS (6 points, 2% share)

 

 

AL ROY Voting:

Roy Sievers, StLB.: 10 of 22 votes, 42% share

Alex Kellner, PhilaA.: 5 votes, 21% share

Jerry Coleman, NYY: 4 votes, 17% share

Mike Garcia, Clev.: 1 vote, 4% share

Johnny Groth, Det.: 1 vote, 4% share

Bob Kuzava, ChiWS.: 1 vote, 4% share

 

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Browns went 53-101 to finish seventh in the AL, 44 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees, while leading the league in batter strikeouts (700) & fewest hits (1301). The Browns were at 10-30 by the end of May and drew only 270,000 fans to Sportsman’s Park all year.     

 

Aftermath of ‘49:

In 1950, a prolonged slump at the start of the season cost Sievers his starting job in the lineup and he ended up appearing in just 113 games, including a disappointing trial at third base, and batted .238 with 10 home runs and 57 RBIs. The bad breaks continued in 1951 as he was sent down to San Antonio of the Texas League in June. A shoulder separation ended his season in August and required major surgery. In 31 games with the Browns, he hit .225 with a home run and 11 RBIs. With a sore shoulder and his once-promising career in jeopardy, Sievers was shifted to first base in 1953 and, following a poor start, he ended up batting .270 in 92 games with 8 home runs and 35 RBIs. The Browns were sold in the offseason and moved to Baltimore for 1954. Unwanted by new manager Jimmy Dykes, Sievers was traded to the Washington Senators. Playing left field due to his limited throwing ability, his smooth swing and keen batting eye responded with 24 home runs, 102 RBIs, and a .232 batting average. His OBP was .331 thanks to drawing 80 walks. In 1955 he hit .271 with 25 home runs and 106 RBIs and placed 17^th in AL MVP voting. The left field fence at Washington’s spacious Griffith Stadium was pulled in to 350 feet and Sievers was an All-Star for the first time in 1956 on the way to batting .253 with 29 home runs and 95 RBIs. He followed up with an outstanding season for a last-place club in 1957, as he topped the American League with 42 home runs and 114 RBIs while hitting .301. Sievers placed third in league MVP voting. Given a $36,000 contract in 1958, he followed up by batting .295 with 39 home runs and 108 RBIs. Dealing with chronic injuries in 1959, Sievers’ production dropped to .242 with 21 home runs and 49 RBIs. The Senators dealt Sievers to the Chicago White Sox, the defending AL champs, for prospects and cash during spring training in 1960. Platooned at first base with Ted Kluszewski, Sievers got off to a poor start until an injury to Kluszewsi allowed him to again play regularly and he regained his batting form. A 21-game midseason hitting streak and outstanding July propelled him to 28 home runs, 93 RBIs, and a .295 average. Sievers placed seventh in league MVP balloting. He followed up with another solid season in 1961, again batting .295 with 27 home runs and 92 RBIs. In the offseason Sievers was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies where he provided veteran leadership to a young club while hitting .262 with 21 home runs and 80 RBIs. A rib fracture suffered in spring training hindered Sievers in 1963 as he appeared in 138 games and batted .240 with 19 home runs and 82 RBIs. Dealing with a calf injury in 1964, Sievers hit poorly in limited action and was sold to the Washington Senators (expansion successors to his former club) in July. He ended up hitting a combined .180 with 8 home runs and 27 RBIs. Let go a month into the 1965 season, he retired at age 38. For his major league career, Sievers batted .267 with 1703 hits that included 292 doubles, 42 triples, and 318 home runs. He scored 945 runs and compiled 1147 RBIs and drew 841 walks, ending up with a .354 on-base percentage. With the Browns he scored 180 runs while batting .269 with 335 hits, 68 doubles, 6 triples, 35 home runs, 199 RBIs, 146 walks drawn, and a .348 OBP. A five-time All-Star, he never appeared in the postseason. Overcoming injuries that threatened to curtail his career early on, he became a highly productive hitter. His swing was so much admired that he was the batting “double” for actor Tab Hunter in the 1958 movie version of Damn Yankees. He was outstanding in clutch situations. Nearly a quarter of his home runs were hit in the eighth inning or later and he further accumulated 10 grand slams as well as 10 pinch homers. He was one of nine players to play for both the original American League Washington Senators and the expansion Senators who came into the league in 1961 and are now the Texas Rangers. Following his retirement, he managed minor league teams for a few years and was 90 when he died in 2017.

 

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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. 

  

MVP Profile: Terry Pendleton, 1991

Third Baseman, Atlanta Braves

Age:  31 (July 16)

1^st season with Braves

Bats – Both, Throws – Right

Height: 5’9”    Weight: 178

 

Prior to 1991:

