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Talented, troubled but with a title
The 30 for 30 film, ‘Doc & Darryl,’ spotlights their lives and careers; we show how rare rookie talent leads to championships
The upcoming 30 for 30: Doc & Darryl tells the story of two of the most talented players in Major League Baseball history, Darryl Strawberry and Dwight “Doc” Gooden. Before drugs disrupted both of their careers, they brought the New York Mets their only World Series Championship since 1969.
Drafted by the Mets in the early 1980s, Strawberry and Gooden were named National League Rookie of the Year, in 1983 and 1984, respectively. This got me wondering whether other franchises, in major American sports, had back-to-back rookie of the year winners. And, if so, did it produce a championship, like the Strawberry and Gooden combo. Or did the franchises never fully meet the expectation generated by their young talent, like Darryl and Doc.
Surprisingly, it has happened a lot. I organized them into categories.
The young turks
Minnesota Timberwolves
Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves walk off the court against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena on April 7, 2015 in Sacramento, California.
Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images
Rookie season/Name/Position
2014-2015/Andrew Wiggins/F/G
2015-2016/Karl-Anthony Towns/C
One of the ripple effects of LeBron James’s 2014 choice to return to Cleveland was a preseason trade, sending Kevin Love to Cleveland and Andrew Wiggins to Minnesota.
Wiggins won the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2015, but the Timberwolves still missed the playoffs and ended up in the draft lottery. They won the No.1 overall pick in the 2015 draft, and selected Karl-Anthony Towns, who went on to win last season’s Rookie of the Year award. With that young skilled combo, the Timberwolves again found themselves out of the playoffs and in possession of a top five pick.
Weeks ago, they used their pick to draft Kris Dunn, giving themselves a legitimate chance to three-peat the Rookie of the Year award. NBA fans believe that the Timberwolves are too young to contend for a championship next year, but, after adding elite coach Tom Thibedeau, their championship window is at least unlocked, if not yet open. Their results are still to be determined.
Carolina Panthers
Cam Newton #1 congratulates teammate Luke Kuechly #59 of the Carolina Panthers on December 13, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Rookie season/Name/Position
2011/Cam Newton/QB
2012/Luke Kuechly/LB
Last season, this Panthers pair was one win away from bringing their team a Super Bowl title and fulfilling their lofty expectations. Kuechly led the defense in tackles, while Newton won the league MVP. Newton and Kuechly are young, so they should have plenty more opportunities to win championships. Right?
St. Louis Rams
Rookie season/Name/Position
2014/Aaron Donald/DT
2015/Todd Gurley/RB
No one considers the Rams a realistic Super Bowl contender in 2016. But with a pair of the most impactful players in the league, maybe we should. I think 2014 AP Rookie of the Year Aaron Donald is not only the best defensive lineman in the NFL, it is not an exaggeration to call him the best player in the NFL. Drafted in the first round from Georgia, running back Todd Gurley was AP Offensive Rookie of the Year despite an early season injury. He is, without question, the most promising young running back in the league today. The future is bright for the new Los Angeles Rams. But how bright?
‘Same Damn Time’
Atlanta Falcons
Rookie season/Name/Position
1980/Buddy Curry/LB
1980/Al Richardson/LB
Maybe the 1980 Atlanta Falcons were the inspiration for Atlanta rapper Future’s 2011 song, Same Damn Time. In the second round of the 1980 NFL draft, the Atlanta Falcons selected Tar Heels linebacker Buddy Curry. Curry immediately led the Falcons’ 3-4 defense and earned the team’s respect. However, he wasn’t the only standout linebacker the Falcons drafted that year. In the eighth round, the Falcons picked Al Richardson from Georgia Tech.
Because of injury concerns, Richardson, an exceptional athlete, was passed over. During training camp, the injury concerns appeared warranted. Richardson missed several days due to injuries to his back and shoulder, and was out for a week because of pneumonia. But he didn’t miss a regular-season game, pulling in seven interceptions. With 23.5 votes each, Curry and Richardson became the only teammates to ever be named AP Defensive Rookies of the Year. In the five years that Curry and Richardson played together, the Falcons went to the playoffs twice.
