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Baltimore Orioles: Ranking Rookie Of The Year Winners

ByNick Stevens|
17 May 1998: Coach Eddie Murray of the Baltimore Orioles in action during a game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. The Devil Rays won the game, 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Doug Pensinger /Allsport
17 May 1998: Coach Eddie Murray of the Baltimore Orioles in action during a game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. The Devil Rays won the game, 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Doug Pensinger /Allsport
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Baltimore Orioles
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 22: A general view during the Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 22, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

1960- Ron Hansen, Shortstop

There weren’t a lot of shortstops who stood at 6’3″ back in the 1960s, which made Ron Hansen stand out during his time with the Baltimore Orioles. He may have played in just 393 games across five seasons in Baltimore, but Hansen made the most of his time, including becoming for the first Orioles player to take home Rookie of the Year honors.

Hansen slashed .255/.342/.440 with 22 home runs, 22 doubles, 86 RBI, and 72 runs scored in his first full season in the majors, leading an 89-win Orioles squad in home runs and forming a lock-down duo on the left side of the infield with the legendary Brooks Robinson. His 4.5 fWAR is the second-highest among all six Orioles ROY winners.

Unfortunately, Hansen hit just .248 with 12 home runs and a .667 OPS the following season in 1961 and appeared in 71 games in 1962 before being traded to the Chicago White Sox.

Hansen was traded along with a package of players for future Hall of Fame shortstop Luis Aparicio. Aparicio played the next five seasons in Baltimore, hitting .251 with 172 extra-base hits in 721 games. He swiped 166 of his 506 career bags and walked (193) almost as many times as he struck out (228). Aparicio also added two All-Star nods and two Gold Gloves to his resume.

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