1975 Fred Lynn, 2001 Ichiro, 2012 Mike Trout - Who ya got?

[leatherman]

Let's just say Mike Trout wins both the ROY and AL MVP this year, becoming the third player to do so (no NL rookie has ever won MVP). Who had the best rookie season of the three?

1975 Fred Lynn - Boston Red Sox advance to the World Series. Lynn wins Gold Glove playing centerfield. He led the league in doubles, runs, slugging, and OPS. His WAR of 7.1 is 4th best in MLB.

G      PA  AB   R   H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO   BA  OBP  SLG  OPS OPS+  TB
145   605 528 103 175 47  7 21 105 10 62 90 .331 .401 .566 .967  162 299

2001 Ichiro Suzuki - Seattle Mariners win 117 games and advance to the ALCS. Ichiro wins Gold Glove in right field and the Silver Slugger. He leads the league in PAs, ABs, hits, stolen bases, and batting average. His WAR of 7.5 is tied for 8th best in MLB.

G      PA  AB   R   H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO   BA  OBP  SLG  OPS OPS+  TB
157   738 692 127 242 34  8  8  69 56 30 53 .350 .381 .457 .838  126 316

2012 Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels, postseason yet to be decided, and no awards (yet). WAR of 7.3 is best in MLB, 1.4 ahead of #2. He leads the league in runs, stolen bases, batting average, and OPS+.

G     PA  AB  R   H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO   BA  OBP  SLG   OPS OPS+  TB
86   396 350 86 121 21  5 19  58 33 36 80 .346 .407 .597 1.004  182 209

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/6/2012.

 

[katieneack]

I didn't consider Ichiro a true rookie that year, so out of the other 2 I would say Trout edges Lynn (if his stats don't drop off by the end of the year).

 

[mlbsalltimegreats]

I wanted to say Ichiro but Went with Fred Lynn as i look at Ichiro as a vertern Rookie if that makes any sense. Trout will not win a gold glove so easily Ichiro or Lynn.

 

[sportscardtheory]

Trout still has a lot of games to continue his torrid pace. Ichiro wasn't "really" a rookie, so he doesn't belong in the conversation, IMO. Lynn was 23 and had a monster season, but Trout is the epitome of 5-tool talent and is doing this at only 20 years old. I went with Trout.

 

[MOFNY]

I'm impartial to Ichiro and that whole team that year. Trout's numbers are mighty impressive but he has 40% less PAs than Ichiro.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

Lynn played 60 more games than Trout, Ichiro 71 more games so far - and that's an awful lot of games. Its really too early to say.

However with all being equal, probably Trout... but I'd really love to see this thread in a month and a half from now.

Edit: Interesting that with the stats provided, Trout has exactly half the hits Ichiro had.

 

[markakis8]

I voted assuming Trout keeps up this pace. If he doesn't, then it's between Lynn and Ichiro and I would give the nod to Lynn having the better season. If Trout's numbers are similar at the end, I would give the nod to Trout.

And to the person that said he won't win a GG, why not? He's 2nd of all AL OF in dWAR (behind Denard Span) and has been making highlight reel catches all year (which are ingrained in coaches heads), I easily see him winning a GG.

 

[katieneack]

I voted assuming Trout keeps up this pace. If he doesn't, then it's between Lynn and Ichiro and I would give the nod to Lynn having the better season. If Trout's numbers are similar at the end, I would give the nod to Trout.

And to the person that said he won't win a GG, why not? He's 2nd of all AL OF in dWAR (behind Denard Span) and has been making highlight reel catches all year (which are ingrained in coaches heads), I easily see him winning a GG.

Agreed - I think Trout definitely has a great chance at winning a Gold Glove this year. Doesn't hurt that he has the #1 Web Gem on ESPN for several weeks running now

 

[elmalo]

Ichiro would be 3rd, depends on how Trout finishes the season as to weather it would be better than Lynns season.

