Los Angeles Dodgers Have a Long List of Rookie of the Year Winners
1947 1B Jackie Robinson
.297/.383/.427, 125 R, 29 SB, 3.1 WAR (per Baseball-Reference)
Before the BBWAA Rookie of the Year Award was established nationally in 1947, the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA selected an annual winner of best rookie from 1940 to 1946. The 1947 award won by Jackie Robinson is considered the first official Rookie of the Year Award.
When Robinson won the Rookie of the Year Award, he was not exactly a fresh-faced, unproven rookie. He was 28 years old and had previously played in the Negro Leagues. He showed up in Brooklyn as a big league ready talent and had a great season, leading the league in steals and sacrifice bunts. He helped the Dodgers make the World Series, which they lost to the New York Yankees. Robinson won the award over starting pitchers Larry Jansen (21-5, 3.16 ERA in 248 IP) and Spec Shea (14-5, 3.07 ERA in 178 2/3 IP).
1949 SP Don Newcombe
17-8, 3.17 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 244.3 IP, 149 K, 5.8 WAR
Newcombe joined the Dodgers organization in 1946 after playing with the Newark Eagles in the Negro Leagues. He spent parts of four seasons in the Dodgers’ minor leagues before making it to the big club in 1949 at the age of 23. He was a workhorse right from the start, pitching 244 1/3 innings in his rookie season and easily winning the NL Rookie of the Year Award over second-place finisher Del Crandall. Newcombe received 21 of the 24 first place votes. This was the first year the award was given to one player from each league.
1952 RP Joe Black
15-4, 15 SV, 2.15 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 142.3 IP, 85 K, 4.4 WAR
Black was a veteran of seven seasons in the Negro Leagues before signing with the Dodgers in 1951. He pitched for AA St. Paul and AAA Montreal in 1951, then joined the Dodgers for his rookie year as a 28-year-old in 1952. His first year was his best year. He became a key member of the Dodgers’ bullpen, winning 15 games and saving 15 games. Along with the NL Rookie of the Year Award, Black finished third in NL MVP voting. In the 1952 World Series, Black was moved to the rotation and started three games in seven days. He won his first start, becoming the first African-American pitcher to win a World Series game, but lost his other two starts, 2-0 and 4-2. After a great first season, Black never again reached such heights. He was worth 4.4 WAR in his rookie year and just 0.5 WAR total over his final five seasons.
1953 2B Jim Gilliam
.278/.383/.415, 125 R, 21 SB, 3.9 WAR
After five years with the Baltimore Elite Giants of the Negro Leagues, Gilliam signed with the Dodgers in 1951. He spent two seasons with the Montreal Royals in the Triple-A International League, then made it to Brooklyn in 1953. He led the league in plate appearances and triples in his rookie year. Gilliam played second base exclusively in his rookie year, but would become known for his versatility in later years by playing every position except pitcher, catcher, and shortstop.
Gilliam’s rookie year was not without controversy. The team was looking for a leadoff hitter because they wanted Jackie Robinson’s power in the third or fourth slot. To make room for Gilliam, the team moved Robinson to third base, which put Billy Cox on the bench. Cox was a very good fielder and a popular player, so the move caused some concern. Part of the “problem” was that the Dodgers could potentially field four African-American players at one time on days that Don Newcomb pitched. Gilliam ended up posting a .383 on-base percentage and scoring 125 runs, which quieted any concerns about him being in the lineup.
Seven different players received first place votes for the NL Rookie of the Year award in 1953. Gilliam took home 11 first place votes and won the award easily, but second-place finisher Harvey Haddix finished with almost double the value of Gilliam. Haddix was 20-9 with a 3.06 ERA in 253 IP. Baseball-Reference had him being worth 7.4 WAR to Gilliams’ 3.9.