Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award

In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is given each year to one player from each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA). The award was start in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA.  They selected a winner every year from 1940 through 1946. The award became national in 1947; Jackie Robinson, the Brooklyn Dodgers' first baseman, won the first award. One award was presented for both leagues in 1947 and 1948; since 1949, the honor has been given to one player each in the National and American League. At first, the award was known as the J. Louis Comiskey Memorial Award, named after the Chicago White Sox owner of the 1930s. The award was renamed the Jackie Robinson Award in July 1987, 40 years after Jackie Robinson broke the baseball color line.

Of the 128 players named Rookie of the Year, 19 have been selected for the National Baseball Hall of Fame—Jackie Robinson, seven American League players, and eleven others from the National League. The award has been shared twice: once by Butch Metzger and Pat Zachry of the National League in 1976; and once by John Castino and Alfredo Griffin of the American League in 1979. Members of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers have won the most awards of any team (with 16).  This is twice the total of the New York Yankees (eight), who have won the most in the American League. Fred Lynn and Ichiro Suzuki are the only two players who have been named Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in the same year. Fernando Valenzuela is the only player to have won Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award in the same year. Sam Jethroe is the oldest player to have won the award, at age 32, 33 days older than 2000 winner Kazuhiro Sasaki (also 32). Michael Harris III of the Atlanta Braves and Julio Rodríguez of the Seattle Mariners are the 2022 winners.

Qualifications and voting
From 1947 through 1956, each BBWAA voter had their own rules for decide who was a rookie. In 1957, the BBWAA first defined the term as someone with fewer than 75 at bats or 45 innings pitched in any Major League season before the current season. This guideline was later changed to 90 at bats, 45 innings pitched, or 45 days on a Major League roster before September 1 of the last year. The current rule is 130 at bats, 50 innings pitched or 45 days on the active roster of a Major League club (except for time in military service or on the disabled list) before September 1 was first used in 1971. Since 1980, each voter names three rookies: a first-place choice is given five points, a second-place choice three points, and a third-place choice one point. The award goes to the player who receives the most total points. Edinson Volquez received three second-place votes in 2008 even though he was not a rookie under the award's definition.

Some baseball writers have criticized the voting in recent years because several players who played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) have won the award.  These winners include Hideo Nomo in 1995, Kazuhiro Sasaki in 2000, and Ichiro Suzuki in 2001. The current definition of rookie for the award is based only on Major League playing. Some writers feel that past NPB players are not true rookies because of their past professional playing. This issue came up in 2003 when Hideki Matsui lost the AL award to Ángel Berroa in a close vote. Jim Souhan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune said he did not think Matsui was a rookie in 2003 because "it would be an insult to the Japanese league to pretend that experience didn't count." The Japan Times had a story in 2007 on calling Daisuke Matsuzaka, Kei Igawa, and Hideki Okajima as rookies, saying "[t]hese guys aren't rookies." Past winners such as Jackie Robinson, Don Newcombe, and Sam Jethroe had professional experience in the Negro Leagues.

 Winners 
 Key 
YearLinks to the article about the corresponding Major League Baseball season†Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum^Denotes player who is still active*Denotes year in which the award was shared

Major Leagues combined (1947–48)
 YearPlayerTeamPosition Selected statistics Ref 1947 † Brooklyn Dodgers 1B 
 .297 batting average
 125 runs scored
 29 stolen bases 1948  Boston Braves SS 
 .322 batting average
 3 home runs
 48 runs batted in

