Schuster: The rapid rise and early demise of notable rookies

From SABR member Joe Schuster at The National Pastime Museum on May 28, 2018:

Nearly every season, we see rookies we could call “meteorites,” since they blaze briefly and brightly before falling back to earth. Someone hits .400 in April or May or wins his first two starts with stuff that reminds us of Bob Gibson. Then, just as we’re wondering if Cooperstown hotels take reservations two-plus decades in advance so we can be there for the players’ induction, they go hitless for a week or get knocked out of their next three starts before the third inning, get sent down to Fresno, and never return to the Major Leagues.

In a previous essay, I talked about four players who might represent the infield of a hypothetical “All-Star” team of such players; with this essay, I will fill out the lineup, nominating three outfielders, a catcher, and a pitcher.

Read the full article here: https://www.thenationalpastimemuseum.com/article/rapid-rise-and-early-demise-notable-rookies-twentieth-century-part-ii



Originally published: May 29, 2018. Last Updated: May 29, 2018.