Baltimore Orioles: Ranking Rookie Of The Year Winners

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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2 Apr 2000: Cal Ripken #8 of the Baltimore Orioles practices with the team on the eve of opening day at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. Ripken has 2991 career hits and is in pursuit of his 3000th. <> Mandatory Credit: Doug Pensinger/ALLSPORT /

1982 Cal Ripken Jr. Third Base

While his teammate, Eddie Murray, powered his way to a second-place finish in the 1982 MVP race, Cal Ripken Jr.was just beginning one of the more iconic careers in the history of Major League Baseball.

From the streak, to his 19 All-Star games, two MVP Awards, a 1983 World Series title, eight Silver Sluggers, and eventual enshrinement into the Hall of Fame, it all started with one of the biggest rookie seasons in Baltimore Orioles franchise history.

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Ripken’s 1982 season was his only full season in the majors in which he wasn’t named an All-Star, but being named AL Rookie of the Year will have to do. Playing in 160 games, Ripken slashed .264/.317/.475 with 28 home runs, 32 doubles, and a 116 wRC+. He was worth 4.6 fWAR, the highest among all Orioles ROY winners.

He may not have had the slash line that Eddie Murray did in his 1977 rookie season, but Ripken just nudged out Murray in a number of other statistical categories and featured the glovework to put him over the edge and into the top spot on this list.

Ripken received 24 of 28 first-place votes that season, edging out Minnesota Twins first baseman Kent Hrbek for the honor.

Next. Baltimore Orioles All-Decade Team. dark

The 2019 American League Rookie of the Year winner will be announced on November 11th. Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher John Means is nominated along with Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez and Tampa Bay Rays infielder Brandon Lowe.