American League winners (1949–present)
 YearPlayerTeamPosition Selected statistics Ref 1949  St. Louis Browns OF 
 .306 batting average
 16 home runs
 91 runs batted in 1950  Boston Red Sox 1B 
 .322 batting average
 34 home runs
 144 runs batted in 1951  New York Yankees 3B 
 .306 batting average
 14 home runs
 63 runs batted in 1952  Philadelphia Athletics P 
 3.31 earned run average
 15 complete games
 15–15 record in 37 appearances (28 games started) 1953  Detroit Tigers SS 
 .308 batting average
 94 runs scored
 209 hits 1954  New York Yankees P 
 3.26 earned run average
 199 innings pitched
 20–6 record in 37 appearances (20 games started) 1955  Cleveland Indians P 
 2.85 earned run average
 227 innings pitched
 16–10 record in 32 games started 1956 † Chicago White Sox SS 
 .266 batting average
 21 stolen bases
 69 runs scored 1957  New York Yankees SS 
 .297 batting average
 56 runs scored
 39 runs batted in 1958  Washington Senators OF 
 .275 batting average
 3 home runs
 63 runs scored 1959  Washington Senators OF 
 .261 batting average
 30 home runs
 85 runs batted in 1960  Baltimore Orioles SS 
 .255 batting average
 22 home runs
 86 runs batted in 1961  Boston Red Sox P 
 3.22 earned run average
 178 innings pitched
 15–7 record in 25 games started 1962  New York Yankees SS 
 .286 batting average
 20 home runs
 93 runs batted in 1963  Chicago White Sox P 
 2.33 earned run average
 243 innings pitched
 19–8 record in 41 appearances (30 games started) 1964  Minnesota Twins OF 
 .323 batting average
 32 home runs
 94 runs batted in 1965  Baltimore Orioles OF 
 .260 batting average
 22 home runs
 70 runs batted in 1966  Chicago White Sox OF 
 .273 batting average
 44 stolen bases
 98 runs scored 1967 † Minnesota Twins 2B 
 .292 batting average
 8 home runs
 66 runs scored 1968  New York Yankees P  
 2.05 earned run average
 267 innings pitched
 17–12 record in 34 games started 1969  Kansas City Royals  OF 
 .282 batting average
 11 home runs
 68 runs batted in 1970  New York Yankees C 
 .302 batting average
 53 runs batted in
 52% caught stealing percentage in the field 1971  Cleveland Indians  1B 
 .275 batting average
 9 home runs
 48 runs batted in 1972 † Boston Red Sox C  
 .293 batting average
 22 home runs
 61 runs batted in 1973  Baltimore Orioles  OF 
 .337 batting average
 11 triples
 73 runs scored 1974  Texas Rangers  1B 
 .323 batting average
 .395 on-base percentage
 66 runs batted in 1975  Boston Red Sox  OF 
 .331 batting average
 47 doubles
 105 runs batted in 1976  Detroit Tigers  P 
 2.34 earned run average
 24 complete games
 19–9 record in 29 games started 1977 † Baltimore Orioles  DH 
 .283 batting average
 27 home runs
 88 runs batted in 1978  Detroit Tigers 2B 
 .285 batting average
 3 home runs
 58 runs batted in 1979*  Minnesota Twins 3B 
 .285 batting average
 8 triples
 52 runs batted in 1979*  Toronto Blue Jays SS 
 .287 batting average
 10 triples
 81 runs scored 1980  Cleveland Indians  OF 
 .289 batting average
 23 home runs
 87 runs batted in 1981  New York Yankees P  
 2.05 earned run average
 105 innings pitched
 8–4 record in 15 games started 1982 † Baltimore Orioles  SS 
 .264 batting average
 28 home runs
 93 runs batted in 1983  Chicago White Sox  OF 
 .254 batting average
 35 home runs
 100 runs batted in 1984  Seattle Mariners  1B 
 .284 batting average
 27 home runs
 116 runs batted in 1985  Chicago White Sox  SS 