A native of California, Pendleton played Little League baseball before performing. at second base for Channel Islands High School in Oxnard. Moving on to Oxnard Community College and Fresno State University, he received All-American recognition in 1982 after setting a school record with 98 hits. Chosen by the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh round of the 1982 amateur draft, he signed and played for two teams at the Rookie and Class A levels in ’82 and batted .304 with 16 doubles, 5 triples, 5 home runs, and 34 RBIs over the course of 63 games. Moving up to Arkansas of the Class AA Texas League in 1983, he hit .276. With Louisville of the Class AAA American Association in 1984, Pendleton was shifted to third base and performed well while batting .297 in 91 games before being called up to the Cardinals. Taking over at third base, he impressed with his defensive play and hit .324 as well. in 1985 St. Louis topped the NL East and won the pennant and while Pendleton’s batting average dropped to .240 he proved to be a capable clutch hitter and accounted for 69 RBIs. The club was less impressive in 1986 and Pendleton hit .239 with 59 RBIs. In the field he led NL third basemen with 133 put outs, 371 assists, and 36 double plays. After hitting just 7 total home runs in his first three seasons, Pendleton raised his total to 12 in 1987, none bigger than a game-tying two-run shot against the Mets at Shea Stadium that set the stage for a successful stretch run that propelled the Redbirds to the NL East title. Overall, the star third baseman also batted .286 and compiled 96 RBIs. A rib injury hindered Pendleton during the World Series against Minnesota, which the Cardinals lost. A hamstring injury cost him six weeks in 1988 and his production dropped to .253 with 6 home runs and 53 RBIs. He rebounded somewhat in 1989 to win a Gold Glove for his defensive play, and while inconsistent at bat, he finished strong and batted .264 with 13 home runs and 74 RBIs. In a down year for the club in 1990, Pendleton was supplanted at third base in September by converted catcher Todd Zeile and ended up hitting .230 with 6 home runs and 58 RBIs. In the offseason he departed the Cardinals as a free agent and signed with the Braves for four years and $10.2 million.

 

1991 Season Summary

Appeared in 153 games

3B – 148, PH – 5

 

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

 

Batting

Plate Appearances – 644 [11]

At Bats – 586 [7]

Runs – 94 [9]

Hits – 187 [1]

Doubles – 34 [7, tied with Howard Johnson]

Triples – 8 [6, tied with Jay Bell & Spike Owen]

Home Runs – 22 [14]

RBI – 86 [17, tied with George Bell]

Bases on Balls – 43

Int. BB – 8 [12, tied with eight others]

Strikeouts – 70

Stolen Bases – 10

Caught Stealing – 2

Average - .319 [1]

OBP - .363 [13]

Slugging Pct. - .517 [3]

Total Bases – 303 [1, tied with Will Clark]

GDP – 16 [6, tied with Lenny Harris]

Hit by Pitches – 1

Sac Hits – 7

Sac Flies – 7 [11, tied with nine others]

 

League-leading hits were +5 ahead of runner-up Brett Butler

League-leading batting average was +.001 ahead of runner-up Hal Morris

 

Midseason snapshot:3B – 3, HR – 8, RBI – 34, AVG – .324, SLG – .512

 

Most hits, game – 4 on five occasions

Longest hitting streak – 15 games

HR at home – 13

HR on road – 9

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 4 AB) vs. NY Mets 6/20, (in 4 AB) vs. San Francisco 8/6

Multi-HR games – 2

Most RBIs, game – 4 vs. San Francisco 8/6

Pinch-hitting – 1 for 4 (.250) with 1 BB

 

Fielding

Chances – 481

Put Outs – 108

Assists – 349

Errors – 24

DP – 31

Pct. - .950

 

Postseason Batting: 14 G (NLCS vs. Pittsburgh – 7 G; World Series vs. Minnesota – 7 G)

PA – 64, AB – 60, R – 7, H – 16, 2B – 4,3B – 1, HR – 2, RBI – 4, BB – 4, IBB – 1, SO – 4, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .267, OBP - .313, SLG - .467, TB – 28, GDP – 3, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

 

Awards & Honors:

NL MVP: BBWAA

 

Top 5 in NL MVP Voting:

Terry Pendleton, Atl.: 274 pts. - 12 of 24 first place votes, 82% share

Barry Bonds, Pitt.: 259 pts. – 10 first place votes, 77% share

Bobby Bonilla, Pitt.: 191 pts. – 1 first place vote, 57% share

Will Clark, SF: 118 pts. – 35% share

Howard Johnson, NYM: 112 pts. – 33% share

(1 first place vote for Brett Butler, LAD, who ranked seventh)

 

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Braves went 94-68 to finish first in the NL Western Division by 1 game over the Los Angeles Dodgers, to complete a leap from last place the previous year to the top of the division. The Braves, with their combination of outstanding starting pitching and timely hitting (paced by Pendleton), caught the Dodgers in the season’s final days and secured the crown in the finale. Won NLCS over the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4 games to 3. Lost World Series to the Minnesota Twins, 4 games to 3. The Series came down to a dramatic seventh game pitching performance by Minnesota RHP Jack Morris, who outlasted RHP John Smoltz and two relievers to win in 10 innings.

 

Aftermath of ‘91:

Pendleton followed up in 1992 by again leading the NL in hits (199) while batting .311 with 21 home runs and 105 RBIs. He was awarded a Gold Glove and finished second in league MVP voting. The Braves again won the pennant and lost the World Series and Pendleton added another five RBIs in the postseason. His performance slipped a bit in 1993 as his average dropped to .272 but he still hit a solid 17 home runs with 84 RBIs. In the strike-shortened 1994 season he hit .252 with 7 home runs and 30 RBIs. Once more a free agent in the offseason, Pendleton moved on to the Florida Marlins in 1995. He proved to be a steadying force in a youthful infield and batted .290 with 14 home runs and 78 RBIs. In 1996, Pendleton was dealt back to the Braves to provide depth for their run to the postseason. For the year he hit a combined .238 with 11 home runs and 75 RBIs. Released after the season, he next signed on with the Cincinnati Reds for 1997. Following three stints on the disabled list and batting .248, he was released in July. The Kansas City Royals signed him in 1998 to provide veteran leadership but he lasted only until June as a DH and backup third baseman. Sidelined by a rib injury, he was hitting .257 and retired after the season. Overall, for his major league career Pendleton batted .270 with 1897 hits that included 356 doubles, 39 triples, and 140 home runs. He scored 851 runs and compiled 946 RBIs and 127 stolen bases. With the Braves he batted .287 with 669 hits, 319 runs scored, 130 doubles, 13 triples, 71 home runs, 322 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases. Appearing in 66 postseason games, he hit .252 with three home runs and 23 RBIs. A three-time Gold Glove winner, Pendleton was chosen to one All-Star Game. Following his playing career he became a coach with the Braves. He has been named to the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame in California and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

