Rookie of the Year: Tony Kubek, 1957

Shortstop/Outfielder/Third Baseman, New York Yankees

Age:  21

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 190

 

Prior to 1957:

A Milwaukee native, Kubek was the son of a minor league outfielder. He excelled in football, basketball, and track at Bay View High School, which dropped baseball after his freshman year. Playing in sandlot leagues, he drew attention from scouts and signed with the Yankees for a $1500 bonus after completing high school in 1954. He attended manager Casey Stengel’s instructional school for top prospects prior to spring training for the next three years while advancing through the minor leagues. Starting out with Owensboro of the Class D Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee (or Kitty) League in ’54 he played shortstop and batted .344. Advancing to Quincy of the Class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa (or Three I) League in 1955, he hit .334 with 14 home runs and was promoted to Denver of the Class AAA American Association for seven games. He remained at Denver in 1956 and batted .331 with 31 doubles, 10 triples, 6 home runs, and 85 RBIs. Ready for the Yankees, but blocked by Gil McDougald at shortstop, Kubek made the club for 1957 while manager Stengel utilized him in the outfield as well as at short and third base.

 

1957 Season Summary

Appeared in 127 games

SS – 41, 3B – 38, LF – 31, CF – 22, 2B – 1, PH – 8, PR – 3

 

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

 

Batting

Plate Appearances – 475

At Bats – 431

Runs – 56

Hits – 128

Doubles – 21

Triples – 3

Home Runs – 3

RBI – 39

Bases on Balls – 24

Int. BB – 3

Strikeouts – 48

Stolen Bases – 6 [17, tied with Joe DeMaestri & Jim Busby]

Caught Stealing – 6 [10, tied with six others]

Average - .297 [Non-qualifying]

OBP - .335 [Non-qualifying]

Slugging Pct. - .381

Total Bases – 164

GDP – 4

Hit by Pitches – 3

Sac Hits – 13 [3]

Sac Flies – 4

 

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 7, HR - 1, RBI - 12, AVG - .296., OBP - .325

 

Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) vs. Chi. White Sox 7/23

Longest hitting streak – 18 games

Most HR, game – 1 (in 5 AB) at Detroit 5/1, (in 6 AB) at Detroit 7/16 – 10 innings, (in 4 AB) vs. KC A’s 9/15

HR at home – 1

HR on road – 2

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 3 at Boston 5/27

Pinch-hitting – 1 for 8 (.125)

 

Fielding (SS)

Chances – 188

Put Outs – 74

Assists – 108

Errors – 6

DP - 26

Pct. - .968

 

Postseason Batting: 7 G (World Series vs. Milwaukee Braves)

PA – 29, AB – 28, R – 4, H – 8, 2B – 0,3B – 0, HR – 2, RBI – 4, BB – 0, IBB – 0, SO – 4, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .286, OBP - .286, SLG -.500, TB – 14, GDP – 1, HBP – 0, SH – 1, SF – 0

 

Awards & Honors:

AL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

26^th in AL MVP voting, tied with Bobby Shantz, NYY (1 point, 0% share)

 

AL ROY Voting :

Tony Kubek, NYY: 23 of 24 votes, 96% share

Frank Malzone, Bos.: 1 vote, 4% share

 

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Yankees went 98-56 to win the AL pennant by 8 games over the Chicago White Sox, while leading the league in runs scored (723), hits (1412), triples (54), batting (.268), slugging (.409), and total bases (2155). Benefiting from solid hitting led by CF Mickey Mantle and the addition of the versatile Kubek, as well as excellent pitching, the Yankees won their third straight AL pennant. They lost the World Series to the Milwaukee Braves, 4 games to 3, as Milwaukee RHP Lew Burdette won all three of his starts.

 

Aftermath of ‘57:

Kubek took over as the starting shortstop in 1958 and dealt with injuries on his way to being selected as an All-Star and batting .265. The Yankees won the pennant and the World Series, after which Kubek was inducted into the US Army Reserve. Discharged prior to the 1959 season, he split time at shortstop, third base, and the outfield while hitting .279 during a disappointing year for the Yanks. Back primarily at shortstop in 1960, he batted .273 with 14 home runs and 62 RBIs. The Yankees returned to the top of the American League. In the World Series against Pittsburgh, Kubek hit well, but in the eighth inning of the climactic Game 7, he was struck in the throat by a ground ball that took a bad hop, thus deterring a likely double play and sending Kubek to the hospital, which opened the door for a Pirate rally and eventual walk-off victory. The club repeated under new manager Ralph Houk in 1961, and Kubek contributed a .276 average along with 38 doubles, 6 triples, 8 home runs, and 46 RBIs. He hit only .227 in the World Series against Cincinnati, but it was inconsequential as the Bronx Bombers won in five games. Recalled to active military service in November, with the expectation that he would miss the 1962 season, he returned to baseball in August and hit .314 in 45 games while performing ably at short. He added eight hits in the seven-game World Series triumph over the San Francisco Giants. With good range in the field and having overcome an early issue with throwing inaccurately to first base, Kubek had developed into a dependable defensive contributor. In 1963, he injured his back in spring training and, while still adroit in the field, his hitting dropped off to .257 for the season. Back and neck problems were an issue in 1964 and he batted .229 in 106 games, until a wrist injury finished him for the season, including the World Series. An injured shoulder in 1965 limited Kubek to 109 games and a .218 average with only 13 extra base hits. Diagnosed with nerve damage at the top of his spinal column in the offseason, Kubek retired at age 29. For his injury-shortened major league career, played entirely with the Yankees, he batted .266 with 1109 hits that included 178 doubles, 30 triples, and 57 home runs. He scored 522 runs and compiled 373 RBIs and 29 stolen bases and was a three-time All-Star. Appearing in 37 World Series games, he hit .240 with two home runs and 10 RBIs. Following his playing career Kubek went into broadcasting for 24 years.