 .273 batting average
 9 triples
 71 runs scored 1986  Oakland Athletics OF 
 .240 batting average
 33 home runs
 117 runs batted in 1987  Oakland Athletics  1B  
 .289 batting average
 49 home runs
 118 runs batted in 1988  Oakland Athletics  SS 
 .250 batting average
 3 home runs
 39 runs batted in 1989  Baltimore Orioles P 
 1.69 earned run average
 85 innings pitched
 27 saves 1990  Cleveland Indians C 
 .290 batting average
 9 home runs
 66 runs batted in 1991  Minnesota Twins 2B 
 .281 batting average
 25 stolen bases
 78 runs scored 1992  Milwaukee Brewers SS 
 .290 batting average
 54 stolen bases
 93 runs scored 1993  California Angels  OF 
 .283 batting average
 31 home runs
 95 runs batted in 1994  Kansas City Royals DH 
 .282 batting average
 24 home runs
 65 runs batted in 1995  Minnesota Twins OF 
 .277 batting average
 24 home runs
 84 runs batted in 1996 ^ New York Yankees SS 
 .314 batting average
 10 home runs
 104 runs scored 1997  Boston Red Sox SS 
 .306 batting average
 30 home runs
 122 runs scored 1998  Oakland Athletics OF  
 .288 batting average
 18 home runs
 89 runs batted in 1999 ^ Kansas City Royals OF 
 .293 batting average
 22 home runs
 108 runs batted in 2000  Seattle Mariners P 
 3.16 earned run average
 78 strikeouts
 37 saves 2001 ^ Seattle Mariners OF 
 .350 batting average
 56 stolen bases
 127 runs scored 2002 ^ Toronto Blue Jays 3B 
 .279 batting average
 24 home runs
 84 runs batted in 2003 ^ Kansas City Royals SS 
 .287 batting average
 21 stolen bases
 92 runs scored 2004 ^ Oakland Athletics SS 
 .239 batting average
 22 home runs
 64 runs batted in 2005 ^ Oakland Athletics P 
 1.72 earned run average
 78 innings pitched
 23 saves 2006 ^ Detroit Tigers P 
 3.63 earned run average
 186 innings pitched
 17–9 record in 30 games started 2007 ^ Boston Red Sox  2B 
 .317 batting average
 39 doubles
 86 runs scored 2008 ^ Tampa Bay Rays3B 
 .272 batting average
 27 home runs
 85 runs batted in 2009Andrew Bailey^ Oakland AthleticsP 1.84 earned run average
 83 innings pitched
 26 saves 2010 ^Texas RangersP 2.73 earned run average
 69 innings pitched
 40 saves 2011^ Tampa Bay RaysP 
 2.95 earned run average
 117 strikeouts
 13–10 record in 29 games started 2012 ^§ Los Angeles AngelsOF 
 .326 batting average
 30 home runs
 129 runs scored
 49 stolen bases 2013 ^ Tampa Bay RaysOF 
 .293 batting average
 13 home runs
 53 runs batted in 2014 ^§ Chicago White Sox1B 
 .317 batting average
 36 home runs
 107 runs batted in 2015 ^ Houston AstrosSS 
 .279 batting average
 22 home runs
 68 runs batted in 2016 ^ Detroit TigersP 
 3.06 earned run average
 132 strikeouts
 11–7 record in 26 games started 2017 ^§ New York YankeesOF 
 .284 batting average
 52 home runs
 114 runs batted in
 128 runs scored 2018 ^ Los Angeles AngelsP/DH 
 .285 batting average
 22 home runs
 4–2 record in 11 games started
 63 strikeouts 2019 ^§ Houston Astros DH/OF 
 .313 batting average
 27 home runs
 78 runs batted in
 58 runs scored 2020 ^§ Seattle MarinersOF 
 .267 batting average
 11 home runs
 28 runs batted in
 37 runs scored 2021 ^ Tampa Bay RaysOF 
 .274 batting average
 20 home runs
 69 runs batted in
 94 runs scored 2022 ^ Seattle MarinersOF 
 .284 batting average
 28 home runs
 25 stolen bases
 75 runs batted in
 84 runs scored 2023^§Baltimore OriolesSS/3B.255 batting average
28 home runs
82 runs batted in
100 runs scored

