Best Offensive Rookie Year in History

[homer]

Anyone know how to look up the best rookie year of all time on Baseball Reference? Or if Jayson Stark or someone if his ilk has ever written a column that someone knows about that would be cool too.

[BrewCrewForever]

Good thought, I was wondering the same thing. With how well Braun hits for average, power and drives in runs. He could someday be a legit triple crown candidate.

[bbrauch2000]

I imagine Fred Lynn and Pujols have to be at the top. Big Mac's 49 dingers is pretty impressive

[ajgodson]

Pujols' rookie season is probably the best of all time (for hitters).

 

This website tracks current rookies compared to Pujols as a rookie and calls it the "SLP index"

 

extrapolater.wordpress.co...ke-pujols/

 

FYI, Ryan Braun is at a perfect 1000, meaning he's currently on pace to have the greatest rookie season in history (for a hitter).

[yoyomayoma]

Interesting read regarding this topic:

 

proxy.espn.go.com/page2/s...okies.html

[BrewCrewForever]

Wow, Pujols didn't even make there top 10. If Braun can keep up this pace I would say he would be top 10 material.

 

Edit: Man I forgot about how great Piazza was his rookie year and all the buzz around him.

 

A little surprised Ichiro wasn't higher. I mean along with Lynn only rookies to ever win MVP, thats hard to do.

[1992casey]

The first names that popped into my mind were Robinson and Ichiro. I see they're ranked 9th and 10th in the link above.

[Fatter than Joey]

Ryan Braun's season this year reminds me a lot of Fred Lynn's with the exception that Lynn was probably one of the best OFers in the game as well. The Red Sox had a pretty special young OF with Lynn, Rice and Evans.

[hurricanecrush]

Mark Fidrych had 24 complete games as a rookie? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/eek.gif

 

It's no wonder his arm fell off.

[bigbrewkahuna]

Shoeless Joe hit .408 in his first full year.Not sure if that season qualifies as a rookie year.

 

Grover Alexander won 28 games as a rookie.

I'd be happy if Sheets reached half of that total.

[NYChez]

Pat Listach? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[RobertR]

Ted Williams 1939, age 20

 

.327/.436/.609, 31 HRs, 145 RBIs

 

I don't know if that's the best, but it's in the running.

 

Robert

[BillScottCanRake]

Shoeless Joe hit .408 in his first full year.Not sure if that season qualifies as a rookie year.

 

It does... and here is what ESPN.com has to say (from the article linked above):

 

Jackson had cups of coffee in three previous seasons, but only had 115 at-bats, so would be considered a rookie by current standards. It was a different ballgame back then, so simply saying that Joe Jackson hit .408 isn't enough. But this is: Jackson was among the top three in most major batting categories, and among the top 10 in all of them. He topped the AL in on-base percentage (.468), his .408 average was second, and he finished second in slugging (.590), OPS (1.058), runs scored, hits, doubles, total bases, and extra-base hits. He was also third in walks and triples and fourth in homers, with seven. He also stole 41 bases (sixth) and drove in 83 runs (ninth). Wow.

 

That's one heck of a season, even accounting for the era.

[homer]

There was an article in USA Today this morning about Bob Feller. He struck out 15 in one game his rookie year.....when he was 17 years old. He played the summer between his junior and senior years in high school.

[brewersin07]

Braun will be the best and he will be a HOFer IMHO.

[BrewCrewForever]

Braun will be the best and he will be a HOFer IMHO.

 

It is way early to predict that. However, he has as many tools as anybody I have seen play in my 25 years on this planet. So you never know.

[Invader3K]

Out of all the Brewers' young stars, I'm thinking I would like to see Braun in a Brewers uni for the longest. Granted, I'd love them all to stay, but if I only had to pick one at this point, it would be Braun.

[recte44]

I agree with that.

[BrewCrewForever]

I third that. I love all are yount talent. But Braun I think is going to be the most complete player. And best.

[Phenomenal Smith]

Pujols vs Braun

 

Braun has 238 plate appearances and here's how he compares to the 2001 Pujols after he had 237 plate appearances.

 

Braun = .357/.418/.652

Pujols = .352/.399/.676

[igor67]

I'm pretty sure if you do an adjustment for offensive era Braun's season jumps ahead of Pujols outstanding season. I think the thing that will always standout about Pujols season is that he was drafted so relatively low dominated A-ball and then just owned the league the next year. You don't just jump 3 levels and treat MLB pitchers like batting practice partners.

[BillScottCanRake]

In 56 games Braun has 18 home runs.

 

If one were to project that over 155 games, which seems like a reasonable number of games to play in a full season, that is 50 home runs.

[DuWayne Steurer]

I realize 64 at bats is a small sample, but having said that....

 

In 64 at bats vs. LHP Braun has

 

10 homers

A .500 batting average

17 extra base hits.

 

A 1.667 OPS.

 

That's pretty much complete nonsense. That's not even video game numbers.

[pogokat]

so the brewers recorrd for homers in a month is 12...braun sits at 11 now...giving him a faair chance at tying it in the next 2.5 games...

[homer]

From CBS Sportsline:

 

3B Ryan Braun homered in the fifth inning of Sunday's game against the Phillies to become the fastest Brewer to reach 20 career home runs. He has 20 home runs and 53 RBI in 64 games since the Brewers purchased his contract from Triple-A Nashville on May 24. He is the fastest to 20 career home runs since Albert Pujols hit his 20th home run in his 63rd game in 2001