Best Rookie (Not Draft) Class: Your Thoughts?

[CubsfanP]

I saw this posted elsewhere and thought it would be good discussion here.

Only time will tell, but the 2014 rookie class seems like it is stacked. Some of the names (in no order) are:

Masahiro Tanaka (Sort-of)
Jose Abreu (Sort-of)
Yordano Ventura
Gregory Polanco
Billy Hamilton
George Springer
Jon Singleton
Xander Bogaerts
Arismendy Alcantara
Brock Holt
Delin Betances
Nick Castellanos
Jackie Bradley Jr
Oscar Taveras
Taijuan Walker

Im sure im forgetting some. Also, who knows if teams like the Cubs will bring up even more to add. How will this years rookie class end up compared to others? What was the best ever, in your opinion?

 

[corockies]

Tough to beat the class of 2005 (also the last year of baseball cards before the dumb RC rule went into effect):

Justin Verlander
Ryan Braun
Jay Bruce
Troy Tulowitzki
Carlos Gonzalez
Andrew McCutchen
Matt Kemp
Jacoby Ellsbury
Prince Fielder
Nelson Cruz
Ian Kinsler
Ryan Zimmerman
Jered Weaver
Stephen Drew
Mike Morse
Jed Lowrie
Clay Buchholz
Colby Rasmus
Brandon McCarthy
Russell Martin

 

[hrbek14]

1986, if you don't mind an asterisk or two.

Barry Bonds
Mark McGuire
Greg Maddux
Barry Larkin
Fred McGriff
Rafael Palmeiro
Jamie Moyer
Bo Jackson
Will Clark
Kevin Brown
Ruben Sierra
Benito Santiago
David Cone
Chuck Finley

 

[hrbek14]

Also, 1967 had Carew, Reggie, Bench, Seaver but not sure what else was there.

 

[CubsfanP]

Tough to beat the class of 2005 (also the last year of baseball cards before the dumb RC rule went into effect):

Justin Verlander
Ryan Braun
Jay Bruce
Troy Tulowitzki
Carlos Gonzalez
Andrew McCutchen
Matt Kemp
Jacoby Ellsbury
Prince Fielder
Nelson Cruz
Ian Kinsler
Ryan Zimmerman
Jered Weaver
Stephen Drew
Mike Morse
Jed Lowrie
Clay Buchholz
Colby Rasmus
Brandon McCarthy
Russell Martin

I'm sorry, I wasnt clear, the original post was intended to be narrowed to actual MLB rookies, rather than rookie cards. These would actually fall under a prospect card by todays confusing standards. I agree that 2005 on cardboard was great.

 

[sheetskout]

Tough to beat the class of 2005 (also the last year of baseball cards before the dumb RC rule went into effect):

Justin Verlander
Ryan Braun
Jay Bruce
Troy Tulowitzki
Carlos Gonzalez
Andrew McCutchen
Matt Kemp
Jacoby Ellsbury
Prince Fielder
Nelson Cruz
Ian Kinsler
Ryan Zimmerman
Jered Weaver
Stephen Drew
Mike Morse
Jed Lowrie
Clay Buchholz
Colby Rasmus
Brandon McCarthy
Russell Martin

Are we speaking of draftees or actual rookies? Because Prince Fielder doesn't belong in that group if the former.

 

[JEBJJA]