National League winners (1949–present)
 YearPlayerTeamPosition Selected statistics Ref 1949  Brooklyn Dodgers P 
 3.17 earned run average
 5 shutouts
 17–8 record in 31 games started 1950  Boston Braves OF 
 .273 batting average
 35 stolen bases
 100 runs scored 1951 † New York Giants OF 
 .274 batting average
 20 home runs
 68 runs batted in 1952  Brooklyn Dodgers P 
 2.15 earned run average
 15 saves
 15–4 record in 56 appearances 1953  Brooklyn Dodgers 2B 
 .278 batting average
 17 triples
 125 runs scored 1954  St. Louis Cardinals OF 
 .304 batting average
 12 home runs
 106 runs scored 1955  St. Louis Cardinals OF 
 .281 batting average
 17 home runs
 68 runs batted in 1956 † Cincinnati Reds OF 
 .290 batting average
 38 home runs
 122 runs scored 1957  Philadelphia Phillies P 
 3.08 earned run average
 188 strikeouts
 19–8 record in 33 games started 1958 † San Francisco Giants 1B  
 .312 batting average
 25 home runs
 96 runs batted in 1959 † San Francisco Giants 1B  
 .354 batting average
 13 home runs
 38 runs batted in 1960  Los Angeles Dodgers OF  
 .268 batting average
 23 home runs
 77 runs batted in 1961 † Chicago Cubs  OF  
 .278 batting average
 25 home runs
 86 runs batted in 1962  Chicago Cubs 2B  
 .260 batting average
 90 runs scored
 Gold Glove Award 1963  Cincinnati Reds 2B 
 .273 batting average
 9 triples
 101 runs scored 1964  Philadelphia Phillies 3B 
 .318 batting average
 13 triples
 125 runs scored 1965  Los Angeles Dodgers 2B  
 .250 batting average
 12 home runs
 69 runs batted in 1966  Cincinnati Reds 2B  
 .284 batting average
 9 home runs
 72 runs scored 1967 † New York Mets P  
 2.76 earned run average
 251 innings pitched
 16–13 record in 34 games started 1968 † Cincinnati Reds C  
 .275 batting average
 15 home runs
 82 runs batted in 1969  Los Angeles Dodgers 2B 
 .271 batting average
 4 home runs
 69 runs scored 1970  Montreal Expos P  
 3.60 earned run average
 284 innings pitched
 18–11 record in 43 appearances (37 games started) 1971  Atlanta Braves  C  
 .260 batting average
 33 home runs
 87 runs batted in 1972  New York Mets P  
 2.32 earned run average
 244 innings pitched
 15–10 record in 32 games started 1973  San Francisco Giants  OF 
 .300 batting average
 12 home runs
 74 runs scored 1974  St. Louis Cardinals  OF  
 .309 batting average
 30 stolen bases
 81 runs scored 1975  San Francisco Giants P  
 2.88 earned run average
 215 strikeouts
 15–9 record on 34 games started 1976*  San Diego Padres P 
 2.92 earned run average
 16 saves
 11–4 record in 77 appearances 1976*  Cincinnati Reds P 
 2.74 earned run average
 204 innings pitched
 14–7 record in 38 appearances (28 games started) 1977 † Montreal Expos OF  
 .282 batting average
 19 home runs
 65 runs batted in 1978  Atlanta Braves  3B  
 .266 batting average
 23 home runs
 63 runs batted in 1979  Los Angeles Dodgers P  
 3.46 earned run average
 242 innings pitched
 17–10 record in 39 appearances (30 games started) 1980  Los Angeles Dodgers P  
 2.66 earned run average
 84 innings pitched
 17 saves 1981  Los Angeles Dodgers  P  
 2.48 earned run average
 8 shutouts
 13–7 record in 25 games started 1982  Los Angeles Dodgers  2B 
 .282 batting average
 49 stolen bases
 88 runs scored 1983  New York Mets  OF  
 .257 batting average
 26 home runs
 74 runs batted in 1984  New York Mets P  
 2.60 earned run average
 276 strikeouts
 17–9 record in 31 games started 1985  St. Louis Cardinals  OF  
 .267 batting average
 110 stolen bases
 107 runs scored 1986  St. Louis Cardinals P  
 2.08 earned run average
 103 innings pitched
 36 saves 1987  San Diego Padres C  
 .300 batting average
 18 home runs