 

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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: John Montefusco, 1975

Pitcher, San Francisco Giants

Age:  25 (May 25)

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 180

 

Prior to 1975:

A native of Long Branch, New Jersey, Montefusco played shortstop in high school, and didn’t pitch until he was a senior. Moving on to Brookdale Community College, where he set several school pitching records in 1971 and ’72, including 16 consecutive wins and 202 total strikeouts. His performance did not lead to being drafted by a major league club and he played semi-pro ball following college. Signed by the Giants in 1973, Montefusco was first assigned to the Decatur Commodores of the Class A Midwest League where he posted a 9-2 record with a 2.18 ERA and 126 strikeouts over 120 innings. Advancing to Amarillo of the Class AA Texas League in 1974, Montefusco went 8-9 with a 3.13 ERA before being promoted to Phoenix of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League where he produced a 7-3 tally and a 3.27 ERA with 90 strikeouts over 77 innings. Called up to the Giants, he was 3-2 with a 4.81 ERA and 34 strikeouts over 39.1 innings in his first taste of major league action. With his impressive fastball, slider, and slurve, in addition to a new nickname, “the Count of Montefusco” or “The Count” for short, Montefusco entered 1975 as a potential addition to the starting rotation.

 

1975 Season Summary

Appeared in 35 games

 

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

 

Pitching

Games – 35

Games Started – 34 [14, tied with five others]

Complete Games – 10 [14]

Wins – 15 [9, tied with ten others]

Losses – 9

PCT - .625 [5, tied with Randy Jones, Doug Rau & Gary Nolan]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 4 [5, tied with four others]

Innings Pitched – 243.2 [12]

Hits – 210

Runs – 85

Earned Runs – 78

Home Runs – 11

Bases on Balls – 86 [15, tied with Randy Tate]

Strikeouts – 215 [2]

ERA – 2.88 [7]

Hit Batters – 8 [4, tied with Charlie Hough]

Balks – 2 [13, tied with 21 others]

Wild Pitches – 6

 

Midseason Snapshot: 7-4, ERA - 3.00, SO - 93 in 120 IP

 

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Most strikeouts, game – 14 (in 9 IP) vs. Montreal 8/27

10+ strikeout games – 7

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

 

Batting

PA – 94, AB – 80, R – 4, H – 7, 2B – 0, 3B – 1, HR – 1, RBI – 2, BB – 5, SO – 44, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .088, GDP – 1, HBP – 0, SH – 9, SF – 0

 

Fielding

Chances – 37

Put Outs – 11

Assists – 25

Errors – 1

DP – 0

Pct. - .973

 

Awards & Honors:

NL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

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

 

NL ROY Voting:

John Montefusco, SF.: 12 of 24 votes, 50% share

Gary Carter, Mon.: 9 votes, 38% share

Rawly Eastwick, Cin.: 1 vote, 4% share

Larry Parrish, Mon.: 1 vote, 4% share

Manny Trillo, ChiC.: 1 vote, 4% share

 

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Giants went 80-81 to finish third in the NL Western Division, 27.5 games behind the division-winning Cincinnati Reds. With attendance poor and owner Horace Stoneham losing money, the club was dogged by rumors of impending sales and moves. Streaky on the field, they had no chance at challenging the Reds for the division title and were unable to catch the rival Dodgers in second place.

 

Aftermath of ‘75:

Brash as well as talented, “The Count” followed up with another solid season in 1976 that was capped by a no-hitter against the Atlanta Braves. Chosen as an All-Star, he finished with a 16-14 record and a 2.84 ERA with 172 strikeouts. Hindered by an ankle injury in 1977, Montefusco’s tally dropped to 7-12 with a 3.49 ERA and 110 strikeouts over 157.1 innings pitched and 25 starts, although he added a sinker and forkball to his repertoire. The Giants finished third in the NL West in 1978 and Montefusco’s contribution was an 11-9 record with a 3.81 ERA and 177 strikeouts while pitching 238.2 innings. The club returned to mediocrity in 1979 and Montefusco suffered through an injury-riddled season in which he finished at 3-8 with a 3.94 ERA and 76 strikeouts while pitching 137 innings. His 1980 season was marred by a scuffle with manager Dave Bristol, and he ended up posting a 4-8 tally and a 4.37 ERA while pitching 113.1 innings. On bad terms with the organization by season’s end, Montefusco was traded to the Atlanta Braves in the offseason. Injuries and controversy followed him to his new club during the strike-interrupted 1981 season in which he appeared in 26 games, only 9 of them starts, and went 2-3 with a 3.49 ERA. Released by the Braves, he moved on to the San Diego Padres in 1982, where he managed to start 32 games and provided valuable leadership as well as a 10-11 record and 4.00 ERA. In 1983, Montefusco ran afoul of manager Dick Williams, and despite a 9-4 record and 3.30 ERA, he was dealt to the New York Yankees in August. He performed well for the Yankees, going 5-0 the rest of the way. He ended up with a combined record of 14-4 with a 3.31 ERA and re-signed with the Yankees in the offseason. Injuries intruded again in 1984, including some sustained in a car accident, and while he finished strong in September, his season totals were 5-3 in just 11 starts, with a 3.58 ERA. 1985 proved to be a lost season due to a hip injury and the degenerative condition ended his career in 1986. For his major league career, Montefusco posted a 90-83 record with a 3.54 ERA, 32 complete games, 11 shutouts, and 1081 strikeouts in 1652.1 innings pitched. With the Giants his tally was 59-62 with a 3.47 ERA, 30 complete games, 11 shutouts, and 869 strikeouts over 1182.2 innings. A one-time All-Star, he never appeared in the postseason. He later served as pitching coach for the Somerset Patriots of the independent Atlantic League.