[TABLE="class: wikitable"]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Jeff King
[/TD]
[TD]Pittsburgh Pirates
[/TD]
[TD]SS
[/TD]
[TD]University of Arkansas
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #ffcc00"]Greg Swindell
[/TD]
[TD]Cleveland Indians
[/TD]
[TD]P
[/TD]
[TD]University of Texas
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]3
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #ffcc00"]Matt Williams
[/TD]
[TD]San Francisco Giants
[/TD]
[TD]3B
[/TD]
[TD]UNLV
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #ffcc00"]Kevin Brown
[/TD]
[TD]Texas Rangers
[/TD]
[TD]P
[/TD]
[TD]Georgia Tech
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5
[/TD]
[TD]Kent Mercker
[/TD]
[TD]Atlanta Braves
[/TD]
[TD]P
[/TD]
[TD]Dublin HS (Dublin, OH)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]6
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #ffcc00"]Gary Sheffield
[/TD]
[TD]Milwaukee Brewers
[/TD]
[TD]SS
[/TD]
[TD]Hillsborough HS (Tampa, FL)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]7
[/TD]
[TD]Brad Brink
[/TD]
[TD]Philadelphia Phillies
[/TD]
[TD]RHP
[/TD]
[TD]University of Southern California
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8
[/TD]
[TD]Patrick Lennon
[/TD]
[TD]Seattle Mariners
[/TD]
[TD]SS
[/TD]
[TD]Whiteville HS (Whiteville, NC)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]9
[/TD]
[TD]Derrick May
[/TD]
[TD]Chicago Cubs
[/TD]
[TD]OF
[/TD]
[TD]Newark HS (Newark, DE)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]10
[/TD]
[TD]Derek Parks
[/TD]
[TD]Minnesota Twins
[/TD]
[TD]RHP
[/TD]
[TD]Montclair HS (Montclair, CA)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]11
[/TD]
[TD]Thomas Howard
[/TD]
[TD]San Diego Padres
[/TD]
[TD]OF
[/TD]
[TD]Ball State University
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]12
[/TD]
[TD]Scott Hemond
[/TD]
[TD]Oakland Athletics
[/TD]
[TD]C
[/TD]
[TD]University of South Florida
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]13
[/TD]
[TD]Ryan Bowen
[/TD]
[TD]Houston Astros
[/TD]
[TD]RHP
[/TD]
[TD]Hanford HS (Hanford, CA)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]14
[/TD]
[TD]Greg McMurtry
[/TD]
[TD]Boston Red Sox
[/TD]
[TD]OF
[/TD]
[TD]Brockton HS (Brockton, MA)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]15
[/TD]
[TD]Kevin Dean
[/TD]
[TD]Montreal Expos
[/TD]
[TD]OF
[/TD]
[TD]Hogan HS (Vallejo, CA)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]16
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #ffcc00"]Roberto Hernández
[/TD]
[TD]California Angels
[/TD]
[TD]RHP
[/TD]
[TD]University of South Carolina
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]17
[/TD]
[TD]Scott Scudder
[/TD]
[TD]Cincinnati Reds
[/TD]
[TD]RHP
[/TD]
[TD]Prairiland HS (Blossom, TX)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]18
[/TD]
[TD]Phil Clark
[/TD]
[TD]Detroit Tigers
[/TD]
[TD]C
[/TD]
[TD]Crockett HS (Crockett, TX)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19
[/TD]
[TD]Mike White
[/TD]
[TD]Los Angeles Dodgers
[/TD]
[TD]OF
[/TD]
[TD]Loudon HS (Loudon, TN)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]20
[/TD]
[TD]Grady Hall
[/TD]
[TD]Chicago White Sox
[/TD]
[TD]LHP
[/TD]
[TD]Northwestern University
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]21
[/TD]
[TD]Lee May, Jr.
[/TD]
[TD]New York Mets
[/TD]
[TD]OF
[/TD]
[TD]Purcell Marian HS (Cincinnati, OH)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]22
[/TD]
[TD]Lee Stevens
[/TD]
[TD]California Angels
[/TD]
[TD]OF
[/TD]
[TD]Lawrence, HS (Lawrence, KS)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]23
[/TD]
[TD]Luis Alicea
[/TD]
[TD]St. Louis Cardinals
[/TD]
[TD]2B
[/TD]
[TD]Florida State University
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]24
[/TD]
[TD]Tony Clements
[/TD]
[TD]Kansas City Royals
[/TD]
[TD]SS
[/TD]
[TD]Don Antonio Lugo (Chino, CA)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]25
[/TD]
[TD]Terry Carr
[/TD]
[TD]California Angels
[/TD]
[TD]OF
[/TD]
[TD]Bennett HS (Salisbury, MD)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]26
[/TD]
[TD]Earl Sanders
[/TD]
[TD]Toronto Blue Jays
[/TD]
[TD]RHP
[/TD]
[TD]Jackson State University
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]27
[/TD]
[TD]Mike Fetters
[/TD]
[TD]California Angels
[/TD]
[TD]RHP
[/TD]
[TD]Pepperdine University
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]28
[/TD]
[TD]Daryl Green
[/TD]
[TD]California Angels
[/TD]
[TD]RHP
[/TD]
[TD]Nacogdoches HS (Nacogdoches, TX)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Other notable players[edit]

