First Impressions: Rating Latino Hall of Famers’ rookie seasons

By Efraín Ruiz Pantin

Can you judge a Hall of Famer by his rookie season? If we look at the nine Latinos who played Major League Baseball and ended up in Cooperstown, the player who shined the least in his first season ended up being called “The Great One.” From Roberto Clemente to Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez, it wasn’t easy for any one of them, young kids in a strange land speaking another language, eating different foods and learning new customs.

That almost without exception they established their credentials and set the stage in their first campaigns for legendary careers is testament to their talent and determination. To celebrate their legacies, we not so much rank their rookie seasons as we relive them, one by one, from lesser to greater.

9. Roberto Clemente

Puerto Rico
1955 Pirates — 124 games .255/.284/.382

Because the Pirates stole Clemente from the Dodgers through the Rule V draft, they were obliged to keep him on the major league roster and play him in 1955. Just 20, Clemente might have been a season too young, which explains why his rookie stats pale in comparison to fellow Hall of Famers. He still hit 23 doubles and 11 triples while scoring 48 runs and driving in 47. And everyone marveled at his right arm. Clemente finished with 18 assists overall and led the National League right fielders with 16. “The Great One” could beat you in so many ways.

8. Atanasio “Tony” Pérez

Cuba
1965 Reds — 104 games .260/.315/.466

Pérez was the oldest of this group, getting two hits in 12 games in his debut in 1964 at age 22. He got a chance to play next season, making an impression with timely slugging, a skill that became the hallmark of his career. Thirty of his 73 hits were for extra bases and nine of his 12 home runs came with runners on base. In short, Pérez played to win, not to show, slugging .500 with runners in scoring position. And he clobbered lefties, hitting nine dingers against southpaws. The Reds saw enough in 1965 to hit him fourth or fifth for the rest of his career in Cincinnati and Pérez cleaned up. He retired with 1,652 RBI.

7. Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez

Puerto Rico
1991 Rangers — 88 games .264/.276/.354

The Rangers waited until June 20 — the weekend a 19-year-old Pudge was supposed to get married — to call him up. Otherwise, he might rank higher on this list. In his first game against the White Sox, he told fellow future Hall of Famer Tim Raines not to run or he would throw him out. Raines didn’t test him, but Pudge nailed the first two runners who did. He also drove in two runs with a single. While Pudge’s hitting wouldn’t come around until later, the Rangers kept him for his arm and savvy behind the plate. He threw out 34 of 70 base stealers, or 49 percent. The Rangers’ other main catcher, Geno Petralli, threw out 32 percent.

6. Juan Marichal

Dominican Republic
1960 Giants — 11 games 6-2/2.66 ERA/58 K

Few pitchers started their careers as impressively as Marichal. In his debut against the Phillies on July 19 at age 22, he high-kicked his way to a masterpiece. Marichal had a no-hitter through 7.2 innings and ended up throwing a 1-hit shutout to win, 2-0, striking out 12 and walking one. While he pitched in only 11 games that season, he completed six and won six. Marichal never won the Cy Young Award, yet retired with 243 wins and a 1.101 WHIP.

5. Roberto Alomar

Puerto Rico
1988 Padres — 143 games .266/.328/.382

Only 20, Alomar could also beat you any which way. In his first at-bat in his first game on April 22 against the Astros, he got an infield hit off future Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. Alomar was a fast and smart, stealing 24 bases in 30 attempts, an 80 percent clip that foretold his 17-year career average. While he started slowly at the plate, hitting .237 in the first half of the season, he made up for it by averaging .296 with a .375 OBP in the second half. And he was an artist at second base, making only 16 errors in 794 chances — much better defense than your average second sacker of the times.

4. Pedro Martínez

Dominican Republic
1993 Dodgers — 65 games 10-5/2.61 ERA/119 K

People forget, but Martínez began his career as a reliever. When he debuted in 1992, he started one game and finished another while striking out eight in eight innings. The following season, at age 21, he started two games, pitching another 63 out of the bullpen and looking good. In 107 innings overall, he struck out 119 and allowed only five home runs. He saved two games, earned 14 holds — an unofficial stat then and today — and, of the 33 runners he inherited, only seven scored. He was not babied, working more than an inning in many of those games, usually in pressure situations. To this day, we still can’t believe L.A. traded him after the season to the Expos for infielder Delino DeShields. The Dodgers measured his slim body, thinking it would never hold up to a starter’s workload, but forgot to measure his heart.

3. Luis Aparicio

Venezuela
1956 White Sox — 152 games .266/.311/.341

Young star shortstops are not a rarity today. Just look at Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa, to name two. But up to 1956, only 15 times had a shortstop 22 or younger played 150 games in a season. And none of them had been Latino. And then came Aparicio. The White Sox traded away another Venezuelan, Alfonso “Chico” Carrasquel, to make room for Little Louie. He made you pay attention, injecting speed and energy while leading the American League with 21 steals (in 25 attempts) and 14 sacrifice bunts. Aparicio was even better against lefties, hitting .305/.348/.418. Small ball was good enough for a big reward. Aparicio became the first Latino voted ROY.

2. Rod Carew

Panama
1967 Twins — 137 games .292/.341/.409

Carew’s story never stops amazing us. Born on a train in the Canal Zone and signed in New York City without having played high school ball, he ended up winning seven batting crowns. Only 13 other players the same age or younger with sufficient plate appearances to qualify for the batting title have hit as high or better than .292 in their first year. Carew, 21 that season, started the All-Star Game at second base and finished the year as ROY. It was the beginning of a great career. Carew hit .300 in 15 of his 19 seasons.

1. Orlando Cepeda

Puerto Rico
1958 Giants — 148 games .312/.342/.512

How good was Cha Cha’s first season? How many players who exceeded rookie limits in their first season in the majors hit at least 38 doubles and 25 home runs while averaging .312 or better? It’s a short list: Dale Alexander, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Albert Pujols and Cepeda. And only Cepeda and Williams did it in their age-20 seasons. Cepeda led the National League in doubles and notched 96 RBI. No wonder he was unanimous choice for Rookie of the Year — somewhat of a surprise, considering the era. Do you know how many Latinos got to play 100 games in 1958? Only 11. When Cepeda got his break, he made sure to take advantage of it.

Featured Image: Topps

Inset images: Topps

*Note: Juan Marichal’s Topps rookie card appeared in the 1961 set.