 

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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: Bake McBride, 1974

Outfielder, St. Louis Cardinals

Age:  25

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 6’2”    Weight: 190

 

Prior to 1974:

Arnold Ray McBride, a native of Fulton, Missouri, was the son of a Negro League pitcher nicknamed “Bake” and so he came to be called “Little Bake”, which eventually was shortened to “Bake”. In a high school with no baseball team, he was a three-sport star competing in football, basketball, and track, and severely injured his ankle at one point. Moving on to Westminster College, he excelled in track and joined the baseball team as well. Although inexperienced, he showed an aptitude for baseball where his hitting and speed were impressive. McBride dropped out of college after two years (although he later returned and received a degree), but following a tryout with the Cardinals, they chose him in the 1970 amateur draft. Initially assigned to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, he batted .423 in 17 games and finished the year at Modesto of the Class A California League where he hit .294 in 26 games. Still with Modesto in 1971, McBride batted .303 with 19 doubles, 5 triples, 8 home runs, 54 RBIs, and 40 stolen bases. Promoted to the Arkansas Travelers of the Class AA Texas League in 1972, he earned a further promotion to Tulsa of the Class AAA American Association. For the year he hit a combined .322 with 17 home runs, 58 RBIs, and 42 stolen bases. Back with Tulsa to start 1973, he was called up to the Cardinals in July and over the course of 40 games batted .302. He came into 1974 as the likely starting center fielder.

 

1974 Season Summary

Appeared in 150 games

CF – 144, PH – 8, PR – 1

 

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

 

Batting

Plate Appearances – 625

At Bats – 559

Runs – 81

Hits – 173 [13]

Doubles – 19

Triples – 5

Home Runs – 6

RBI – 56

Bases on Balls – 43

Int. BB – 9

Strikeouts – 57

Stolen Bases – 30 [11]

Caught Stealing – 11 [11,tied with Bobby Bonds & Larry Bowa]

Average - .309 [8, tied with Reggie Smith]

OBP - .369 [19]

Slugging Pct. - .394

Total Bases – 220

GDP – 7

Hit By Pitches – 13 [2]

Sac Hits – 5

Sac Flies – 5 [19, tied with nineteen others]

 

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 12, HR - 5, RBI – 29, AVG – .292, OBP - .350

 

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) vs. Chi. Cubs 5/18, (in 10 AB) at NY Mets 9/11 – 25 innings, (in 7 AB) at Philadelphia 9/13 – 17 innings, (in 5 AB) at Philadelphia 9/14

Longest hitting streak – 12 games

Most HR, game – 1 on six occasions

HR at home – 4

HR on road – 2

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 3 vs. Chi. Cubs 5/19

Pinch-hitting/running – 3 for 7 (.429) with 2 R, 2 SB, 1 BB & 1 RBI

 

Fielding

Chances – 408

Put Outs – 395

Assists – 9

Errors – 4

DP - 1

Pct. - .990

 

Awards & Honors:

NL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

21^st in NL MVP voting, tied with Richie Hebner, Pitt. & Lynn McGlothen, StL. (2 points, 1% share)

 

NL ROY Voting:

Bake McBride, StL.: 16 of 24 votes, 67% share

Greg Gross, Hou.: 7 votes, 29% share

Bill Madlock, ChiC.: 1 vote, 4% share

 

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Cardinals went 86-75 to finish second in the NL Eastern Division, 1.5 games behind the division-winning Pittsburgh Pirates while leading the league in stolen bases (172). The Cardinals got off to a 6-1 start, survived a 1-13 July stretch to remain in contention, and finished at 18-10 to just come up short of the NL East title.

 

Aftermath of ‘74:

