Happy 53rd birthday to six-time MLB All-Star, two-time American League batting champion and 1997 American League Rookie of the Year, Nomar Garciaparra!
Garciaparra was first selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the fifth round of the 1991 draft, but he decided to play college ball at Georgia Tech. That resulted in a high rise in his stock, as he was eventually drafted 12th-overall by the Boston Red Sox in 1994.
He made his MLB debut just two years later, hitting four home runs and driving in 16 in just 24 games. He became the Red Sox full-time shortstop in 1997 and would lead the American League in hits (209) and triples (11) while hitting .306 with 30 home runs en route to A.L. Rookie of the Year.
He won back-to-back batting titles in 1999 and 2000 and led all of baseball with 56 doubles in 2002. Unfortunately for Garciaparra, he was traded at the deadline of the 2004 season in which the Red Sox completed their historic 3-0 comeback in the ALCS against the Yankees to eventually end the “Curse of the Bambino.”
Garciaparra spent a season and change in Chicago before finishing out his career with the Dodgers and Athletics.
Which brings us to today’s quiz. How many of the players to win American League Rookie of the Year since 1949 can you name in 10 minutes?
Good luck!
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