As has already been remarked upon, the rookie seasons of Mike Trout and Bryce Harper are reminding a lot of people of earlier rookie seasons way back in 1951 by two players who would become first ballot HOFers. The similarities include the players being the same ages, playing the same positions, and being in different leagues. Potentially, Trout and Harper could face each other in the post season, as happened with the earlier pair in 1951.
After the jump, I’ll look more at the similarities, and differences, in these pairs of players 61 seasons removed from each other.
Firstly, the players from 1951 are, of course, Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle. Right now, the matched pairs look to be Trout and Mays, and Harper and Mantle. Here is what those pairs look like.
Player | Year | Age | Tm | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | Pos | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Willie Mays | 1951 | 20 | NYG | 121 | 523 | 464 | 59 | 127 | 22 | 5 | 20 | 68 | 7 | 4 | 57 | 60 | .274 | .356 | .472 | .828 | 120 | *8O |
Mike Trout | 2012 | 20 | LAA | 94 | 433 | 381 | 91 | 130 | 22 | 5 | 21 | 65 | 37 | 3 | 40 | 88 | .341 | .404 | .591 | .995 | 179 | *87/9 |
Quite remarkable to see how close the counting stats are for the two at this moment, though Trout has compiled his in 90 fewer PAs, resulting in his much superior rate stats and OPS+. However, Trout has had the advantage over Mays of getting his feet wet last season, whereas Mays had never played before his rookie season. Their actual debut ages are also very close, a month shy of his 20th birthday for Trout and 3 weeks after his 20th birthday for Mays.
The thing that catches my attention most is stolen base column. Trout has obviously hit the ground running (pun intended) whereas Mays would not show his base-stealing prowess until swiping 24 against four times caught in his age 24 season, a preview for his four following seasons leading the league in thefts.
Now, for Harper and Mantle.
Player | Year | Age | Tm | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | Pos | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mickey Mantle | 1951 | 19 | NYY | 96 | 386 | 341 | 61 | 91 | 11 | 5 | 13 | 65 | 8 | 7 | 43 | 74 | .267 | .349 | .443 | .792 | 117 | O9/8 |
Bryce Harper | 2012 | 19 | WSN | 95 | 418 | 371 | 61 | 91 | 16 | 5 | 10 | 32 | 13 | 5 | 42 | 85 | .245 | .321 | .396 | .718 | 94 | *98/7 |
Again, eerily similar numbers, especially since Harper currently has about the same games and PAs as Mantle had for his season. Big difference is RBI, mainly because Harper’s total is surprisingly low, and Mantle’s surprisingly high. Note also that, like Mays, Mantle had not yet learned the art of base stealing. Despite his speed, Mantle only once stole more than 20 bases, though he certainly learned how to steal – from 1955 to 1962, Mantle stole 108 bases and was caught only 15 times.
Further with the matching characteristics, Harper and Mantle’s birthdays are only 4 days apart. Mantle was in the opening day lineup and was the Bombers regular right fielder until the end of June and again in September (he was used sparingly in between those periods – was he injured, Richard Chester?). Other than being brought up 3 weeks into the season, Harper is the same – an everyday player right from the start.
Finally, if you’re wondering (as I was) whether there’s some 60 year (or so) thing happening, I checked out precocious rookies of the early 1890s. Guess what – I found HOFer George Davis. His first season seems to fit right in with this crowd.
Player | Year | Age | Tm | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | Pos | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
George Davis | 1890 | 19 | CLV | 136 | 583 | 526 | 98 | 139 | 22 | 9 | 6 | 73 | 22 | 53 | 34 | .264 | .336 | .375 | .711 | 111 | *O/46 |