Despite spending three weeks on the disabled list with a shoulder injury in 1975, McBride batted .300 with 9 triples and 26 stolen bases. The Cardinals had a mediocre season in 1976 and McBride, who was an All-Star for the only time in his career, was finished in August due to a knee injury that required surgery. Playing in 72 games he hit .335 with 10 stolen bases. Still dealing with lingering shoulder problems in 1977, and unhappy under new manager Vern Rapp, McBride was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in June. Inserted in right field, he provided a big boost to the defending NL East champions, batting .339 in 85 games, with 11 home runs, 41 RBIs, and 27 stolen bases as the Phillies again finished atop the division. Dealing with nagging injuries in 1978, his average dropped to .269, although with a .315 OBP, and he still accounted for 10 home runs and 28 stolen bases along with 49 RBIs. “Shake n’ Bake” appeared in a career-high 151 games in 1979 and hit .280 with 12 triples, 12 home runs, 60 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases. The Phillies returned to the top of the NL East in 1980 and McBride hit .309 with 33 doubles, 10 triples, 9 home runs, and 13 stolen bases, finishing tenth in league MVP voting. In the World Series triumph over the Kansas City Royals, he contributed a .304 average and a home run. Dealing with injuries during the strike-shortened 1981 season, McBride hit .271 in 58 games. With the Phillies revamping their roster, he was dealt to the Cleveland Indians for 1982. An eye infection sidelined McBride after just 27 games, at which point he was hitting .365. A tear to his right rotator cuff during 1983 limited him to 70 games in 1983, after which the Indians let him go. McBride joined the Oklahoma City 89ers of the Class AAA American Association in 1984 but retired after 32 games. For his major league career, he batted .299 with 1153 hits that included 167 doubles, 55 triples, and 63 home runs. He scored 548 runs and compiled 430 RBIs and 183 stolen bases. With the Cardinals he batted .307 with 439 hits, 220 runs scored, 50 doubles, 19 triples, 18 home runs, 141 RBIs, and 75 stolen bases. Appearing in 22 postseason games, McBride hit .244 with 3 home runs, 8 RBIs, and two stolen bases. He became a minor league coach with the Mets and Cardinals following his playing career. 

 

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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: Steve Carlton, 1977

Pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies

Age:  32

6^th season with Phillies

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 6’4”    Weight: 210

 

Prior to 1977:

A native of Miami, Florida Carlton played basketball as well as baseball at North Miami High School. Moving on to Miami-Dade College he was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1964 he was first assigned to Rock Hill of the Class A Western Carolinas League where he excelled by compiling a 10-1 record in 11 games with a 1.03 ERA and 91 strikeouts over 79 innings pitched. He was sent next to Winnipeg of the advanced Class A Northern League where he went 4-4 with a 3.36 ERA in 12 appearances. Carlton finished up the year with Tulsa of the Class AA Texas League where he was 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA. He moved up to the Cardinals in 1965 in order to protect him from being taken by another team in the Rule 5 draft. Encountering arm trouble, he was used sparingly and appeared in 15 games, almost exclusively in relief, and had no decisions and a 2.52 ERA. Carlton opened the 1966 season in Tulsa and was 9-5 with a 3.59 ERA when he was promoted back to the Cardinals. For the remainder of the season he started nine games and went 3-3 with a 3.12 ERA and 25 strikeouts over the course of 52 innings pitched. He joined the starting rotation in 1967, a year in which the Cards won the NL pennant and World Series. He contributed a 14-9 record and 2.98 ERA while striking out 168 batters over 193 innings pitched. He also benefited from his proximity to ace RHP Bob Gibson and his fierce approach to pitching. Carlton lost his only start in the World Series against the Red Sox while giving up three hits and an unearned run over six innings. The Cardinals won the NL pennant again in 1968 and Carlton was an All-Star for the first time on his way to compiling a 13-11 tally with a 2.99 ERA and 162 strikeouts. He added a slider to his pitching repertoire that already included a rising fastball and curve in 1969 and improved to 17-11 with a 2.17 ERA and 210 strikeouts, including 19 in a loss to the Mets which set what was then the major league record for a nine-inning game. Once more an All-Star he sought a significant raise from his $26,000 salary and he held out in 1970 for a large part of spring training. He had a down year in ’70, with a 10-19 record and 3.73 ERA. Carlton bounced back in 1971 going 20-9 with a 3.56 ERA and 172 strikeouts while pitching 273.1 innings and completing 18 games. An All-Star for the third time he demanded a significant raise and antagonized owner Gussie Busch, who ordered that he be traded during spring training of 1972. He was dealt to the Phillies for RHP Rick Wise. The result was a spectacular season for the 27-year-old pitcher with a poor club in ’72. While Philadelphia only won 59 games on the way to the NL East cellar, Carlton posted a 27-10 record with a 1.97 ERA and 310 strikeouts, which earned him the NL Cy Young Award. Carlton dropped to 13-20 with a 3.90 ERA in 1973, although he again led the league with 18 complete games and 293.1 innings pitched. By the end of the season he had stopped speaking to reporters, a position he upheld for the remainder of his career. He improved to 16-13 with a 3.22 ERA and a NL-leading 240 strikeouts in 1974 and was 15-14 with a 3.56 ERA and 192 strikeouts in 1975. During this period Carlton developed a workout regimen with trainer Gus Hoefling designed to improve his concentration and stamina, building upon his established interests in martial arts and Eastern religion. His efforts bore fruit in 1976 with a 20-7 record and 3.13 ERA and 192 strikeouts for a Phillies team that topped the NL East

 

1977 Season Summary

Appeared in 36 games

 

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

 

Pitching

Games – 36

Games Started – 36 [7, tied with J.R. Richard]

Complete Games – 17 [3, tied with Steve Rogers]

Wins – 23 [1]

Losses – 10

PCT - .697 [6]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 2 [9, tied with fifteen others]

Innings Pitched – 283 [3]

Hits – 229 [9, tied with Larry Christenson]

Runs – 99 [17, tied with Jackie Brown]

Earned Runs – 83

Home Runs – 25 [7, tied with Bruce Kison]

Bases on Balls – 89 [5]

Strikeouts – 198 [4]

ERA – 2.64 [4]

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

Balks – 7 [1]

Wild Pitches – 3

 

