November 17, 2015: Chicago ROYs

Congratulations Kris Bryant.  You have become the latest Chicago athlete to take home this honor.  It was a no brainer… and the baseball writers agreed, making this a unanimous decision.  Just like a rookie from the other side of town last year.  Chicago has had many guys who performed better than anybody else in their first year, and since we are a blog dedicated to our Chicago teams, let’s take a look.  Here is the complete list of 27 names along with my first thought/quick blurb about each:

1935-36: Mike Karakas- Blackhawks- In the Blackhawks 10th year as a franchise, this 1st American born goaltender, and member of the hall of fame, captured this honor.

1937-38: Cully Dahlstrom- Blackhawks- Another hall of famer, Carl Sidney helped lead the Blackhawks to their 2nd Stanley Cup along with Mike above. 

1954-55: Ed Litzenberger- Blackhawks- A member of the famous 1961 Chicago blackhawks Stanley Cup team, which included Hull, Mikita, Pilote, and Hall.

1956: Luis Aparicio- Sox- Maybe the best White Sox player of all time???  His retired #11, along with his picture, is on the US Cellular wall.

1959-60: Bill Hay- Blackhawks- Part of that 1961 Hawks Stanley Cup team, he was on the line with Hull and Mikita; lucky him.

1961: Billy Williams- Cubs-  Sweet swinging.  One of the best Cubs of all time, has his number 26 flying high atop the foul pole at Wrigley.  He just had most of his rookie records broken by some other Cubs rookie this year…

1962: Ken Hubbs- Cubs-  Two years in a row.  Probably the saddest story I read.  He died at the age of 22 in a plane crash only 2 years after winning his award.

1963: Gary Peters- Sox- Described as one of the best hitting pitchers of his generation, he ended up with 124 total wins.

1966: Tommie Agee- Sox- Known much better for his performance in Game 3 of the 1969 World Series as a member of the Mets.  He hit a leadoff homer off Palmer, and made 2 phenomenal run saving catches.

1969-70: Tony Esposito- Blackhawks- Still holds the NHL record with 15 shutouts in a season… and he did this as a rookie!  Now he can be found starring in Binny’s commericals across the airwaves…

1973: Wally Chambers- Bears-  The first Bear to make this list.  He played defense.. defensive end… of course.  Honestly, I had never heard of him.

1982-83: Steve Larmer- Blackhawks- The first player that won the award in my lifetime; not like that means anything.  He played during some great days for the Hawks, but ended up winning a Cup elsewhere with the Rangers in 1994.

1983: Ron Kittle- Sox- A left fielder for the Sox.  He was a big part of the winning ugly team this year.  I was a fan; he talked to us during a game through the net on the left field wall in Comiskey.  I hit one of my proudest backyard home runs off the top of the telephone pole impersonating him.  Haha..

1984-85: Michael Jordan- Bulls- Greatest of All Time, or GOAT as some may call it.
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1985: Ozzie Guillen- Sox- The Wizard of Oz was a pretty good player before returning to coach the Sox to their 1st World Series in forever 20 years later.

1989 Jerome Walton- Cubs- Another guy I loved impersonating with his open stance.  Him and Dwight Smith were both pretty awesome this year; I remember his 30 game hitting streak the most.

1990-91: Ed Belfour- Blackhawks- The Eagle.  I had, hope I still have, his beautiful Upper Deck rookie card.  Too bad sports cards are in the tank.  He was great in the goal, but again, no Cups.

1990: Mark Carrier- Bears- Another Bear makes our list on defense.  He was awesome in his rookie year; think he had 10 picks (and I didn’t even have to look that up) along with the big hitting that embodied many safeties from USC in those days.

1998: Kerry Wood- Cubs-  One of my favorite pitchers of all time, he was simply wicked his rookie year.  With all these baseball analytics, his 20 K performance ranks as the greatest game ever pitched.

1999-00: Elton Brand- Bulls- Yes, the one bright spot in this season; we traded him as Krause tried to get the modern day twin towers in Curry and Chandler.  How’d that work out?

2000 Brian Urlacher- Bears- Another great LB in the Bears storied history.  I have his jersey in my rotation, and chose his number to be my son’s 1st Bears jersey.  I’ll never forget his performance in that Monday Night comeback win against Arizona; talk about flying all over the field.  He was awesome, and will be in the Hall soon.

2001 Anthony Thomas- Bears- The only Bears player on the offensive side of the ball to ever win this award.  That’s pretty sad.  The A Train didn’t run for too long with us… of course.

2007 Patrick Kane- Blackhawks- Kaner has been the face of this franchise with Toews in leading the Blackhawks to the top of the NHL with 3 Stanley Cups.  Enough said.

2008 Geovany Soto- Cubs- What the heck happened to him?  Sophomore jinx and then gone.  I ran into him sitting on a bench in Humboldt Park partaking in some gange; just kidding…

2008 Derrick Rose- Bulls- After lucking into the #1 overall pick, the Bulls took the hometown boy, who looked like he’d lead us to great things.  Many injuries later, we’re still waiting…

2014 Jose Abreu- Sox- The best offensive player on the Sox current roster cooled a bit in his 2nd year.  I think he’ll be fine.  Now only if they could add some talent around him and Sale.

2015 Kris Bryant- Cubs- The reason we researched and wrote this tonight.  He could be one of the all time greats, and be forever cemented as a legend in this city if he helps bring the holy grail to the Cubs.  Only time will tell…

So there are 8 Blackhawks, 6 Cubs, 6 Sox, 4 Bears, & 3 Bulls on this list, and now you know them all.  You’re welcome…. you’re all welcome!