The Boston Red Sox have had many sensational rookies in club history. Who had the best rookie season ever in Red Sox history?
The Boston Red Sox have had legends come through their system and make their debuts with the Red Sox.
Many legendary rookie seasons have come in a Red Sox uniform. Some have had better overall careers than others, but nonetheless, their rookie season is all that counts in this list.
Coming up with just five players on this list was very difficult. This left guys like Dustin Pedroia, Carlton Fisk, and Tony Conigliaro off the list, as well as many others.
The Red Sox have had six Rookie of the Year winners in club history, but haven’t had any since Pedroia’s 2007 season. Many thought Andrew Benintendi was going to change that last season after entering the season as a top prospect, but Aaron Judge hit 52 homers and won the award unanimously.
Let’s take a look at some of the best rookie seasons in Red Sox history.
5. Don Schwall, 1961
The fifth person on this list was difficult to decide. The top four are pretty clear in my opinion, so the fifth person on this list was close between many players.
Schwall was one of the only pitchers taken into consideration, and his 1961 season was dominant enough to get him a spot on this list.
Don Schwall is not a very household name to Red Sox fans. Schwall lasted just two years with the Red Sox, and his 1962 season was a disaster.
However, this list is only looking at rookie seasons, and Schwall’s 1961 rookie season was superb.
The right-hander went 15-7 with a 3.22 ERA in 1961, taking home Rookie of the Year honors. Schwall also finished 14th in AL MVP voting and was named an all-star for the only time in his career. Schwall threw 10 complete games that season and two shutouts, and his 0.4 HR/9 was the best in the major leagues.
Schwall was unable to ever enjoy the same success that he enjoyed during his 1961 season throughout his career. Schwall lasted seven years in the bigs and played with the Red Sox, Pirates, and Braves. In his career, Schwall went 49-48 with a 3.72 ERA in 743 innings pitched.
4. Nomar Garciaparra, 1997
Throughout his career, Nomar was a fan favorite with the Red Sox.
More from Chowder and Champions
- 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
- 10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster Deadline
- MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
- 3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 Season
- Red Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win
In my opinion, Garciaparra is one of the most underrated players in baseball history. He did not enjoy as much success with other teams as he did with the Red Sox and struggled to stay healthy especially in the later stages of his career, but his consistency at the plate does not get the credit it deserves.
This includes a spectacular 1997 rookie season when Nomar won AL Rookie of the Year with the Red Sox. The shortstop hit .306 with 30 homers and 98 RBIs and was a big part of the Red Sox offense as a 23-year-old rookie. Nomar led the AL in at-bats (684), hits (209), and triples (11). He also led the Red Sox with 22 steals and 122 runs.
Garciaparra won Rookie of the Year unanimously, earned an all-star game appearance, was awarded a Silver Slugger at shortstop, and finished eighth in AL MVP voting.
In nine seasons with the Boston Red Sox, Nomar hit .323 with 178 homers, 690 RBIs, and 95 steals in 3,968 at-bats. Garciaparra hit an incredible .357 with the Red Sox in 1999 and an even better .372 in 2000. Garciaparra is easily one of the greatest Red Sox players ever.
It is pretty impressive that a season as good as Nomar’s 1997 season finished just fourth on this list. Let’s take a look at the three seasons that were even better.
3. Fred Lynn, 1975
It is not too often that somebody in any sport wins MVP in their rookie season. Just two MLB players have done it, and Fred Lynn is one of those two players.
The other player is Ichiro Suzuki in 2001, but Suzuki was already 27 years old at the time and had already enjoyed a storied career in Japan.
It is insanely impressive that Lynn was able to win AL MVP as a 23-year-old rookie in 1975 and it will not be too often that a rookie will win MVP. Mike Trout finished second in 2012 and Aaron Judge finished second last season, but neither came out on top.
Lynn’s season was obviously spectacular, considering he won MVP. The left-hander hit .331 with 21 homers and 105 RBIs with the Sox in ’75, but Lynn was just as good if not better on the defensive end. Lynn won a Gold Glove that season, his first of four. Lynn led the AL in runs (103), doubles (47), slugging percentage (.566), and OPS (.967). The centerfielder also won Rookie of the Year and was named an all-star.
Lynn enjoyed a fantastic career with the Boston Red Sox, hitting .308 with 124 homers and 521 RBIs in seven seasons in Beantown. The Red Sox legend was a six-time all-star with the Red Sox, won four Gold Gloves, and finished in the top five of the MVP voting twice. The other season came in 1979 when Lynn hit .333 with 39 homers and 122 RBIs, finishing in fourth.
It doesn’t make sense to me how the Red Sox never retired Lynn’s No.19. Lynn was spectacular with the Red Sox and is easily one of the greatest players in team history. It didn’t make sense to me to retire Wade Boggs’ No. 26 24 years after his last appearance with the Red Sox but overlooked Lynn. Lynn was just as valuable to the Boston Red Sox.
Anyways, considering Lynn won MVP, the top two players on this list must have had pretty good rookie seasons. Let’s take a look.
2. Walt Dropo, 1950
Walt Dropo? Who the heck is that?
It’s a shame Dropo never had nearly as much success in his career after his outstanding 1950 season, but it was a tough year to repeat.
Similarly to Schwall, Dropo is not a known name to many Red Sox fans. However, don’t overlook his 1950 season.
The first baseman hit .322 with 34 homers and led the AL with 144 RBIs. He also led the AL with 326 total bases. Dropo won Rookie of the Year and finished sixth in AL MVP voting. He was also named to the all-star team for the only time in his career.
Dropo struggled significantly in his only two other years with the Red Sox. He hit just .239 in 1951 then .265 in 1952 before being traded. However, his 1950 season was terrific, which gets him to No.2 on this list.
You might have heard of the player who got to No. 1 on this list.
1. Ted Williams, 1939
One of the greatest players in baseball history also had one of the greatest rookie seasons in baseball history.
The numbers Ted Williams put up throughout his career are just ridiculous.
His rookie season was no different. Williams hit .327 with 31 homers and 145 RBIs in 1939, leading the AL in RBIs and total bases with 344. He finished fourth in AL MVP voting.
Ted Williams had a pretty decent career with the Red Sox. He only had a .344 batting average, 2,654 hits, a .482 on-base percentage (best in MLB history), 521 homers, 1,839 RBIs, and 4,884 total bases with 17 all-star game appearances and two MVPs in 19 seasons despite taking three years off to join the military. Yeah, that’s pretty good.
If your all-time Red Sox list has anybody but Ted Williams at No.1, it’s a bad list.
Williams is a Boston Red Sox legend, and it all started with his amazing rookie season in 1939.