League-leading wins were +2 ahead of runner-up Tom Seaver

League-leading balks were +1 ahead of runners-up Larry Christenson, Tom Griffin & Bob Shirley

 

Midseason Snapshot: 13-4, ERA - 2.96, SO – 104 in 158 IP

 

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Most strikeouts, game – 14 (in 9 IP) vs. Houston 8/21, (in 9 IP) vs. St. Louis 9/9

10+ strikeout games – 5

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 1 (in 7 IP) vs. NY Mets 7/5

 

Batting

PA – 112, AB – 97, R – 7, H – 26, 2B – 4, 3B – 0, HR – 3, RBI – 15, BB – 2, SO – 20, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .268, GDP – 0, HBP – 1, SH – 7, SF – 3

 

Fielding

Chances – 57

Put Outs – 4

Assists – 52

Errors – 1

DP – 2

Pct. - .982

 

Postseason Pitching: (NLCS vs. LA Dodgers)

G – 2, GS – 2, CG – 0, Record – 0-1, PCT – .000, SV – 0, ShO – 0, IP – 11.2, H – 13, R – 9, ER – 9, HR – 2, BB – 8, SO – 6, ERA – 6.94, HB – 0, BLK – 1, WP – 1

 

Awards & Honors:

NL Cy Young Award: BBWAA

NL Pitcher of the Year: Sporting News

All-Star

5^th in NL MVP voting (100 points, 30% share)

 

NL Cy Young voting:

Steve Carlton, Phila.: 104 pts. – 17 of 24 first place votes, 87% share

Tommy John, LAD: 54 pts. – 3 first place votes, 45% share

Tom Seaver, NYM/Cin.: 18 pts. – 2 first place votes, 15% share

Rick Reuschel, ChiC.: 18 pts. – 1 first place vote, 15% share

John Candelaria, Pitt.: 17 pts. – 1 first place vote, 14% share

Bruce Sutter, ChiC.: 5 pts. – 4% share

 

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Phillies went 101-61 to finish first in the NL Eastern Division by 5 games over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The pitching staff led the league in saves (47). The Phillies were 8.5 games out of first in June before catching fire and rolling to a second straight division title. Lost NLCS to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 3 games to 1, keyed by a disastrous meltdown by the Phillies in the ninth inning of Game 3.

 

Aftermath of ‘77:

 The Phillies won the NL East once more in 1978 while their eccentric pitching ace known as “Lefty” compiled a 16-13 record with a 2.84 ERA and 161 strikeouts. He had an 18-11 tally for the fourth place Phils in 1979 with a 3.62 ERA and 213 strikeouts. The Phillies rebounded in 1980 to win the NL East and the league pennant as well as a franchise-first World Series. Carlton produced a 24-9 record and 2.34 ERA while also leading the league in innings pitched (304) and strikeouts (286). His performance earned him a third Cy Young Award. In the World Series vs. the Royals he won two games including the decisive sixth contest. In the strike-shortened 1981 season he was 13-4 with a 2.42 ERA and 179 strikeouts over 190 innings pitched and placed third in NL Cy Young Award balloting. Carlton followed with another outstanding season in 1982 in which he led the NL in wins with a 23-11 record as well as complete games (19), shutouts (6), and strikeouts (286). He was honored with a fourth Cy Young Award. In 1983, another pennant-winning year for Philadelphia, Carlton’s record dropped to 15-16 with a 3.11 ERA although he topped the league with 283.2 innings pitched and 275 strikeouts. He had a fair, but not outstanding, performance in 1984 that produced a 13-7 record and 3.58 ERA along with 163 strikeouts over 229 innings. He slipped considerably in 1985 at age 40, finding himself on the disabled list with a strained rotator cuff on his way to a 1-8 tally and 3.33 ERA in only 16 starts. He lasted until June in 1986 when he was released by the Phillies with a 4-8 record and 6.18 ERA in 16 starts. Signed by the San Francisco Giants, the situation showed no improvement as he went 1-3 with a 5.10 ERA prior to being let go in August, shortly after recording his 4000^th career strikeout. Carlton announced that he was retiring but ended up finishing the season with the Chicago White Sox. He was 4-3 in 10 starts for his third club in ‘86 with a 3.69 ERA. Carlton spent 1987 with the Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins, generating a combined record of 6-14. Re-signed by the Twins for 1988 Carlton made just four appearances before being released, thus ending his career, although he continued to seek opportunities to catch on with another team. Overall in the major leagues Carlton compiled a 329-244 record with a 3.22 ERA and 4136 strikeouts in 5217.2 innings pitched. With the Phillies he was 241-161 with a 3.09 ERA and 3031 strikeouts over 3697.1 innings pitched. While he pitched 254 complete games that included 55 shutouts, he didn’t pitch any no-hitters although he recorded 6 one-hitters. He was also called for a record 90 balks over the course of his career. In the postseason Carlton went 6-6 with a 3.26 ERA and 84 strikeouts over 99.1 innings pitched. 13 of his 16 appearances came with the Phillies. He was a 10-time All-Star (7 with Philadelphia) and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994. The Phillies retired his #32 and honored him on their Wall of Fame at Citizens Bank Park, outside of which a statue of him was erected.   