 

[leatherman]

Of course, no one (ever) had a better game in their rookie season than this one by Fred Lynn (June 18, 1975):

Batting                AB  R  H RBI
Juan Beniquez  LF       5  1  1   1   GDP
Rick Burleson  SS       3  3  2   0    3B
Doug Griffin  2B        2  1  1   0
Carl Yastrzemski  1B    3  3  3   2    2B
Cecil Cooper  1B        3  1  1   0
Fred Lynn  CF           6  4  5  10 3HR3B
Jim Rice  DH            4  1  2   0  2BSB
Dwight Evans  PH        2  0  0   0
Bernie Carbo  RF        3  0  0   0
Rick Miller  RF         3  0  1   0
Rico Petrocelli  3B     3  1  3   1
Bob Heise  PR-3B        1  0  0   0
Denny Doyle  2B-SS      4  0  0   0
Tim Blackwell  C        4  0  1   0   GDP
Team Totals            46 15 20  14

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/6/2012.

 

[Hallsgator]

I wanted to say Ichiro but Went with Fred Lynn as i look at Ichiro as a vertern Rookie if that makes any sense. Trout will not win a gold glove so easily Ichiro or Lynn.

Are you serious? Using the flawed GG system as the deal breaker?

Trout is one of the best, if not the best defensive CF in the game right now. Who cares who gets a shiny trophy at the end of the year.

 

[Hallsgator]

Ichiro is easily third. He hit a bunch of singles and infield bunts. Give me Lynn and Trout who hit for average and power. Their hits are a lot more valuable.

I'll take Trout overall. Unless he crashes and burns.

 

[bigbov]

Are you serious? Using the flawed GG system as the deal breaker?

Trout is one of the best, if not the best defensive CF in the game right now. Who cares who gets a shiny trophy at the end of the year.

Trout easily has the 2 best catches made this year too.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

Of course, no one (ever) had a better game in their rookie season than this one by Fred Lynn (June 18, 1975):

Batting                AB  R  H RBI
Juan Beniquez  LF       5  1  1   1   GDP
Rick Burleson  SS       3  3  2   0    3B
Doug Griffin  2B        2  1  1   0
Carl Yastrzemski  1B    3  3  3   2    2B
Cecil Cooper  1B        3  1  1   0
Fred Lynn  CF           6  4  5  10 3HR3B
Jim Rice  DH            4  1  2   0  2BSB
Dwight Evans  PH        2  0  0   0
Bernie Carbo  RF        3  0  0   0
Rick Miller  RF         3  0  1   0
Rico Petrocelli  3B     3  1  3   1
Bob Heise  PR-3B        1  0  0   0
Denny Doyle  2B-SS      4  0  0   0
Tim Blackwell  C        4  0  1   0   GDP
Team Totals            46 15 20  14

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/6/2012.

Does this say Lynn had five hits - with three HRs and three 3Bs?? Isn't that six hits?

 

[leatherman]

Does this say Lynn had five hits - with three HRs and three 3Bs?? Isn't that six hits?

3 HRs, a triple, and a single.

 

[elmalo]

Ichiro is easily third. He hit a bunch of singles and infield bunts. Give me Lynn and Trout who hit for average and power. Their hits are a lot more valuable.

I'll take Trout overall. Unless he crashes and burns.

Couldnt agree with you more.

 

[mlbsalltimegreats]

Are you serious? Using the flawed GG system as the deal breaker?

Trout is one of the best, if not the best defensive CF in the game right now. Who cares who gets a shiny trophy at the end of the year.

Yes Very Serious and to me the Shiny Trophy Matters. I dont think he will win the Mvp let along the GG. I think Ellsbury, Austin Jackson and Span are better and more proven than Trout in center. With that said I would Take Lynn First, then Ichiro, then Trout.
We will see what happens at the end.

 

[noaskiecards]

Albert Pujols 2001

The 3 guys ahead of him on the MVP list were steroid users...so he should be included

 

[scotty216brs]

Ummm.....

 

[darocker80]

Trout is impressive because of his age, but for Ichiro, he comes to a new country, can't speak to his teammates or to anyone in that fact and has to adjust to a whole new custom, I think that in itself is just as impressive.