Baseball Prodigies: Best Major League Seasons by Players Under 21

This is a book about baseball players who performed in the major leagues before the age of 21. For years the dream of many boys has been to enter the world of professional sports. Out of millions of boys who have played baseball, more than 17,000 have appeared in major league contests. Among them were hundreds who made their debut before their 21st birthday. However, most of these appeared in only a few games. Only 284 young men have played at least one season as a regular before or during the season in which they reached the age of 21. They are the subjects of this book. The text is divided into three parts. Part One deals with the careers of the ten prodigies who had the most productive seasons at the bat. Part Two discusses the ten young pitchers who had the most fruitful seasons on the mound. Part Three provides short sketches of the 172 players with at least five eligible seasons who do not rank among the above 20 prodigies. Data on the 92 players with at least one but fewer than five eligible seasons are given in an appendix.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents Acknowledgments Preface Abbreviations PART ONE: TEN BEST SEASONS BY HITTERS Mel Ott Pete Browning Alex Rodriguez Ty Cobb Al Kaline Ted Williams Frank Robinson Abner Dalrymple Vada Pinson Rogers Hornsby Star of the Future: Mike Trout PART TWO: TEN BEST SEASONS BY PITCHERS Matt Kilroy Dwight Gooden Noodles Hahn Bob Feller Bret Saberhagen Icebox Chamberlain Christy Mathewson CC Sabathia Don Gullett Willis Hudlin PART THREE: OTHER PRODIGIES WITH AT LEAST FIVE ELIGIBLE SEASONS (ALPHABETICAL) 119Table of Contents Hank Aaron Roberto Alomar Steve Avery Bob Bailey Buddy Bell Adrian Beltre Johnny Bench Chief Bender Lou Bierbauer Bert Blyleven Tommy Bond Jeremy Bonderman George Brett Britt Burns Oyster Burns Bullet Joe Bush Miguel Cabrera Fred Carroll Kid Carsey Gary Carter John Cassidy Phil Cavarretta Cesar Cedeno Orlando Cepeda Dean Chance Roberto Clemente Joe Coleman Eddie Collins Tony Conigliaro Larry Corcoran Del Crandall Doc Crandall Sam Crawford Bill Crowley George Davis Willie Davis Charlie Dexter Larry Dierker Bobby Doerr Don Drysdale Joe Dugan Fred Dunlap Red Ehret Dick Ellsworth Del Ennis Ron Fairly Curt Flood Jim Fogarty Terry Forster Jimmie Foxx Bob Friend Charlie Getzien Jack Glasscock Zack Greinke Ken Griffey, Jose Guillen Ad Gumbert Frankie Gustine Earl Hamilton Granny Hamner Mel Harder Pink Hawley Long John “Egyptian” Healy Cliff Heathcote Felix Hernandez Dick Hoblitzell Billy Hoeft Ken Holtzman Art Houtteman Catfish Hunter Travis Jackson Walter Johnson Andruw Jones Dalton Jones King Kelly Bob Kennedy Silver King Clay Kirby Malachi Kittridge Ed Kranepool Vern Dutch Leonard Buddy Lewis Freddie Lindstrom Greg Maddux Sherry Magee Les Mann Rick Manning Mickey Mantle Walt Masterson Eddie Matthews Carlos Al Mays Willie Mays Bill Mazeroski Barry McCormick Willie McGill John McGraw Stuffy McInnis Dave McNally Lee Meadows Win Mercer Cass Michaels Doggie Miller Willie Mitchell Bob Moose Lloyd Moseby Van Lingle Mungo Billy Nash Hal Newhouser Kid Nichols Gary Nolan Jack O’Connor Mickey O’Neil Jose Oquendo Jim Palmer Milt Pappas Herb Pennock Boog Powell Joe Quinn Pedro Ramos Edgar Renteria Jerry Reuss Jose Rijo Brooks Robinson Ivan Rodriguez Red Ruffing Amos Rusie Babe Ruth Ray Sadecki Vick Saier Ray Schalk Pete Schneider Jim Shaw Jimmy Sheckard Ruben Sierra Curt Simmons Ted Simmons Sibby Sisti Jim Slaton Frank Snyder Chris Speier Rusty Staub Ed Stein Kurt Stillwell Chuck Stobbs Milt Stock Scott Stratton Ron Swoboda Jack Taylor Adonis Terry Mike Tiernan Joe Torre Alan Trammell Cecil Travis George Uhle Justin Upton Fernando Valenzuela Arky Vaughan Monte Ward Claudell Washington Mickey Welch Gus Weyhing Lou Whitaker Ned Williamson Whitey Witt Chicken Wolf Joe Wood Kerry Wood Butch Wynegar Eddie Yost Robin Yount Appendix: Major League Prodigies with One to Four Eligible Seasons Notes Bibliography Index

About the Author :
The late Charles F. Faber wrote numerous books on educational administration, school law, baseball and other topics. He was a retired university professor and lived in Lexington, Kentucky.