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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: Roger Peckinpaugh, 1925

Shortstop, Washington Senators

Age:  34

4^th season with Senators

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’10” Weight: 165

 

Prior to 1925:

An Ohio native, Peckinpaugh grew up in the same Cleveland neighborhood in which star second baseman Nap Lajoie resided, and who the youthful Peckinpaugh much admired. A good all-around athlete in high school, he played football and basketball as well as baseball. After graduating high school in 1909, Lajoie’s Cleveland Naps signed Peckinpaugh for $125 per month. Starting out with the New Haven Prairie Hens of the Class B Connecticut State League in 1910, the rangy young shortstop batted .255 with 17 doubles, 9 triples, and 5 home runs, earning a late-season trial with Cleveland, during which he hit .200 in 15 games. In need of further seasoning, he was sent to the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League in 1911 where he batted .258 with 38 doubles, 15 triples, and 7 home runs. Earning a spot with Cleveland in 1912, Peckinpaugh hit just .212 in 70 games. Losing the starting shortstop job in 1913, he was traded to the New York Yankees in May and took over at shortstop there, hitting .268 and performing well defensively. With a strong arm and excellent range, he continued to develop in 1914, a year when he was named team captain due to his calm demeanor and natural leadership abilities, although his average dropped to .223. He stole 38 bases and ranked 23^rd in league MVP voting. He also served as player/manager for the last three weeks of the season following manager Frank Chance’s departure and despite his being only 23. Signed to a three-year deal at $6000 per year to keep him from potentially jumping to the rival Federal League, Peckinpaugh batted .220 in 1915 with 18 doubles, 7 triples, and 5 home runs while remaining proficient in the field. His glove work continued to outpace his hitting in 1916 as he topped AL shortstops in assists (468) and placed second in chances (796) and put outs (285), while batting .255 with 22 doubles, 8 triples, 4 home runs, and 58 RBIs. In 1917 Peckinpaugh’s average rose to .260 with 24 doubles and 7 triples. In the field he led league shortstops with 84 double plays while ranking third in chances (813), assists (467), and put outs (292). The results were similar in 1918 as his average dropped back to .231 and he topped AL shortstops in assists (439) and DPs (75). In 1919 Peckinpaugh hit .305 with 7 home runs while once again leading AL shortstops in assists (434) and double plays (64). With the Yankees in pennant contention in 1920, “Peck” batted .270 with 26 doubles, 6 triples, 8 home runs, and 54 RBIs. He was again among the league leaders defensively. The club won its first pennant in 1921 and the star shortstop hit .288 with 25 doubles, 7 triples, 8 home runs, and 72 RBIs. He also drew 84 walks, which helped him to a .380 OBP. In the World Series loss to the Giants, he performed poorly at bat and in the field and he was dealt to the Red Sox in the offseason, who turned around and traded him to the Senators. With his new club in 1922, Peckinpaugh batted .254 and provided solid defense and effective leadership. He followed up by hitting .264 in 1923 and, in 1924, Washington won the AL pennant while the veteran shortstop batted .272. He had an outstanding World Series performance against the Giants, batting .417 and making significant plays at shortstop while dealing with a left thigh injury.

 

1925 Season Summary

Appeared in 126 games

SS – 124, 1B – 1, PH – 1

 

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

 

Batting

Plate Appearances – 494

At Bats – 422

Runs – 67

Hits – 124

Doubles – 16

Triples – 4

Home Runs – 4

RBI – 64

Bases on Balls – 49

Int. Walks – N/A

Strikeouts – 23

Stolen Bases – 13 [15, tied with Bob Meusel & Ty Cobb]

Caught Stealing – 4

Average - .294

OBP - .367

Slugging Pct. - .379

Total Bases – 160

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 0

Sac Hits – 22 [12, tied with Bibb Falk & Bing Miller]

Sac Flies – N/A

 

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 6, HR – 1, RBI – 34, SB – 10, AVG – .278, OBP – .353

 

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) at Cleveland 8/20 – 12 innings

Longest hitting streak – 7 games

HR at home – 0

HR on road – 4

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 4 AB) at Phila.A’s 9/9

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 6 at Phila. A’s 9/9

Pinch-hitting – 0 for 1 (.000) with 1 BB

 

Fielding

Chances – 588

Put Outs – 215

Assists – 345

Errors – 28

DP – 71

Pct. - .952

 

Postseason Batting: 7 G (World Series vs. Pittsburgh)

PA – 27, AB – 24, R – 1, H – 6, 2B – 1,3B – 0, HR – 1, RBI – 3, BB – 1, IBB – 0, SO – 2, SB – 1, CS – 1, AVG - .250, OBP - .280, SLG - .417, TB – 10, GDP – N/A, HBP – 0, SH – 1, SF – N/A

 

Awards & Honors:

AL MVP: League Award

 

Top 5 in AL MVP Voting:

Roger Peckinpaugh, Wash.: 45 pts. – 70% share

Al Simmons, PhilaA.: 41 pts. – 64% share

Joe Sewell, Clev.: 21 pts. – 33% share

Harry Heilmann, Det.: 20 pts. – 31% share

Harry Rice, StLB.: 18 pts. – 28% share

 

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Senators went 96-55 to win the AL pennant by 8.5 games over the Philadelphia Athletics while leading the league in stolen bases (135). The Senators built upon a 52-26 first half to cruise to a second straight pennant. Lost World Series to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4 games to 3, with Peckinpaugh, who already had been named AL MVP, committing a record 8 errors, three of which directly led to Washington losses, including one in the deciding seventh game that was played in inclement weather.

