[Tiger Fan]

The Federal League rookie of the year award was presented to Cleveland Whales third baseman Larry Rush. The 19 year old hit .289 with 20 homers and 72 rbi's in 107 games this season. He signed with the Whales in spring training 1975 after being released by the Baltimore Orioles but spent the entire 1975 campaign on the Whales reserve roster. Rush was originally a fourth round pick of the Cubs in December 1972 but after failing to sign he re-entered the draft the following season and was taken by Baltimore in the 10th round. In real life Rush played a decade in the minor leagues including 4 seasons of AAA ball but never made the majors.

I found his LinkedIn page in a google search and it appears he now works for major league baseball after spending several years in Information Technology roles.

Not to knock on Rush, but his winning the Federal League rookie of the year award shows how far the league has slid in stature since the major league draft was instituted after the 1964 season. Past winners of the award going back before the draft included Hank Aaron, Bill Skowron, Bob Cerv, Joe Dimaggio, Mel Ott and Rudy York. The Federal League used to get many of the top teenagers to play a season or two before they were scooped up by major league teams but since the draft these players instead intern in the minor leagues.

The best player in recent years to win the rookie of the year award was pitcher Vida Blue, who was named rookie of the year and top pitcher after he went 21-7 for the Hartford Terriers in 1971. Blue was never drafted and actually signed first with the Baltimore Terrapins in November of 1968 but the Oakland Athletics purchased his contract for $25,000 two months later. After winning the Southern League pitcher of the year award as a 20 year old in 1970 when he went 12-9 with a 2.11 era the A's let him go and he signed with the Terriers. He would lead Hartford to the Federal League title that season before joining the Baltimore Orioles the following year. Blue would go 17-4 in his first season with the Orioles and help them win their 7th World Series title in franchise history.

As for Blue, he has just completed his 5th season in Baltimore and is 82-34 including a 20 win season in 1975. He will be a free agent at the end of next season.

While I am talking about former Federal League rookies of the year I should take a look at Joe DiMaggio's storied career. DiMaggio began and ended his career in the Federal League, but is best known for the 18 seasons in between in which he was a Chicago White Sox outfielder.

He was Federal League rookie of the year and MVP with Boston in 1932 as a 17 year old when he hit .331 with 31 homers and a league leading 137 rbi's for the Pilgrims. The White Sox signed him that off-season and he would be named American League rookie of the year the following season after batting .317. A 12 time major league all-star, Dimaggio was named the 1936 AL MVP and would lead the White Sox to their only World Series appearance during his tenure that same season. In the '36 series DiMaggio hit .522 with 2 homers and 9 rbi's. It was the first title in franchise history dating back to 1882 and they would not win another World Series until 1959.

DiMaggio never won a batting title or lead the league in homers or rbi's, but he did finish his major league career with a .301 average, 329 homers and 1426 rbi's. He would end his top level playing days with a Federal League season with Baltimore in 1951 at the age of 36 before joining the Hollywood Stars for 50 games in 1952. He was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1956 on his first appearance on the ballot. He was joined by Dizzy Dean, Dizzy Trout and Ben Chapman as inductees that season.

Here are the career numbers for DiMaggio and Blue as well as an image of Larry Rush.


I will add if there are any past players (either MLB or career minor leaguers) you want to hear about just post their names.