 

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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: Rickey Henderson, 1990

Outfielder, Oakland Athletics

Age:  31

8^th season with Athletics (7^th complete)

Bats – Right, Throws – Left

Height: 5’10” Weight: 180

 

Prior to 1990:

Born Rickey Nelson Henley on Christmas Day of 1958 in Chicago, he moved with his mother and siblings to Arkansas, and later to Oakland. His mother remarried and Rickey and his brothers took on the name Henderson from their stepfather. At Oakland Technical High School, Henderson starred in football and basketball as well as baseball. Noted for his upbeat nature as well as solid work ethic, his initial hope was to continue with football. But at his mother’s urging he pursued a baseball career after high school rather than a football scholarship to college. Chosen by the hometown A’s in the fourth round of the 1976 amateur draft, Henderson signed and was first assigned to Boise of the Class A Northwest League, where he batted .336 with 29 stolen bases in 46 games. In 1977 he was with Modesto of the Class A California League where he was coached in the art of base stealing by manager Tom Trebelhorn and stole 95 bases in 134 games while also hitting .345 with 11 home runs and 69 RBIs and also drawing 104 walks and scoring 120 runs. Named to the league All-Star team, Henderson advanced to Jersey City of the Class AA Eastern League in 1978 where he was again a league All-Star after batting .310 and stealing 81 bases. He started 1979 with Ogden of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League and in 71 games was hitting .309 with 44 stolen bases when he was called up to the A’s in June. In 89 games with the woeful A’s, the 20-year-old rookie batted .274 and topped the club with 33 stolen bases. With the arrival of manager Billy Martin in 1980 and his aggressive brand of “Billy Ball”, the A’s improved dramatically and left fielder Henderson became part of a highly regarded outfield along with CF Dwayne Murphy and RF Tony Armas. He batted .303 with 100 stolen bases, which set an AL record at the time. He was also among the league leaders in walks drawn (117) and on-base percentage (.420) and improved his defensive play. During the strike-interrupted 1981 season, Henderson topped the AL in runs scored (89) and hits (135) as well as stolen bases (56). The A’s reached the postseason and advanced to the ALCS before falling to the Yankees. Henderson placed second in league MVP voting. The A’s dropped to fifth in 1982, but their star leadoff hitter stole a record 130 bases and topped the AL in walks drawn (116) while batting .267 with 10 home runs, 51 RBIs, and 119 runs scored. His characteristic headlong slide while stealing led to a jammed shoulder that hindered him after setting the stolen base record and his average suffered. Typically speaking of himself in the third person, he was often considered to be overly brash. But his performance remained strong in 1983 as the “Man of Steal” stole 108 bases and hit .292 while again topping the AL in walks drawn with 103. Henderson’s stolen base total dropped to 66 in 1984, which was still enough to lead the league, and he batted .293 with 16 home runs, 58 RBIs, and a .399 OBP that was helped along by 86 bases on balls. In an austerity move in the offseason, the A’s traded him to the New York Yankees in a seven-player deal. The Yankees signed him for five years and $8.6 million to complete the transaction. With his new club in 1985, Henderson was shifted to center field and remained an offensive force as he hit .314 and led the AL with 146 runs scored and 80 stolen bases to go along with 24 home runs, 72 RBIs, 99 walks drawn, and a .419 OBP. Aiming for the fences more in 1986, Henderson’s home run total rose to 28 and his batting average dropped to .263 and his OBP to .358. He still topped the AL with 87 stolen bases and 130 runs scored. His string of seven consecutive AL stolen base titles ended in 1987, a year in which he missed 67 games with a hamstring injury. He still stole 41 bases and batted .291 with 17 home runs, 37 RBIs, and a .423 OBP while splitting his time between center field and left as well as DH. Healthy and back in left field in 1988, Henderson was back on top in stolen bases with 93 while hitting .305 with 118 runs scored as his home run total dipped to 6. The Yankees were sputtering during the first half of the 1989 season and Henderson was batting only .247 with 25 stolen bases when he was dealt back to the A’s in June for pitchers Eric Plunk and Greg Cadaret, in addition to outfielder Luis Polonia. Back in Oakland, the defending AL champion, he returned to form. For the year he led the league in stolen bases with a combined 77, in runs scored with 113, and in walks drawn with 126. He ended up hitting .274 with a .411 OBP and the A’s again topped the AL West and won the league pennant as Henderson was the MVP of the ALCS, where he batted .400 with two home runs and 8 steals in five games. He also hit .474 in the World Series sweep of the San Francisco Giants.

 

1990 Season Summary

Appeared in 136 games

LF – 118, DH – 15, PH – 2, PR – 1

 

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

 

Batting

Plate Appearances – 594

At Bats – 489

Runs – 119 [1]

Hits – 159

Doubles – 33 [14, tied with Ellis Burks]

Triples – 3

Home Runs – 28 [6, tied with Bo Jackson]

RBI – 61

Bases on Balls – 97 [4]

Int. BB – 2

Strikeouts – 60

Stolen Bases – 65 [1]

Caught Stealing – 10 [15, tied with five others]

Average - .325 [2]

OBP - .439 [1]

Slugging Pct. - .577 [2]

Total Bases – 282 [6]

GDP – 13

Hit By Pitches – 4

Sac Hits – 2

Sac Flies – 2

 

League-leading runs scored were +15 ahead of runner-up Cecil Fielder

League-leading stolen bases were +22 ahead of runner-up Steve Sax

League-leading OBP was +.039 ahead of runner-up Fred McGriff

 

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 19, HR – 17, RBI – 35, SB – 39, AVG – .335, OBP – .440, SLG – .601

 

Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) at Seattle 4/13, (in 5 AB) vs. Boston 5/5