 

Aftermath of ‘25:

With his legs increasingly causing him trouble, Peckinpaugh played one more season for the Senators in 1926 and finished his playing career with the Chicago White Sox in 1927. For his major league career, Peckinpaugh batted .259 with 1876 hits that included 256 doubles, 75 triples, and 48 home runs. He scored 1006 runs and compiled 740 RBIs and 205 stolen bases. With the Senators he batted .267 with 293 runs scored, 583 hits, 72 doubles, 18 triples, 11 home runs, 261 RBIs, and 46 stolen bases. He appeared in three World Series, in which his performances were a mixed bag, in the field and at bat. He hit .250 in 19 games with a home run and 5 RBIs. Peckinpaugh received MVP votes after four seasons. Much respected for his leadership qualities, he went on to manage the Cleveland Indians from 1928 to ’33, and then again in 1941. His overall major league managerial record, including his brief stint with the Yankees in 1914, was 500-491. Afterward he also managed minor league teams until leaving baseball in 1946. Peckinpaugh died in 1977 at age 86.

 

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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: Frank Howard, 1960

Outfielder, Los Angeles Dodgers

Age:  24 (Aug. 8 )

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’7”    Weight: 255

 

Prior to 1960:

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Howard, who was already 6’5” in high school, played basketball as well as baseball at Columbus South High School and moved on to Ohio State and was an All-American in basketball as well as a good-hitting baseball player with power potential. Drafted by the NBA’s Philadelphia Warriors, he chose baseball instead, signing with the Dodgers in 1958. Assigned to Green Bay of the Class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa (or “Three I”) League, he batted .333 with 37 home runs and 119 RBIs. Receiving a September call-up to the Dodgers, Howard hit his first major league home run. Moving on to Victoria of the Class AA Texas League in 1959, he hit .371 with 27 home runs and 79 RBIs before being called up to the Dodgers again. It was a brief stay until he was dispatched to Spokane of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League where he produced a .319 average in 76 games along with 16 home runs and 47 RBIs. He was named Minor League Player of the Year by The Sporting News. Having gained notoriety for hitting long home runs and impressive line drives, he started the 1960 season back with Spokane, joining the Dodgers in May.   

 

1960 Season Summary

Appeared in 117 games

RF – 94, LF – 22, 1B – 4, PH – 2

 

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

 

Batting

Plate Appearances – 487

At Bats – 448

Runs – 54

Hits – 120

Doubles – 15

Triples – 2

Home Runs – 23 [9, tied with Dick Stuart]

RBI – 77 [15, tied with Del Crandall]

Bases on Balls – 32

Int. BB – 1

Strikeouts – 108 [3]

Stolen Bases – 0

Caught Stealing – 1

Average - .268

OBP - .320

Slugging Pct. - .464 [11]

Total Bases – 208

GDP – 8

Hit by Pitches – 3

Sac Hits – 2

Sac Flies – 2

 

Midseason snapshot: HR – 13, RBI – 42, AVG – .304., SLG – .539

 

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) at Philadelphia 5/22

Longest hitting streak – 11 games

Most HR, game – 2 (in 4 AB) at Mil, Braves 6/26, (in 4 AB) vs. Mil. Braves 8/24

HR at home – 14

HR on road – 9

Multi-HR games – 2

Most RBIs, game – 6 vs. Cincinnati 7/28

Pinch-hitting – 0 for 2 (.000)

 

Fielding

Chances – 188

Put Outs – 177

Assists – 8

Errors – 3

DP - 1

Pct. - .984

 

Awards & Honors:

NL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

 

NL ROY Voting:

Frank Howard, LAD: 12 of 22 votes, 50% share

Pancho Herrera, Phila.: 4 votes, 17% share

Art Mahaffey, Phila.: 3 votes, 13% share

Ron Santo, ChiC.: 2 votes, 8% share

Tommy Davis, LAD: 1 vote, 4% share

 

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Dodgers went 82-72 to finish fourth in the NL, 13 games behind the pennant-winning Pittsburgh Pirates while leading the league in stolen bases (95). The slow-starting Dodgers turned hot during a 19-7 July run, but were a .500 club the rest of the way that lacked punch, despite the addition of Howard.

 

 Aftermath of ‘60:

Howard’s 1961 season was hindered by a thumb injury and he was primarily platooned in right field while batting .296 in 92 games with 15 home runs and 45 RBIs. Howard was prone to striking out and not drawing walks, which in 1962 produced 31 home runs and 119 RBIs to go with a .296 batting average, 108 batter strikeouts, and just 39 walks. He placed ninth in NL MVP voting. He began wearing glasses in 1963, which helped his defense and hit .273 with 28 home runs and 64 RBIs, but he still found himself being platooned. The Dodgers won the NL pennant and swept the Yankees in the World Series as Howard hit .300 with a key home run. Howard started well in 1964 power-wise, but his average dropped significantly. Platooning again as a result, he batted .226 with 24 home runs and 69 RBIs. With Howard unhappy at his use by the Dodgers and the organization seeking to concentrate on pitching, defense, and speed, the big slugger, who was not a steady hitter, lacked speed, and was not proficient defensively, was traded to the Washington Senators in the offseason for five players. The Senators shifted Howard to left field and, despite nagging injuries that included a sore elbow that required offseason surgery, his first year with his new club was productive as he hit .289 with 21 home runs and 84 RBIs in 1965. Howard’s production dropped off in 1966 to .278 with 18 home runs and 71 RBIs. With a retooled swing in 1967, “Hondo” clouted 36 home runs and hit .256 with 89 RBIs. The power surge continued in 1968 as he went through a six-game stretch in May in which he compiled 10 home runs and 17 RBIs on his way to batting .274 with a league-leading 44 home runs, .552 slugging percentage, and 330 total bases. He also accounted for 106 RBIs in a season that was otherwise dominated by pitching. He was also an All-Star for the first time and placed eighth in league MVP balloting. 1969 marked the arrival of Ted Williams as manager of the Senators, who sought to improve Howard’s pitch selectivity and help him to draw more walks. The result was 48 home runs, 111 RBIs, a .296 average, 102 walks, a .402 OBP, and a drop in strikeouts to 96. In 1970 “the Washington Monument” led the AL in home runs (44), RBIs (126), walks drawn (132), and intentional walks drawn (29) while batting .283 with a career-high .416 on-base percentage. Howard’s weight rose to 297 pounds at the start of the 1971 season, and his production dropped to .279 with 26 home runs and 83 RBIs, although he still drew 77 walks for a .367 OBP. The franchise moved  to Arlington, Texas and was rechristened the Texas Rangers in 1972 and Howard held out in the spring and was re-signed for the same $120,000 salary he had received in ’71. He had a poor 1972 season in the new location and was hitting .244 with 9 home runs and 31 RBIs when he was dealt to Detroit at the end of August. Utilized almost exclusively as a Designated Hitter (a new creation in the AL) in 1973, Howard batted .256 in just 85 games with 12 home runs and 29 RBIs. Released in the offseason, he played for the Taiheyo Lions of the Japanese Pacific League in 1974, suffering a career-ending back injury in his only game with the club. For his major league career, Howard batted .273 with 1774 hits that included 245 doubles, 35 triples, and 382 home runs. He scored 864 runs and compiled 1119 RBIs and drew 782 walks while striking out 1460 times. He had a .352 OBP and .499 slugging percentage. With the Dodgers he batted .269 with 567 hits, 80 doubles, 14 triples, 123 home runs, 293 runs scored, 382 RBIs, and drew 179 walks while striking out 515 times. His appearance in the 1963 World Series marked his only postseason action. A four-time All-Star, he twice led the AL in home runs and finished in the top 10 in league MVP voting four times. A statue of Howard has been placed outside of Washington’s Nationals Park in recognition of his outstanding performance for a Washington-based major league club. He returned to major league baseball as a coach and later managed the San Diego Padres and New York Mets, compiling a 93-133 managerial record.

