Eddie Murray & The 1977 American League Rookie Of The Year Award…
Murray’s path to the major leagues is not one that is normally taken. He was not a late-season call-up. He was not a replacement for an injured player. He actually did what many rookies are unable to do at the young age of 21 – he won a roster spot during Spring Training.
Yes, at 21-years old, Eddie Murray won the starting spot in the Oriole’s line-up as the team’s designated hitter. A rare occurence, it is not normal by baseball standards for a player that young to capture such a demanding offensive role. But most rookies are not as talented as Eddie Murray.
During the 1977 baseball season, Murray played in 160, with 80% coming from the DH spot. He collected 173 hits in his debut season while amassing a solid .283 batting average. Of his 173, 29 were doubles and 27 were home runs. He also drove in 88 runs for the Orioles while scoring another 81.
Eddie Murray captured 12 of the 27 votes in the AL Rookie Of The Year voting in 1977 – good for 1st place!!