Longest hitting streak – 9 games

Most HR, game – 2 (in 5 AB) at NY Yankees 4/30, (in 4 AB) at Cleveland 7/6, (in 5 AB) at NY Yankees 9/8

HR at home – 8

HR on road – 20

Multi-HR games – 3

Most RBIs, game – 3 on five occasions

Pinch-hitting/running – 0 for 1 (.000) with 1 BB & 1 SB

 

Fielding

Chances – 299

Put Outs – 289

Assists – 5

Errors – 5

DP – 0

Pct. - .983

 

Postseason Batting: 8 G (ALCS vs. Boston – 4 G; World Series vs. Cincinnati – 4 G)

PA – 37, AB – 32, R – 3, H – 10, 2B – 2,3B – 0, HR – 1, RBI – 4, BB – 4, IBB – 0, SO – 6, SB – 5, CS – 1, AVG - .313, OBP - .378, SLG -.469, TB – 15, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 1

 

Awards & Honors:

AL MVP: BBWAA

Silver Slugger

All-Star (Started for AL in LF)

 

Top 5 in AL MVP Voting:

Rickey Henderson, Oak.: 317 pts. – 14 of 28 first place votes, 81% share

Cecil Fielder, Det.: 286 pts. – 10 first place votes, 73% share

Roger Clemens, Bos.: 212 pts.  – 3 first place votes, 54% share

Kelly Gruber, Tor.: 175 pts. – 45% share

Bobby Thigpen, ChiWS.: 170 pts. – 43% share

(1 first place vote for Dennis Eckersley, Oak. who ranked sixth)

 

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A’s went 103-59 to finish first in the AL Western Division by 9 games over the Chicago White Sox. The A’s started and ended fast on their way to a third straight AL West title, and despite significant injuries that allowed their depth and pitching strength to be highlighted. Won ALCS over the Boston Red Sox, 4 games to 0, for their third straight pennant. Lost World Series to the Cincinnati Reds, 4 games to 0.

 

Aftermath of ‘90:

The A’s dropped to fourth in the AL West in 1991, and Henderson, while still an All-Star, had an off-year in which he batted .268 with 18 home runs and 57 RBIs. His 58 stolen bases still led the league, he scored 105 runs, and he had a .400 OBP thanks to his 98 walks. In 1992 he was twice on the disabled list due to hamstring problems and in 117 games hit .283 with 15 home runs, 46 RBIs, 48 stolen bases, and a .426 OBP. Oakland returned to the top of the division but lost to Toronto in the ALCS. Henderson departed the A’s for a second time during the 1993 season, as he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays at the end of July. Batting .327 with 17 home runs and 31 stolen bases at the time of the deal, he stole 22 bases in 44 games for the Blue Jays, although his average was only .215. Toronto won a second straight World Series while the A’s dropped to the bottom of the AL West. Henderson stole five bases in the postseason and then returned to Oakland as a free agent in 1994 with a two-year, $8.6 million deal. With his skills diminishing, he hit .260 during the strike-shortened season with 22 stolen bases and a .411 OBP. His average rebounded to .300 in 1995 and he hit 9 home runs and stole 32 bases for the fourth-place club. In the offseason he signed a two-year $6.2 million free agent contract with the San Diego Padres. The Padres won a division title in 1996 and Henderson batted .241 with a .410 OBP thanks to 125 walks drawn. Additionally, he stole 37 bases and scored 110 runs. Having a lesser year in 1997, he was traded to the Anaheim Angels in August and for the season batted a combined .248 with 8 home runs and 45 stolen bases, although he still drew 97 walks for a .400 on-base percentage. A free agent once more, he returned to Oakland in 1998 and at age 39 led the AL in stolen bases (66) and walks drawn (118) while hitting .236 with 14 home runs. Henderson next signed on with the New York Mets in 1999 and was The Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year as he batted .315 with a .423 OBP and 37 stolen bases with 12 home runs. He was involved in controversy following the Game 6 ALCS loss to the Braves when it was reported that he was playing cards in the clubhouse while the Mets’ season was coming to an end, an allegation he denied. He was released during the 2000 season and signed with the Seattle Mariners. He batted a combined .233 for the year and stole 36 bases. He returned to San Diego in 2001 as his production continued to decline. That year he moved past Babe Ruth into first place on the all-time list of walks drawn but he ended up hitting just .227 in 123 games. He went to the Boston Red Sox in 2002 at age 43 and began the 2003 season with the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League, but he got one last major league shot in July when he joined the Dodgers and batted .208 in 30 games. For his major league career, Henderson batted .279 with 3055 hits that included 510 doubles, 66 triples, and 297 home runs, 81 of which were leadoff home runs. He scored 2295 runs and compiled 1115 RBIs while stealing 1406 bases, drawing 2190 walks, and amassing a .401 on-base percentage. As a member of the A’s the numbers were .288 batting average, 1768 hits, 1270 runs scored, 289 doubles, 41 triples, 167 home runs, 648 RBIs, 867 stolen bases, 1227 walks drawn, and a .409 OBP. On his way to becoming the all-time base stealing leader, he led the American League 12 times and had three hundred-steal seasons. His 2129 unintentional walks remain a major league record to date. Appearing in 60 postseason games, Henderson hit .284 with 5 home runs, 20 RBIs, and 33 stolen bases. A ten-time All-Star, he also received one Gold Glove and three Silver Sluggers. The A’s retired his #24 and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2017 the A’s named their home field at the Oakland Coliseum in his honor.

 

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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.