 

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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: Hank Greenberg, 1940

Outfielder, Detroit Tigers

Age:  29

8^th season with Tigers

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 210

Prior to 1940:

A native of New York City, who was born on New Year’s Day in 1911, Greenberg began playing baseball on the fields at Crotona Park in the Bronx. An outstanding athlete at James Monroe High School, he excelled at basketball, soccer, and track, as well as baseball. Greenberg signed with the Tigers following his graduation from high school in 1929. First assigned to Raleigh of the Class C Piedmont League in 1930, the Jewish first baseman endured anti-Semitic slurs on his way to batting .314 with 26 doubles, 14 triples, and 19 home runs. He also saw action with Hartford of the Class A Eastern League and appeared in one late-season game with the Tigers. Playing for the Evansville Hubs of the Class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa (or Three-I) League in 1931, Greenberg hit .318 with 41 doubles, 10 triples, and 15 home runs. 1932 was spent with the Beaumont Exporters of the Class A Texas League, where he continued to impress at the plate with a .290 average, 31 doubles, 11 triples, and 39 home runs. Initially an awkward first baseman, the gangly and hard-working Greenberg developed his craft and made it to the Tigers to stay in 1933. That year he appeared in 117 games and batted .301 with 33 doubles, 3 triples, 12 home runs, and 85 RBIs. He broke out during a 1934 season in which Detroit won the AL pennant and contributed a league-leading 63 doubles along with 7 triples, 26 home runs, and 139 RBIs. He placed sixth in league MVP voting and hit .321 with a home run and 7 RBIs in the seven-game World Series loss to the Cardinals. The Tigers repeated as pennant-winners in 1935 and Greenberg was league MVP after batting .328 while leading the AL in home runs (36) and RBIs (168). However, a broken wrist limited his participation in the World Series triumph over the Cubs to two games. Greenberg reinjured the wrist early in 1936 and was limited to just 12 games. He rebounded in 1937 to hit .337 with 49 doubles, 14 triples, 40 home runs, and a league-high 184 RBIs. In addition to being an All-Star selection for the first time, he finished third in AL MVP balloting. In 1938 Greenberg challenged Babe Ruth’s then single season record by clubbing 58 home runs, along with 147 RBIs, and a .315 batting average. He also drew an AL-high 119 walks and again placed third in league MVP voting. “Hammerin’ Hank” had solid but lower numbers in 1939 as he hit .312 with 33 home runs and 113 RBIs. Never an outstanding defensive first baseman, he was moved to left field in 1940 to accommodate Rudy York, a young slugging first baseman.

1940 Season Summary

Appeared in 148 games

LF – 148

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 671 [8]

At Bats – 573 [19]

Runs – 129 [2]

Hits – 195 [6]

Doubles – 50 [1]

Triples – 8 [20, tied with Joe Kuhel & Jimmy Bloodworth]

Home Runs – 41 [1]

RBI – 150 [1]

Bases on Balls – 93 [6]

Int. BB – 8 [5, tied with Rudy York & George McQuinn]

Strikeouts – 75 [6]

Stolen Bases – 6

Caught Stealing – 3

Average - .340 [5, tied with Barney McCosky]

OBP - .433 [2]

Slugging Pct. - .670 [1]

Total Bases – 384 [1]

GDP – 15 [12, tied with Jimmy Bloodworth]

Hit by Pitches – 1

Sac Hits – 3

Sac Flies – N/A

League-leading doubles were +4 ahead of runners-up Rudy York & Lou Boudreau

League-leading home runs were +5 ahead of runner-up Jimmie Foxx

League-leading RBIs were +16 ahead of runner-up Rudy York

League-leading slugging percentage was +.044 ahead of runner-up Joe DiMaggio

League-leading total bases were +41 ahead of runner-up Rudy York

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 31, HR - 15, RBI - 71, AVG. - .344, SLG - .664

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) at NY Yankees 7/20, (in 5 AB) at Washington 8/29

Longest hitting streak – 18 games

HR at home – 27

HR on road – 14

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 3 AB) vs. Phila. A’s 9/18

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 5 at St. Louis Browns 6/29, vs. Phila. A’s 9/18, vs. Phila. A’s 9/19

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding

Chances - 327

Put Outs – 298

Assists – 14

Errors – 15

DP – 1

Pct. - .954

Postseason Batting: 7 G (World Series vs. Cincinnati)

