I'm in the process of doing a longer look at Rookies of the Year by WAR, but I thought I'd share some interesting things I found while collecting the data.
All data courtesy of BaseballProjection.
Update: I missed a few of the top seasons
Top 5 ROTY Seasons
Player | Year | League | WAR |
Dick Allen | 1964 | NL | 8.9 |
Ichiro Suzuki | 2001 | AL | 7.9 |
Fred Lynn | 1975 | AL | 7 |
Albert Pujols | 2001 | NL | 7 |
Carlton Fisk | 1972 | AL | 6.8 |
I know all about his issues (both injury and personality), but man, Dick Allen was a special talent.
Bottom 5 ROTY Seasons
Player | Year | League | WAR |
Ken Hubbs | 1962 | NL | -1 |
Albie Pearson | 1958 | AL | 0 |
Eric Karros | 1992 | NL | 0 |
Chris Chambliss | 1971 | AL | 0.1 |
Tommy Helms | 1966 | NL | 1 |
Ken Hubbs was supposed to be an amazing fielder (although Total Zone disagrees) but I can't believe the ROTY went to some one who hit .260 with 5 home runs (and a .299 OBP and a 70 OPS+ for those more sabermetrically inclined).
Best 5 Seasons by a ROTY Winner
Player | Year | WAR |
Rod Carew | 1977 | 11.2 |
Albert Pujols | 2003 | 11.1 |
Cal Ripken | 1991 | 10.8 |
Albert Pujols* | 2008 | 10 |
Scott Rolen* | 2004 | 9.5 |
Cal Ripken | 1984 | 9.4 |
Johnny Bench | 1972 | 9.3 |
* omissions from my original list
It's easy to forget with the streak and a bunch of eh seasons (for an inner circle HOFer) but Ripken turned in two amazing seasons, 7 years apart.
Worst 5 Seasons by a ROTY Winner
Player | Year | WAR |
Lou Pinella | 1973 | -3 |
Tommy Helms | 1970 | -2.7 |
Alfredo Griffin | 1990 | -2.5 |
Alfredo Griffin | 1984 | -2.1 |
Lou Pinella | 1975 | -2.1 |
I can't believe managers kept running Pinella and Griffin out there. Although Pinella did manage to sandwich a 2.9 WAR season in the middle of the two stinkers. And Griffin's two bad ones were 6 years apart.
More detailed analysis to come...