American Association (20th century) Rookie of the Year Award


The American Association Rookie of the Year Award was an annual award given to the best rookie player in Minor League Baseball's American Association based on their regular season performance. Though the league was established in 1902, the award was not created until 1946. It continued to be issued through the 1962 season, after which the league disbanded. In 1969, both the league and the award were revived, and the honor continued to be given until the league disbanded for a second time after the 1997 season.
Eighteen outfielders won the Rookie of the Year Award, the most of any position. First basemen and shortstops, with six winners each, won the most among infielders, followed by second baseman and third basemen. Four catchers also won the award. Two pitchers won the Rookie of the Year Award.
Seven players each from the Denver Bears/Zephyrs and Indianapolis Indians were been selected for the Rookie of the Year Award, more than any other teams in the league, followed by the Milwaukee Brewers, Omaha Royals, Tulsa Oilers, and Wichita Braves/Aeros ; the Iowa Cubs, Kansas City Blues, Louisville Redbirds, Nashville Sounds, Oklahoma City 89ers, Springfield Redbirds, and St. Paul Saints ; and the Buffalo Bisons, Louisville Colonels, Minneapolis Millers, Omaha Cardinals, Omaha Dodgers, and Toledo Mud Hens.
Eight players from the St. Louis Cardinals Major League Baseball organization won the Rookie of the Year Award, more than any other, followed by the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds organizations ; the Boston/Milwaukee Braves organization ; the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals, Montreal Expos, and New York Yankees organizations ; the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles, and Texas Rangers organizations ; and the Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, and Pittsburgh Pirates organizations.

Key

Winners

YearWinnerTeamOrganizationPosition
1946Toledo Mud HensSt. Louis BrownsFirst baseman
1947Milwaukee BrewersBoston BravesShortstop
1948Kansas City BluesNew York YankeesThird baseman
1949Milwaukee BrewersBoston BravesSecond baseman
1950St. Paul SaintsBrooklyn DodgersFirst baseman
1951Milwaukee BrewersBoston BravesFirst baseman
1952Kansas City BluesNew York YankeesOutfielder
1953St. Paul SaintsBrooklyn DodgersShortstop
1954Indianapolis IndiansCleveland IndiansPitcher
1955Omaha CardinalsSt. Louis CardinalsSecond baseman
1956Denver BearsNew York YankeesShortstop
1957Wichita BravesMilwaukee BravesOutfielder
1958Louisville ColonelsBaltimore OriolesOutfielder
1959Indianapolis IndiansChicago White SoxCatcher
1960Minneapolis MillersBoston Red SoxOutfielder
1961Indianapolis IndiansCincinnati RedsShortstop
1962Omaha DodgersLos Angeles DodgersPitcher
1969Tulsa OilersSt. Louis CardinalsCatcher
1970Wichita AerosCleveland IndiansOutfielder
1971Wichita AerosCleveland IndiansThird baseman
1972Omaha RoyalsKansas City RoyalsThird baseman
1973Indianapolis IndiansCincinnati RedsOutfielder
1974Tulsa OilersSt. Louis CardinalsCatcher
1975Denver BearsChicago White SoxSecond baseman
1976Tulsa OilersSt. Louis CardinalsShortstop
1977Omaha RoyalsKansas City RoyalsOutfielder
1978Springfield RedbirdsSt. Louis CardinalsOutfielder
1979Springfield RedbirdsSt. Louis CardinalsOutfielder
1980Denver BearsMontreal ExposSecond baseman
1981Denver BearsMontreal ExposOutfielder
1982Iowa CubsChicago CubsOutfielder
1983Iowa CubsChicago CubsOutfielder
1984Denver BearsChicago White SoxOutfielder
1985Indianapolis IndiansMontreal ExposFirst baseman
1986Denver ZephyrsCincinnati RedsShortstop
1987Louisville RedbirdsSt. Louis CardinalsOutfielder
1988Denver ZephyrsMilwaukee BrewersOutfielder
1989Louisville RedbirdsSt. Louis CardinalsCatcher
1990Oklahoma City 89ersTexas RangersOutfielder
1991Oklahoma City 89ersTexas RangersFirst baseman
1992Buffalo BisonsPittsburgh PiratesThird baseman
1993Indianapolis IndiansCincinnati RedsThird baseman
1994Omaha RoyalsKansas City RoyalsFirst baseman
1995Indianapolis IndiansCincinnati RedsSecond baseman
1996Nashville SoundsChicago White SoxOutfielder
1997Nashville SoundsChicago White SoxOutfielder

Wins by team

TeamAwardYear
Denver Bears/Zephyrs71956, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1986, 1988
Indianapolis Indians71954, 1959, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1993, 1995
Milwaukee Brewers31947, 1949, 1951
Omaha Royals31972, 1977, 1994
Tulsa Oilers31969, 1974, 1976
Wichita Braves/Aeros31957, 1970, 1971
Iowa Cubs21982, 1983
Kansas City Blues21948, 1952
Louisville Redbirds21987, 1989
Nashville Sounds21996, 1997
Oklahoma City 89ers21990, 1991
Springfield Redbirds21978, 1979
St. Paul Saints21950, 1953
Buffalo Bisons11992
Louisville Colonels11958
Minneapolis Millers11960
Omaha Cardinals11955
Omaha Dodgers11962
Toledo Mud Hens11946

Wins by organization

OrganizationAwardYear
St. Louis Cardinals81955, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1987, 1989
Chicago White Sox51959, 1975, 1984, 1996, 1997
Cincinnati Reds51961, 1973, 1986, 1993, 1995
Boston/Milwaukee Braves41947, 1949, 1951, 1957
Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers31950, 1953, 1962
Cleveland Indians31954, 1970, 1971
Kansas City Royals31972, 1977, 1994
Montreal Expos31980, 1981, 1985
New York Yankees31948, 1952, 1956
Chicago Cubs21982, 1983
St. Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles21946, 1958
Texas Rangers21990, 1991
Boston Red Sox11960
Milwaukee Brewers11988
Pittsburgh Pirates11992