PA – 30, AB – 28, R – 5, H – 10, 2B – 2,3B – 1, HR – 1, RBI – 6, BB – 2, IBB – 0, SO – 5, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .357, OBP - .400, SLG -.607, TB – 17, GDP – 2, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – N/A

Awards & Honors:

AL MVP: BBWAA

All-Star

Top 5 in AL MVP Voting:

Hank Greenberg, Det.: 292 pts. - 16 of 24 first place votes, 87% share

Bob Feller, Clev.: 222 pts. – 6 first place votes, 66% share

Joe DiMaggio, NYY: 151 pts. – 45% share

Bobo Newsom, Det.: 120 pts. – 1 first place vote, 36% share

Lou Boudreau, Clev.: 119 pts. – 1 first place vote, 35% share

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Tigers went 90-64 to win the AL pennant by 1 game over the Cleveland Indians while leading the league in runs scored (888), doubles (312), RBIs (829), walks drawn (664), and on-base percentage (.366). The Tigers found themselves in a tight pennant race with the Indians and New York Yankees, taking over first place just prior to the All-Star break. Dropping behind Cleveland in mid-August, falling as many as 5.5 games off the pace, they were behind the hard-charging Yankees as well as first-place Cleveland in early September. Detroit surged back and swapped the lead with the Indians seven times over a two-week period. Going 18-11 in September, the Tigers narrowly held off the Indians and Yankees. Lost the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds, 4 games to 3, with the Tigers falling in the last two games.

Aftermath of ‘40:

Greenberg started the 1941 season and appeared in 19 games before entering the Army. He missed the 1942, ’43, and ’44 seasons entirely due to World War II military service, returning to the Tigers in July of 1945, following his discharge. Still playing left field, he played a key role in spurring the club to another pennant. Appearing in 78 games, Greenberg batted .311 with 13 home runs and 60 RBIs. His home run in the season’s final game clinched the pennant. In the World Series victory over the Chicago Cubs, he hit .304 with two home runs and 7 RBIs. At age 35 in 1946 and showing signs of wear, Greenberg’s batting average dropped to .277, but he still topped the league with 44 home runs and 127 RBIs. In the offseason he was sold to the Pittsburgh Pirates for $75,000. His new club moved him back to first base in 1947 and he acted as a mentor to slugging young outfielder Ralph Kiner. They also pulled the left field fence in for his benefit. Greenberg batted .249 with 25 home runs and 74 RBIs, following which he retired. Overall with the Tigers, he batted .319 with 1528 hits that included 366 doubles, 69 triples, and 306 home runs while driving in 1200 RBIs. His major league totals were a .313 average with 1628 hits, 379 doubles, 71 triples, and 331 home runs and 1274 RBIs. His lifetime slugging percentage was .605. He led the AL in home runs and RBIs four times. In addition to being a two-time MVP he was a four-time All-Star. The Tigers retired his #5 and he was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1956. Following his retirement as a player, owner Bill Veeck of the Cleveland Indians hired the articulate and intelligent Greenberg to be the team’s farm director and then general manager. Later, when Veeck first bought the Chicago White Sox, Greenberg became a part-owner and vice president until leaving to become an investment banker. He lived until 1986, when he died at age 75.

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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: Scott Williamson, 1999

Pitcher, Cincinnati Reds

Age:  23

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 195

 

Prior to 1999:

Born in Louisiana, Williamson grew up in Friendswood, Texas, where he was a star pitcher on the high school team. As a senior he produced a 0.68 ERA and went on to college at Tulane University. He transferred to Oklahoma State and received first-team All-Big 12 recognition after posting a 7-3 record in 1997. Chosen by the Reds in the ninth round of the ’97 amateur draft he was first assigned to Billings of the Rookie-level Pioneer League and posted an 8-2 tally with a 1.78 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 86 innings pitched. He was named a league All-Star. Advancing to the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Class AA Southern League in 1998, Williamson started 18 games and went 4-5 with a 3.78 ERA and 105 strikeouts over 100 innings before being promoted to Indianapolis of the Class AAA International League where he produced no decisions in five starts before a hand injury ended his season. The hard-throwing Williamson made the jump to the Reds in 1999 despite his lack of experience beyond Class AA and shared the bullpen closer role with RHP Danny Graves. He excelled with a fastball and slider as his primary pitches.

 

1999 Season Summary

Appeared in 62 games

 

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

 

Pitching

Games – 62

Games Started – 0

Complete Games – 0

Wins – 12

Losses – 7

PCT - .632 [Non-qualifying]

Saves – 19 [15, tied with Wayne Gomes & John Franco]

Shutouts – 0

Innings Pitched – 93.1

Hits – 54

Runs – 29

Earned Runs – 25

Home Runs – 8

Bases on Balls – 43

Strikeouts – 107

ERA – 2.41 [Non-qualifying]

Hit Batters – 1

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 13 [3, tied with Russ Ortiz & Darryl Kile]

 

Midseason Snapshot: 7-4, ERA - 1.66, G – 37, SV – 11, SO - 70 in 59.2 IP

 

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Most strikeouts, game – 6 (in 3 IP) at San Diego 5/23, (in 2 IP) vs. LA Dodgers 5/27

10+ strikeout games – 0

 

Batting

PA – 11, AB – 7, R – 0, H – 0, 2B – 0, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 0, BB – 1, SO – 6, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .000, GDP – 2, HBP – 0, SH – 3, SF – 0

 

Fielding

Chances – 10

Put Outs – 2

Assists – 7

Errors – 1

DP – 1

Pct. - .900

 

Awards & Honors:

NL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

All-Star

 

NL ROY Voting:

Scott Williamson, Cin.: 118 pts. – 17 of 32 first place votes, 74% share

Preston Wilson, Fla.: 88 pts. – 9 first place votes, 55% share

Warren Morris, Pitt.: 69 pts. –  6 first place votes, 43% share

Kris Benson, Pitt.: 5 pts. – 3% share

Joe McEwing, StL.: 3 pts. – 2% share

Kevin McGlinchy, Atl.: 1 pt. – 1% share

 

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Reds went 96-67 to finish second in the NL Central Division, 1.5 games behind the division-winning Houston Astros, following a season-extending single-game playoff with the New York Mets for a wild card playoff berth, which they lost 5-0. The pitching staff led the league in shutouts (11), saves (55), and fewest hits allowed (1309). The Reds were a game ahead of the Astros on Sept. 28 but lost three of their last four games to force the playoff.

