1902 American League Rookies
Andy Coakley, SP, Age 19, Athletics
Coakley is a solid pitcher who will improve the A's rotation. In fact, along with the addition of Tom Walker (below), Oakland may have the best rotation in the AL this season. After all, they are led by PoY
Eddie Plank (18-8, 1.86 ERA).
Addie Joss, SP, Age 21, Indians
Here is an excerpt on Joss from sabr.org:
"For nine seasons Addie Joss was one of the best pitchers in the history of the American League, posting four 20-win seasons, capturing two ERA titles, and tossing two no-hitters (one of them a perfect game) and seven one-hitters. Of Joss's 160 career victories 45 were shutouts, and his career 1.89 ERA ranks second all-time only to his long-time rival Ed Walsh among players with 1,000 innings pitched. An exceptional control pitcher with a deceptive pitching motion, the right-handed Joss employed a corkscrew delivery, turning his back entirely to the batter before coming at him with a sidearm motion that confused most hitters. "Joss not only had great speed and a fast-breaking curve," Baseball Magazine observed in 1911, "but [also] a very effective pitching motion, bringing the ball behind him with a complete body swing and having it on the batter almost before the latter got sight of it." After nearly pitching the (Cleveland) Naps to their first pennant in 1908, illness and injury limited Addie's endurance during his final two major league seasons, before his life was tragically cut short at the age of 31 by a bacterial infection."
Joss is clearly one of the best pitchers we have seen added to MLHR yet, rivaled only by Oakland's Eddie Plank and Pittsburgh's
Rube Waddell. Interestingly enough, St. Louis'
Cy Young was also imported with similar ratings but has had only above-average results. Along with the additions of Charlie Smith (below) and Otto Hess (6-6-6 ratings) and the return of sophomore
Earl Moore (9-13, 2.77 ERA), the Indians will challenge Oakland for the title of best rotation. But like the A's, the team's offense may determine their fate this season.
Charlie Smith, SP, Age 21, Indians
Smith is another solid pitcher added to the American League who helps solidify the Cleveland rotation. The question is whether or not the rotation is good enough to carry the team to the World Series with little offensive help.
Tom Walker, SP, Age 20, Athletics
Walker is a hard thrower who spent limited time in the majors during his MLB career, but was clearly talented. He will be a key addition for the A's, but again, the team's offense may be the deciding factor as they compete for the pennant.