• Kirt Manwaring, 2nd round, 31st overall by the San Francisco Giants
• Erik Hanson, 2nd round, 36th overall by the Seattle Mariners
• Kevin Tapani, 2nd round, 40th overall by the Oakland Athletics
• Dave Hansen, 2nd round, 47th overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers
• Todd Zeile, 2nd round, 55th overall by the St. Louis Cardinals
• Jack Armstrong, 3rd round, 58th overall by the San Francisco Giants, but did not sign
• Dean Palmer, 3rd round, 59th overall by the Texas Rangers
• Tuffy Rhodes, 3rd round, 68th overall by the Houston Astros
• Scott Cooper, 3rd round, 69th overall by the Boston Red Sox
• Reggie Jefferson, 3rd round, 72nd overall by the Cincinnati Reds
• Scott Radinsky, 3rd round, 75th overall by the Chicago White Sox
• Rudy Seánez, 4th round, 83rd overall by the Cleveland Indians
• Kent Bottenfield, 4th round, 96th overall by the Montreal Expos
• Paul Sorrento, 4th round, 103rd overall by the California Angels
• Mark Guthrie, 4th round, 104th overall by the St. Louis Cardinals, but did not sign
• Bo Jackson, 4th round, 105th overall by the Kansas City Royals
• Xavier Hernandez, 4th round, 107th overall by the Toronto Blue Jays
• Joe Girardi, 5th round, 116th overall by the Chicago Cubs
• Pat Hentgen, 5th round, 133rd overall by the Toronto Blue Jays
• Tom Goodwin, 6th round, 134th overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates
• Eddie Taubensee, 6th round, 150th overall by the Cincinnati Reds
• Tom Gordon, 6th round, 157th overall by the Kansas City Royals
• Chuck McElroy, 8th round, 192nd overall by the Philadelphia Phillies
• Hal Morris, 8th round, 210th overall by the New York Yankees
• Chuck Carr, 9th round, 228th overall by the Cincinnati Reds
• Stan Belinda, 10th round, 238th overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates
• Jeff Reboulet, 10th round, 247th overall by the Minnesota Twins
• Lance Blankenship, 10th round, 249th overall by the Oakland Athletics
• Mike Blowers, 10th round, 252nd overall by the Montreal Expos
• Tom Lampkin, 11th round, 265th overall by the Cleveland Indians
• Steve Finley, 11th round, 268th overall by the Atlanta Braves, but did not sign
• Darryl Hamilton, 11th round, 269th overall by the Milwaukee Brewers
• Keith Lockhart, 11th round, 280th overall by the Cincinnati Reds
• Willie Blair, 11th round, 289th overall by the Toronto Blue Jays
• Rey Sánchez, 13th round, 319th overall by the Texas Rangers
• Rod Beck, 13th round, 327th overall by the Oakland Athletics
• Scott Kamieniecki, 14th round, 366th overall by the New York Yankees
• Greg Hibbard, 16th round, 417th overall by the Kansas City Royals
• Tim Salmon, 18th round, 450th overall by the Atlanta Braves, but did not sign
• Chuck Knoblauch, 18th round, 452nd overall by the Philadelphia Phillies, but did not sign
• Turner Ward, 18th round, 470th overall by the New York Yankees
• Chris Hoiles, 19th round, 489th overall by the Detroit Tigers
• Kevin Maas, 22nd round, 572nd overall by the New York Yankees
• Rick Wilkins, 23rd round, 582nd overall by the Chicago Cubs
• Rick Reed, 26th round, 644th overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates
• Paul Quantrill, 26th round, 660th overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers, but did not sign
• Cal Eldred, 26th round, 661st overall by the New York Mets, but did not sign
• Ben McDonald, 27th round, 670th overall by the Atlanta Braves, but did not sign
• John Olerud, 27th round, 682nd overall by the New York Mets, but did not sign
• Eric Anthony, 34th round, 795th overall by the Houston Astros
• Scott Erickson, 36th round, 821st overall by the New York Mets, but did not sign
• Todd Jones, 41st round, 864th overall by the New York Mets, but did not sign

1986, if you don't mind an asterisk or two.

Barry Bonds
Mark McGuire
Greg Maddux
Barry Larkin
Fred McGriff
Rafael Palmeiro
Jamie Moyer
Bo Jackson
Will Clark
Kevin Brown
Ruben Sierra
Benito Santiago
David Cone
Chuck Finley

 

[cjedmonton]

Edited...irrelevant content.

 

[Austin]

Why do you guys keep listing draft picks? He's obviously talking rookie season class, and he even clarifies that a few posts up.

 

[CubsfanP]

Why do you guys keep listing draft picks? He's obviously talking rookie season class, and he even clarifies that a few posts up.

The definition of Rookie is difficult in baseball. Especially when talking to people who collect cards. I updated the thread title to have more clarity.

 

[DaClyde]

1986, if you don't mind an asterisk or two.

Need to swap out McGwire and Santiago out for Joyner and Tartabull and you have a more representative class.

 

[ThoseBackPages]

1957

 

[Austin]

1957

Who were the great rookie players in 1957?
Frank Robinson was ROY in 1956, not 1957 like his rookie card.

 

[ThoseBackPages]

Who were the great rookie players in 1957?
Frank Robinson was ROY in 1956, not 1957 like his rookie card.

Ahh ok. i was going by RC Class