The Rookie of the Year Award, or Jackie Robinson Award as it became known in 1987, is given to the individual player from each league who has the best rookie season during his first year of eligibility. In the inaugural year, 1947, and in 1948 only one winner was selected from the Major Leagues. From 1949 on two players have been selected each year one coming from each league.
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1968 | Johnny Bench (CIN) | ![]() |
1990 | Sandy Alomar Jr. (CLE) | |
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1970 | Thurman Munson (NY) | ![]() |
1993 | Mike Piazza (LA) | |
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1971 | Earl Williams (ATL) | ![]() |
2008 | Geovany Soto (CHN) | |
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1972 | Carlton Fisk (BOS) | ![]() |
2010 | Buster Posey (SF) | |
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1987 | Benito Santiago (SD) |
Since 1980 the members of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) have named three rookies on their ballots. A first place
vote equals five points, second place equals three points and third place gets one point. These points are totaled and the one with the most
points is the winner. Eligibility requirements were set forth in 1971 and a rookie was formally defined as a player with less than one-hundred
thirty at-bats or anyone with less than forty-five days on any Major League roster.
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1968 | Johnny Bench (CIN) | ![]() |
1993 | Mike Piazza (LA) | |
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1972 | Carlton Fisk (BOS) | ![]() |
1996 | Jason Kendall (PIT) | |
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1975 | Gary Carter (MON) | ![]() |
2008 | Geovany Soto (CHN) | |
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1987 | Benito Santiago (SD) | ||||
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1990 | Sandy Alomar Jr. (CLE) |
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1971 | Earl Williams (ATL) | ![]() |
1996 | Jason Kendall (PIT) | |
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1972 | Carlton Fisk (BOS) | ![]() |
2008 | Geovany Soto (CHI) | |
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1987 | Benito Santiago (SD) | ![]() |
2010 | Buster Posey (SF) | |
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1990 | Sandy Alomar Jr. (CLE) | ||||
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1993 | Mike Piazza (LA) |
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1971 | Earl Williams (ATL) | ![]() |
1992 | Todd Hundley (NYM) | |
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1972 | Carlton Fisk (BOS) | ![]() |
1993 | Mike Piazza (LA) | |
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1973 | Darrell Porter (MIL) | ![]() |
1994 | Javy Lopez (ATL) | |
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1974 | Steve Swisher (CHI) | ![]() |
1995 | Charles Johnson (FLA) | |
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1975 | Gary Carter (MON) | ![]() |
1996 | Jason Kendall (PIT) | |
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1976 | Butch Wynegar (MIN) | ![]() |
1997 | Scott Hatteberg (BOS) | |
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1977 | Dave Skaggs (BAL) | ![]() |
1998 | A.J. Hinch (OAK) | |
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1978 | Mike Colbern (CWS) | ![]() |
1999 | Einar Diaz (CLE) | |
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1979 | Steve Nicosia (PIT) | ![]() |
2000 | Mitch Meluskey (HOU) | |
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1980 | Dan Graham (BAL) | ![]() |
2001 | Shawn Wooten (ANA) | |
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1981 | Jody Davis (CHI) | ![]() |
2002 | Geronimo Gil (BAL) | |
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1982 | Tom Laudner (MIN) | ![]() |
2003 | Miguel Olivo (CWS) | |
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1983 | Bob Kearney (OAK) | ![]() |
2004 | Joe Mauer (MIN) | |
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1984 | Mike Fitzgerald (NYM) | ![]() |
2005 | Ryan Doumit (PIT) | |
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1985 | Mark Salas (MIN) | ![]() |
2006 | Kenji Johjima (SEA) | |
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1986 | Andy Allanson (CLE) | ![]() |
2007 | Carlos Ruiz (PHI) | |
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1987 | Benito Santiago (SD) | ![]() |
2008 | Geovany Soto (CHI) | |
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1988 | Damon Berryhill (CHI) | ![]() |
2009 | Matt Wieters (BAL) | |
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1989 | Joe Girardi (CHI) | ![]() |
2010 | Buster Posey (SF) | |
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1990 | Sandy Alomar Jr. (CLE) | 2011 | |||
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1991 | Ivan Rodriguez (TEX) | 2012 |