American Association (1902–1997) Rookie of the Year Award

The American Association Rookie of the Year Award was an annual award given to the best rookie player in Minor League Baseball's American Association based on their regular-season performance. Though the league was established in 1902, the award was not created until 1946. It continued to be issued through the 1962 season, after which the league disbanded. In 1969, both the league and the award were revived, and the honor continued to be given until the league disbanded for a second time after the 1997 season.

Eighteen outfielders won the Rookie of the Year Award, the most of any position. First basemen, second basemen, and shortstops, with six winners each, won the most among infielders, followed by third basemen (4). Four catchers and two pitchers won the award.

Eight players who won the Rookie of the Year Award also won the American Association Most Valuable Player Award in the same season: Jerry Witte (1946), Herb Score (1954), Jack Smith (1962), Barry Larkin (1986), Lance Johnson (1987), Juan González (1990), Eric Owens (1995), and Magglio Ordóñez (1997).

Seven players from the Denver Zephyrs and Indianapolis Indians were each selected for the Rookie of the Year Award, more than any other teams in the league, followed by the Milwaukee Brewers, Omaha Royals, Tulsa Oilers, and Wichita Aeros (3); the Iowa Cubs, Kansas City Blues, Louisville Redbirds, Nashville Sounds, Oklahoma City 89ers, Springfield Redbirds, and St. Paul Saints (2); and the Buffalo Bisons, Louisville Colonels, Minneapolis Millers, Omaha Cardinals, Omaha Dodgers, and Toledo Mud Hens (1).

Eight players from the St. Louis Cardinals Major League Baseball (MLB) organization won the award, more than any other, followed by the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds organizations (5); the Milwaukee Braves organization (4); the Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Montreal Expos, and New York Yankees organizations (3); the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, and Texas Rangers organizations (2); and the Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, and Pittsburgh Pirates organizations (1).

Winners

+KeyPositionIndicates the player's primary position

+WinnersYearWinnerTeamOrganizationPosition 1946Toledo Mud HensSt. Louis BrownsFirst baseman1947Milwaukee BrewersBoston BravesShortstop1948Kansas City BluesNew York YankeesThird baseman1949Milwaukee BrewersBoston BravesSecond baseman1950St. Paul SaintsBrooklyn DodgersFirst baseman1951Milwaukee BrewersBoston Braves1952Kansas City BluesNew York YankeesOutfielder1953St. Paul SaintsBrooklyn DodgersShortstop1954Indianapolis IndiansCleveland IndiansPitcher1955Omaha CardinalsSt. Louis CardinalsSecond baseman1956Denver BearsNew York YankeesShortstop1957Wichita BravesMilwaukee BravesOutfielder1958Louisville ColonelsBaltimore Orioles1959Indianapolis IndiansChicago White SoxCatcher1960Minneapolis MillersBoston Red SoxOutfielder1961Indianapolis IndiansCincinnati RedsShortstop1962Omaha DodgersLos Angeles DodgersPitcher1969Tulsa OilersSt. Louis CardinalsCatcher1970Wichita AerosCleveland IndiansOutfielder1971Third baseman1972Omaha RoyalsKansas City RoyalsSecond baseman1973Indianapolis IndiansCincinnati RedsOutfielder1974Tulsa OilersSt. Louis CardinalsCatcher1975Denver BearsChicago White SoxSecond baseman1976Tulsa OilersSt. Louis CardinalsShortstop1977Omaha RoyalsKansas City RoyalsOutfielder1978Springfield RedbirdsSt. Louis Cardinals19791980Denver BearsMontreal ExposSecond baseman1981Outfielder1982Iowa CubsChicago Cubs19831984Denver ZephyrsChicago White Sox1985Indianapolis IndiansMontreal ExposFirst baseman1986Denver ZephyrsCincinnati RedsShortstop1987Louisville RedbirdsSt. Louis CardinalsOutfielder1988Denver ZephyrsMilwaukee Brewers1989Louisville RedbirdsSt. Louis CardinalsCatcher1990Oklahoma City 89ersTexas RangersOutfielder1991First baseman1992Buffalo BisonsPittsburgh PiratesThird baseman1993Indianapolis IndiansCincinnati Reds1994Omaha RoyalsKansas City RoyalsFirst baseman1995Indianapolis IndiansCincinnati RedsSecond baseman1996Nashville SoundsChicago White SoxOutfielder1997

Wins by team

Team Award(s) Year(s)Denver Zephyrs (Denver Bears)71956, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1986, 1988Indianapolis Indians1954, 1959, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1993, 1995Milwaukee Brewers31947, 1949, 1951Omaha Royals1972, 1977, 1994Tulsa Oilers1969, 1974, 1976Wichita Aeros (Wichita Aeros)1957, 1970, 1971Iowa Cubs21982, 1983Kansas City Blues1948, 1952Louisville Redbirds1987, 1989Nashville Sounds1996, 1997Oklahoma City 89ers1990, 1991Springfield Redbirds1978, 1979St. Paul Saints1950, 1953Buffalo Bisons11992Louisville Colonels1958Minneapolis Millers1960Omaha Cardinals1955Omaha Dodgers1962Toledo Mud Hens1946

Wins by organization

Organization Award(s) Year(s)St. Louis Cardinals81955, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1987, 1989Chicago White Sox51959, 1975, 1984, 1996, 1997Cincinnati Reds1961, 1973, 1986, 1993, 1995Milwaukee Braves (Boston Braves)41947, 1949, 1951, 1957Cleveland Indians31954, 1970, 1971Kansas City Royals1972, 1977, 1994Los Angeles Dodgers (Brooklyn Dodgers)1950, 1953, 1962Montreal Expos1980, 1981, 1985New York Yankees1948, 1952, 1956Baltimore Orioles (St. Louis Browns)21946, 1958Chicago Cubs1982, 1983Texas Rangers1990, 1991Boston Red Sox11960Milwaukee Brewers1988Pittsburgh Pirates1992

References Specific

General