 

Aftermath of ‘99:

Williamson started out in the bullpen in 2000 before being moved into the starting rotation. He struggled to control the split-fingered fastball and set a club record by throwing 21 wild pitches. Beset by injuries, he produced a 5-8 record with a 3.29 ERA and 136 strikeouts over 112 innings. Returned to the bullpen in 2001, he made only two appearances before being shelved for “Tommy John” surgery. Returning in 2002, Williamson appeared in 63 games as a reliever and compiled a 3-4 tally with 8 saves and a 2.92 ERA while striking out 84 batters over 74 innings. Utilized as the closer for a poor Cincinnati club in 2003, Williamson had a 5-3 record with 21 saves and a 3.19 ERA when he was traded to the Boston Red Sox at the end of July. Part of a late-innings tandem with RHP Mike Timlin, Williamson struggled down the stretch and went 0-1 with a 6.20 ERA and 21 strikeouts over 20.1 innings for the postseason-bound Red Sox. Effective in the playoffs, he appeared in 8 games and was 2-0 with three saves and a 1.13 ERA. Still with Boston in 2004, he appeared in 28 games before injury ended his season and he finished at 0-1 with a save and a 1.26 ERA. Not on the roster for the postseason run that ended with a World Series victory, Williamson, who needed a second “Tommy John” surgery, moved on to the Cubs in 2005. He appeared in just 17 games and was unimpressive. Back with the Cubs in 2006, he was used as a middle reliever until he was dealt to San Diego in July. For the year he posted a 2-4 tally with a 5.72 ERA in 42 appearances. Williamson saw his last major league action with Baltimore in 2007, where he appeared in 16 games, had no decisions or saves, and posted a 4.40 ERA. He bounced around with several minor league teams between 2007 and 2011, when he finished up with the Somerset Patriots of the independent Atlantic League, before retiring. For his major league career, he appeared in 344 games and posted a 28-28 record with 55 saves and a 3.36 ERA. He further compiled 510 strikeouts while pitching 439.1 innings. With the Reds he went 25-22 in 217 games, 10 of them starts, with 54 saves, a 2.93 ERA, and 380 strikeouts over 322.1 innings. His postseason record with the Red Sox in 2003 marked the extent of his postseason action. He had the one All-Star selection as a rookie.  

 

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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: Frank Thomas, 1994

First Baseman, Chicago White Sox

Age:  26 (May 27)

5^th season with White Sox

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’5”    Weight: 240

 

Prior to 1994:

A native of Columbus, Georgia, Thomas was a football as well as baseball standout in high school. Entering Auburn University, he played tight end on the freshman football team and batted .359 on the baseball squad in the spring of 1987, earning a spot on the US team for the Pan-American Games. After suffering an injury in the subsequent football season, he turned his concentration fully to baseball and was named Southeast Conference MVP in 1989. Selected by the White Sox as the seventh overall pick in the ’89 amateur draft he played for teams at the Rookie and Class A levels he hit .296 with 5 home runs and 41 RBIs in 72 games. Advancing to the Birmingham Barons of the Class AA Southern League in 1990 Thomas batted .323 with 18 home runs and 71 RBIs. Called up for a late-season trial with the White Sox, he hit .330 with 7 home runs and 31 RBIs while appearing in 60 games. Playing primarily as a Designated Hitter during his first full season in 1991, Thomas established himself by batting .318 with 32 home runs and 109 RBIs. He also drew a league-leading 138 walks and topped the AL with a .453 on-base percentage. He was awarded his first Silver Slugger and placed third in league MVP voting. Installed at first base in 1992, Thomas again led the AL by drawing 122 walks and with a .439 on-base percentage. He also topped the circuit with 46 doubles while hitting .323 with 24 home runs and 115 RBIs. Nicknamed “The Big Hurt” for the damage he did to opposing pitchers, by 1993 Thomas was already an offensive force to be reckoned with. He achieved his first MVP season in ’93 by batting .317 with 41 home runs and 128 RBIs while the White Sox won the AL West title.

 

1994 Season Summary

Appeared in 113 games

1B – 99, DH – 13, PH – 1

 

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

 

Batting

Plate Appearances – 517 [5]

At Bats – 399

Runs – 106 [1]

Hits – 141 [4]

Doubles – 34 [3, tied with Travis Fryman]

Triples – 1

Home Runs – 38 [2]

RBI – 101 [3, tied with Albert Belle]

Bases on Balls – 109 [1]

Int. BB – 12 [5, tied with John Olerud]

Strikeouts – 61

Stolen Bases – 2

Caught Stealing – 3

Average - .353 [3]

OBP - .487 [1]

Slugging Pct. - .729 [1]

Total Bases – 291 [3]

GDP – 15 [6, tied with Ruben Sierra & Andre Dawson]

Hit by Pitches – 2

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 7 [7, tied with Kirby Puckett & Geronimo Berroa]

 

League-leading runs scored were +1 ahead of runner-up Kenny Lofton

League-leading bases on balls drawn were +12 ahead of runner-up Mickey Tettleton

League-leading OBP was +.027 ahead of runner-up Paul O’Neill

League-leading slugging percentage was +.015 ahead of runner-up Albert Belle

League-leading total bases were +33 ahead of runner-up Mark McGwire

 

Midseason snapshot: HR – 32, RBI – 78, AVG – .383., SLG - .795

 

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) vs. Minnesota 5/25, (in 5 AB) at Minnesota 6/10 – 10 innings, (in 4 AB) at Detroit 7/7

