Rookie of the Year Award by The Sporting News

The Sporting News is nothing short of the most respected and legendary magazine / newspaper in sports history. Their coverage of baseball has no rival and they are simply the most respected source of baseball statistics anywhere.

Listed below in chronological order are the rookies chosen by The Sporting News as recipients of the Rookie of the Year Award. From 1946 until 1962, The Sporting News experimented with various rookie of the year awards — sometimes giving it to one player, sometimes giving it to several. During that time frame rookie pitchers and players received the award and they are listed below.

From 1963 through 2003 The Sporting News split the rookie award into two separate categories — Rookie Pitcher of the Year and Rookie Player of the Year. In 2004 those two awards were discontinued in favor of the unified award below.

"There is a distinct lack of concern on the part of management. It's paranoia on their part." - Don Newcombe (1949 winner of The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award)
Rookie of the Year Award
by The Sporting News ©

Rookie Pitcher / Rookie Player / Rookie of the Year

Year Name(s) League

Team(s)

Position
1946

Del Ennis

NL

Philadelphia

OF
1947

Jackie Robinson

NL

Brooklyn

1B
1948

Richie Ashburn

NL

Phildelphia

OF
1949

Don Newcombe

NL

Brooklyn

P

Roy Sievers

AL

St. Louis

OF
1950

Whitey Ford

AL

New York

P
1951

Willie Mays

NL

New York

OF

Minnie Minoso

AL

Chicago

OF
1952

Joe Black

NL

Brooklyn

P

Clint Courtney

AL

St. Louis

C
1953

Jim Gilliam

NL

Brooklyn

2B

Harvey Kuenn

AL

Detroit

SS
1954

Bob Grim

AL

New York

P

Wally Moon

NL

St. Louis

OF
1955

Herb Score

AL

Cleveland

P

Bill Virdon

NL

St. Louis

OF
1956

Luis Aparicio

AL

Chicago

SS

Frank Robinson

NL

Cincinnati

OF
1957

Ed Bouchee

NL

Philadelphia

1B

Tony Kubek

AL

New York

IF-OF

Jack Sanford

NL

Philadelphia

P
1958

Orlando Cepeda

NL

San Francisco

1B

Ryne Duren

AL

New York

P

Albie Pearson

AL

Washington

OF

Carl Willey

NL

Milwaukee

P
1959

Bob Allison

AL

Washington

OF

Willie McCovey

NL

San Francisco

1B
1960

Ron Hansen

AL

Baltimore

SS

Frank Howard

NL

Los Angeles

OF
1961

Dick Howser

AL

Kansas City

SS

Ken Hunt

NL

Cincinnati

P

Don Schwall

AL

Boston

P

Billy Williams

NL

Chicago

OF
1962

Ken Hubbs

NL

Chicago

2B

Tom Tresh

AL

New York

OF-SS

1963-2003 TSN discontinued award & created a Rookie Pitcher & Player of the Year Award.

Rookie of the Year Award
by The Sporting News ©

Rookie Pitcher / Rookie Player / Rookie of the Year

Year

American League

Team(s)

Pos

Year

National League

Team(s)

Pos

2004

Bobby Crosby

Oakland

SS

2004

Jason Bay

Pittsburgh

OF

2005

Huston Street

Oakland

P

2005

Willy Taveras

Houston

OF

2006

Justin Verlander

Detroit

P

2006

Dan Uggla

Florida

2B

2007

Dustin Pedroia

Boston

2B

2007

Ryan Braun

Milwaukee

3B

2008

Evan Longoria

Tampa Bay

3B

2008

Geovany Soto

Chicago

C

2009

Not Yet Announced (10-2009)

--

--

2009

Not Yet Announced (10-2009)

--

--

Year

American League

Team(s)

Pos

Year

American League

Team(s)

Pos

Rookie of the Year Award



Did you know that you can compare the winners of The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award to those who have won the Baseball Writers Association of America Rookie of the Year Award winners and find duplicates, differences & answers to trivia questions?

When the award was given to any player, from any league, in any amount, The Sporting News gave National League players nineteen honors & American League players sixteen honors.

Do you agree or disagree with The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award winners? Did you prefer the split awards (1963-2003)? Take a moment and share your thoughts with fellow fans on our message board.