 79 runs batted in 1988  Cincinnati Reds  3B 
 .271 batting average
 46 stolen bases
 74 runs scored 1989  Chicago Cubs OF  
 .293 batting average
 24 stolen bases
 64 runs scored 1990  Atlanta Braves OF  
 .282 batting average
 28 home runs
 78 runs batted in 1991  Houston Astros 1B  
 .294 batting average
 15 home runs
 82 runs batted in 1992  Los Angeles Dodgers 1B  
 .257 batting average
 20 home runs
 88 runs batted in 1993  Los Angeles Dodgers C  
 .318 batting average
 35 home runs
 112 runs batted in 1994  Los Angeles Dodgers OF  
 .306 batting average
 16 home runs
 56 runs batted in 1995  Los Angeles Dodgers P  
 2.54 earned run average
 236 strikeouts
 13–6 record in 28 games started 1996  Los Angeles Dodgers OF  
 .291 batting average
 12 home runs
 59 runs batted in 1997 ^ Philadelphia Phillies 3B  
 .283 batting average
 21 home runs
 92 runs batted in 1998 ^ Chicago Cubs P  
 3.40 earned run average
 233 strikeouts
 13–6 record in 26 games started 1999 ^ Cincinnati Reds P 
 2.41 earned run average
 19 saves
 12–7 record in 62 appearances 2000 ^ Atlanta Braves SS  
 .295 batting average
 40 stolen bases
 87 runs scored 2001 ^ St. Louis Cardinals 3B  
 .329 batting average
 37 home runs
 130 runs batted in 2002 ^ Colorado Rockies P 
 4.52 earned run average
 185 innings pitched
 16–8 record in 32 games started 2003 ^ Florida Marlins P 
 3.30 earned run average
 160 innings pitched
 14–6 record in 27 games started 2004 ^ Pittsburgh Pirates OF 
 .282 batting average
 26 home runs
 82 runs batted in 2005 ^ Philadelphia Phillies 1B 
 .288 batting average
 22 home runs
 63 runs batted in 2006 ^ Florida Marlins SS 
 .292 batting average
 51 stolen bases
 119 runs scored 2007 ^ Milwaukee Brewers  3B 
 .324 batting average
 34 home runs
 97 runs batted in 2008 ^ Chicago Cubs C 
 .285 batting average
 23 home runs
 86 runs batted in 2009 ^ Florida Marlins OF 
 .321 batting average
 162 base hits
 84 runs scored 2010 ^ San Francisco Giants C 
 .305 batting average
 18 home runs
 67 runs batted in 2011^§ Atlanta BravesP 
 2.10 earned run average
 127 strikeouts in 77 innings pitched
 46 saves 2012 ^ Washington NationalsOF 
 .270 batting average
 22 home runs
 59 runs batted in 2013^ Miami MarlinsP 
 2.19 earned run average
 0.98 WHIP
 12 wins 2014 ^ New York MetsP 
 2.69 earned run average
 1.14 WHIP
 9 wins 2015 ^§ Chicago Cubs3B 
 .275 batting average
 26 home runs
 99 runs batted in 2016 ^§ Los Angeles DodgersSS 
 .308 batting average
 26 home runs
 72 runs batted in 2017 ^§ Los Angeles Dodgers1B 
 .267 batting average
 39 home runs
 97 runs batted in 2018 ^ Atlanta BravesOF 
 .293 batting average
 26 home runs
 64 runs batted in 2019 ^ New York Mets 1B 
 .260 batting average
 53 home runs+
 120 runs batted in
 103 runs scored 2020 ^ Milwaukee BrewersP 
 0.33 earned run average
 0.63 WHIP
 53 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched 2021 ^ Cincinnati Reds3B 
 .269 batting average
 21 home runs
 69 runs batted in
 98 runs scored 2022 ^ Atlanta BravesOF 
 .297 batting average
 19 home runs
 64 runs batted in
 75 runs scored 2023^ §Arizona DiamondbacksOF.285 batting average
25 home runs
76 runs batted in
116 runs scored
54 stolen bases

Related pages
This Year in Baseball Awards Rookie of the Year
Players Choice Awards Outstanding Rookie
Baseball America Rookie of the Year
The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award
Rookie of the Month
Topps All-Star Rookie Teams
Baseball awards
Rookie of the Year Award (all sports)
Rookie of the Year (movie)

References
General

Inline citations

Category:Major League Baseball awards
Category:Lists of baseball players