Longest hitting streak – 15 games

HR at home – 22

HR on road – 16

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 5 AB) vs. Minnesota 5/25, (in 4 AB) vs. Texas 6/21 – 10 innings

Multi-HR games – 2

Most RBIs, game – 5 vs. Minnesota 5/25, at Milwaukee 7/9

Pinch-hitting – 0 for 1 (.000)

 

Fielding

Chances - 787

Put Outs – 735

Assists – 45

Errors – 7

DP – 74

Pct. - .991

 

Awards & Honors:

AL MVP: BBWAA

Silver Slugger

All-Star (Started for AL at 1B)

 

Top 5 in AL MVP Voting:

Frank Thomas, ChiWS.: 372 pts. - 24 of 28 first place votes, 95% share

Ken Griffey Jr., Sea.: 233 pts. – 3 first place votes, 59% share

Albert Belle, Clev.: 225 pts. – 57% share

Kenny Lofton, Clev.: 181 pts. – 1 first place vote, 46% share

Paul O’Neill, NYY: 150 pts. – 38% share

 

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White Sox went 67-46 to finish first in the AL Central Division, 1 game ahead of the Cleveland Indians, at the point in August that a players’ strike prematurely shut down the season and eliminated the postseason. They led the league in triples (39) and fewest batter strikeouts (568). Ahead in the AL Central by as many as four games following a surge in the second half of May, and behind by six after a June swoon, the White Sox split a four-game series with Cleveland in July that boosted the club into first to stay.

 

Aftermath of ‘94:

Another strong season for Thomas in 1995 made him the first player in baseball history to bat .300 with at least 20 home runs, 100 RBIs, 100 runs scored, and 100 walks drawn over five consecutive seasons. His totals were a .308 average, 102 runs, 40 home runs, 111 RBIs, and a league-leading 136 walks drawn (29 intentional). He placed eighth in AL MVP voting. In 1996 “the Big Hurt” suffered a stress fracture in his left foot that cost him 18 games, but still ended up batting .349 with 110 runs scored, 40 home runs, 134 RBIs, and 109 walks drawn. Thomas won the AL batting title in 1997 by hitting .347 along with 110 runs, 35 home runs, 125 RBIs, and 109 bases on balls. “The Big Hurt” followed up with a relative off-year in 1998, batting just .265 with 29 home runs and 109 RBIs while still drawing 110 walks while used almost exclusively as a DH. Bothered by a foot injury that required surgery in 1999, and splitting time between DH and first base, his batting average rebounded to .305 with just 15 home runs and 77 RBIs. In 2000 Thomas, now typically a Designated Hitter, returned to form by batting .328 with 43 home runs and 143 RBIs. He finished a close second in league MVP balloting. A triceps tear that required surgery limited Thomas to 20 games in 2001 and when he returned in 2002 he batted only .252 with 28 home runs and 92 RBIs. While his average remained low at .267 in 2003, his productivity was strong at 42 home runs and 105 RBIs. Limited to a total of 108 games due to injuries in 2004 and ’05, Thomas was not on the postseason roster that culminated in World Series triumph for the White Sox in 2005. Departing for the Oakland A's as a free agent, he was the regular DH in 2006 and hit .270 with 39 home runs and 114 RBIs. Moving on to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2007 he batted .277 with 26 home runs and 95 RBIs. Released by Toronto early in the 2008 season, he returned to Oakland where he hit .263 in his final season. After not playing in 2009, Thomas retired. For his major league career, he batted .301 with 2468 hits that included 495 doubles, 12 triples, and 521 home runs. He scored 1494 runs, reaching 100 in a season nine times, and compiled 1704 RBIs, reaching 100 in a season eleven times. He further drew 1667 walks and had a .419 on-base percentage. With the White Sox he batted .307 with 2136 hits, 1327 runs, 447 doubles, 11 triples, 448 home runs, 1465 RBIs, 1466 bases on balls, and a .427 OBP and .568 slugging percentage. Appearing in 16 postseason games, Thomas hit .224 with 3 home runs and 5 RBIs. A five-time All-Star, he was in the top ten of MVP voting nine times, including the two wins. He further was awarded four Silver Sluggers. The White Sox retired his #35 and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.

 

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

 

Cy Young Profile: Rick Sutcliffe, 1984

Pitcher, Cleveland Indians/Chicago Cubs

Age:  28 (June 21)

3^rd season with Indians

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 6’7”    Weight: 215

 

Prior to 1984:

A native of Independence, Missouri, Sutcliffe was a three-sport star in high school (football and basketball as well as baseball). Chosen by the Dodgers in the 1974 amateur draft, the 18-year-old pitching prospect was initially assigned to Bellingham of the Class A Northwest League where he posted a 10-3 record with a 3.32 ERA and 69 strikeouts over 95 innings pitched. He was named to the league All-Star team. Moving on to Bakersfield of the Class A California League in 1975, he went 8-16 with a 4.15 ERA and 91 strikeouts while pitching 193 innings. Sutcliffe’s next stop was Waterbury of the Class AA Eastern League in 1976 where his record was 10-11 with a 3.18 ERA prior to advancing to Albuquerque of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. He finished the year with a late-season appearance with the Dodgers in which he pitched five innings with no decision. Back with Albuquerque in 1977, he had a rough year in which he went 3-10 with a 6.43 ERA. It was better in 1978 with Albuquerque, where Sutcliffe posted a 13-6 mark with a 4.45 ERA and 99 strikeouts over 184 innings. A late-season call-up to the Dodgers set the stage for the tall righthander to make it into the rotation in 1979, where a strong finish propelled him to a 17-10 record and selection as National League Rookie of the Year. Dealing with arm problems in 1980, Sutcliffe lost his spot in the starting rotation in May and dropped to 3-9 with a 5.56 ERA. Following a stint in Arizona over the winter he had another difficult year during the strike-interrupted 1981 season. He appeared in just 14 games, six of them starts, and produced a 2-2 record with a 4.02 ERA. Left off the club’s postseason roster, he trashed manager Tommy Lasorda’s office and was dealt to Cleveland in the offseason. Sutcliffe started slowly as a starting pitcher with his new club in 1982 but was very effective after adding a slider to his repertoire and finished at 14-8 with a league-leading 2.96 ERA and 142 strikeouts. With command of a fastball (although he was never a power pitcher, despite his size), slider, curve, and changeup Sutcliffe was an All-Star with the Indians in 1983, producing a 17-11 record with a 4.29 ERA and 160 strikeouts. A slow start in 1984 led to his being dealt back to the NL with the Cubs in June.

