Baltimore Orioles Star Helps Make History with Rookie of the Year Win

Baltimore Orioles' star Gunnar Henderson helped make multiple instances of baseball history with his Rookie of the Year award on Monday night.

Baltimore Orioles' star Gunnar Henderson earned the American League Rookie of the Year award on Monday night, beating Tanner Bibee of the Cleveland Guardians and Triston Casas of the Boston Red Sox.

The 2023 Jackie Robinson AL Rookie of the Year Award winner is Gunnar Henderson of the @Orioles! pic.twitter.com/rEcM84OKwK

— MLB (@MLB) November 13, 2023

It was an incredible season for the 22-year-old, who also won a Silver Slugger. By the end of the year, he was hitting right in the middle of Baltimore's lineup, showing just how vital he is to what the O's do.

He hit .255 with 28 homers and 82 RBI. He scored 110 runs and stole 10 bases for the O's, helping lead them to a 101-win season and an American League East championship.

With the victory, he was part of multiple notes in baseball history.

Per Jayson Stark of 'The Athletic.'

Here's every rookie since 1936 with as many HR, triples & doubles as Gunnar Henderson, and as good an OPS (.814): 

Joe DiMaggio, 1936 

Ted Williams, 1939 

Dick Allen, 1964 

Tony Oliva, 1964 

Nomar Garciaparra, 1997 

Does that seem like good company? Let's go with yes!

Here's every rookie since 1936 with as many HR, triples & doubles as Gunnar Henderson, and as good an OPS (.814):

Joe DiMaggio, 1936
Ted Williams, 1939
Dick Allen, 1964
Tony Oliva, 1964
Nomar Garciaparra, 1997

Does that seem like good company? Let's go with yes!

— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) November 13, 2023

And there's this note, from Sarah Langs of MLB.com:

The Orioles/Browns have had 8 ROY winners, tied for 4th-most, behind only: 

Dodgers: 18 

Yankees: 9 

Braves: 9

The Orioles/Browns have had 8 ROY winners, tied for 4th-most, behind only:

Dodgers: 18
Yankees: 9
Braves: 9

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) November 13, 2023

And finally, per longtime O's Insider Dan Connolly:

Two big streaks likely ending tonight when Rookies of the Year are announced. Gunnar should break O’s ROY drought — longest in AL — that dates back to Gregg Olson in 1989.

Two big streaks likely ending tonight when Rookies of the Year are announced. Gunnar should break O’s ROY drought — longest in AL — that dates back to Gregg Olson in 1989. Corbin Carroll will be the first ROY in Dbacks history. Longest drought is SDP, Benito Santiago in 87.

— Dan Connolly (@danconnolly2016) November 13, 2023

With Henderson a little more experienced in 2024, the O's should continue to be one of the best teams in all of baseball.

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