 

1984 Season Summary

Appeared in 35 games (Cleveland – 15/Chi. Cubs – 20)

 

American League with Cleveland

 

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

 

Pitching

Games – 15

Games Started – 15

Complete Games – 2

Wins – 4

Losses – 5

PCT - .444

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 0

Innings Pitched – 94.1

Hits – 111

Runs – 60

Earned Runs – 54

Home Runs – 7

Bases on Balls – 46

Strikeouts – 58

ERA – 5.15

Hit Batters – 2

Balks – 1

Wild Pitches – 3

 

National League with Chicago Cubs

 

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

 

Pitching

Games – 20

Games Started – 20

Complete Games – 7 [9, tied with Larry McWilliams & Dwight Gooden]

Wins – 16 [4, tied with Joe Niekro]

Losses – 1

PCT - .941 [Non-qualifying]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 3 [4, tied with Dwight Gooden, Rick Rhoden & Bob Knepper]

Innings Pitched – 150.1

Hits – 123

Runs – 53

Earned Runs – 45

Home Runs – 9

Bases on Balls – 39

Strikeouts – 155 [6]

ERA – 2.69 [Non-qualifying]

Hit Batters – 1

Balks – 2

Wild Pitches – 3

 

Midseason Snapshot: 8-6, ERA - 4.26, SO - 94 in 131 IP

 

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Most strikeouts, game – 15 (in 8 IP) at Philadelphia 9/3

10+ strikeout games – 5

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 9 IP) at Pittsburgh 9/24

 

Batting (all NL)

PA – 63, AB – 56, R – 3, H – 14, 2B – 3, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 6, BB – 2, SO – 18, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .250, GDP – 1, HBP – 0, SH – 5, SF – 0

 

Fielding (combined)

Chances – 56

Put Outs – 19

Assists – 35

Errors – 2

DP – 1

Pct. - .964

 

Postseason Pitching: (NLCS vs. San Diego)

G – 2, GS – 2, CG – 0, Record – 1-1, PCT – .500, SV – 0, ShO – 0, IP – 13.1, H – 9, R – 6, ER – 5, HR – 0, BB – 8, SO – 10, ERA – 3.38, HB – 1, BLK – 0, WP – 0

 

Awards & Honors: 

NL Cy Young Award: BBWAA

NL Pitcher of the Year: Sporting News

4^th in NL MVP voting (151 points, 45% share)

 

NL Cy Young voting (Top 3):

Rick Sutcliffe, ChiC.: 120 pts. – 24 of 24 first place votes, 100% share

Dwight Gooden, NYM: 45 pts. – 38% share

Bruce Sutter, StL.: 33 pts. – 28% share

 

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Indians went 75-87 to finish sixth in the AL Eastern Division, 29 games behind the division-winning Detroit Tigers. Following a poor start in which the Indians had difficulty scoring runs, the club benefited from the arrival of outfielders Joe Carter and Mel Hall, who came from the Cubs in the June trade for Sutcliffe.

 

Cubs went 96-65 to finish first in the NL Eastern Division by 6.5 games over the New York Mets. The pitching staff led the league in fewest walks issued (442). The Cubs reached the postseason for the first time since 1945 by battling the Mets until moving into first place to stay on August 1. Lost NLCS to the San Diego Padres, 3 games to 2 after taking a 2-0 lead in the series.

 

Aftermath of ‘84:

Sutcliffe was beset by injuries in 1985, and while effective when healthy, he ended up with a disappointing 8-8 record and a 3.18 ERA with 102 strikeouts over 130 innings. In 1986 a sore shoulder caused him to lose eight straight decisions on his way to a 5-14 tally and a 4.64 ERA with 122 strikeouts. “The Red Baron” returned to All-Star form in 1987 with a last-place club, topping the NL in wins with his 18-10 record while posting a 3.68 ERA and 174 strikeouts. While the Cubs improved in 1988, Sutcliffe did not, finishing at 13-14 with a 3.86 ERA and 144 strikeouts. The team topped the NL East in 1989 and “the Red Baron”, who was bothered by shoulder stiffness during the second half of the season, contributed a 16-11 mark with a 3.66 ERA and 153 strikeouts. The shoulder injury kept Sutcliffe out of action in 1990 until the end of August and he made only five appearances with no wins among them. Disabled twice in 1991 due to weakness in his shoulder, he produced a 6-5 tally with a 4.10 ERA. A free agent in the offseason, he signed with the Baltimore Orioles. Sutcliffe put together a respectable season for the Orioles in 1992 finishing with a 16-15 record and 4.47 ERA while compiling 237.1 innings. Knee surgery in 1993 limited him to 166 innings and a 10-10 mark with a 5.75 ERA. Sutcliffe finished his career in 1994 with an inconsequential performance with St. Louis during the strike-shortened season. For his major league career Sutcliffe had a 171-139 record with a 4.08 ERA and 1679 strikeouts over 2697.2 innings. He totaled 72 complete games with 18 shutouts. With the Cubs his record was 82-65 with a 3.74 ERA and 40 complete games, 11 shutouts, and 909 strikeouts over 1267.1 innings. Sutcliffe started three postseason games and went 1-1 with a 3.72 ERA. He was a three-time All-Star, all with the Cubs. Following his playing career Sutcliffe served as a minor league pitching coach and went into broadcasting.  

 

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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.