Detroit Lions
Rookie season/Name/Position
1967/Mel Farr/RB
1967/Lem Barney/CB
1968/Earl McCullouch/WR
The ’67 Detroit Lions didn’t split a Rookie of the Year trophy. They swept it. Running back Mel Farr was Offensive Rookie of the Year and Lem Barney was Defensive Rookie of the Year. The 1967 season did not end with a playoff appearance. The following season Lions wide receiver Earl McCullouch won the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. The trio played together for six seasons and never went back to the playoffs.
Embarrassment and riches
Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics Jose Canseco, right, bashes elbows with teammate Mark McGwire following Cansecos solo homerun in the third inning of game two of the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 1990, Cincinnati, Ohio.
AP Photo/Al Behrman
Rookie season/Name/Position
1986/Jose Canseco/OF
1987/Mark McGwire/1B
1988/Walt Weiss/SS
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2004/Bobby Crosby/SS
2005/Huston Street/P
The Oakland Athetics had consecutive American League Rookies of the year winners twice. The first time, there were three winners in a row, starting in 1986. The winning didn’t stop there. In 1989, they won a World Series with that group. Then came the embarrassment. Years later, two of the three, Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire, admitted to using steroids during that season. The 2004 and 2005 A’s American League Rookie of the Year winners, Bobby Crosby and Huston Street, never garnered the fanfare of the late ’80s rookies. And never won a World Series or admitted to steroid use.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Rookie season/Name/Position
1979/Rick Sutcliffe/P
1980/Steve Howe/P
1981/Fernando Valenzuela/P
1982/Steve Sac/2B
1992/Eric Karros/1B
1993/Mike Piazza†/C
1994/Raúl Mondesí/OF
1995/Hideo Nomo/P
1996/Todd Hollandsworth/OF
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the 1981 World Series. That season they got contributions from all four of their consecutive rookie of the year winners, even Steve Sax, who participated in the 1981 season despite not winning the National League Rookie of the Year until the following season. He remained eligible for the award because he played in too few games to qualify for consideration in the 1981 season. With just two players remaining from the quartet, Fernando Valenzuela and Steve Sax, the Dodgers won the World Series again in 1988. The Dodgers’ next streak of rookie of the year dominance was five years long, starting in 1992. That talent-laden team was embarrassingly swept in the divisional round of the playoffs.
St. Louis Cardinals
Rookie season/Name/Position
1954/Wally Moon/OF
1955/Bill Virdon/OF
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1985/Vince Coleman/OF
1986/Todd Worrell/P
The St. Louis Cardinals have two pairs of National League Rookie of the Year winners. In 1954, Wally Moon won the award, followed by Bill Virdon in 1955. The Cards did it again with Vince Coleman and Todd Worrell in 1985 and 1986. Neither tandem produced a World Series championship.
I’m not impressed
Toronto Maple Leafs
Canadian professional hockey player center Gus Bodnar (1923 – 2005) of the Chicago Blackhawks poses for a portrait on the ice, mid 20th Century. Bodnar played with the Blackhawks from 1947 to 1954.
Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images
Rookie season/Name/Position
1942-43/Gaye Stewart/RW
1943–44/Gus Bodnar/C
1944–45/Frank McCool/G
In successive seasons, Toronto Maple Leafs Gaye Stewart, Gus Bodnar and Frank McCool took home the Calder Memorial Trophy, the NHL’s rookie of the year award. McCool only had a two-year career in Toronto, so, their window as a trio was just two seasons. They won the Stanley Cup in 1945. And Stewart and Bodnar went on to win the cup again in 1947. But, back then there were only six teams in the entire league. Sorry, hockey fans, I am not impressed.
I’m impressed … I guess
Boston Bruins
Bruin’s Bobby Orr (4) is embraced by teammates after Orr became the first defense man in NHL history to score 100 points on a goal during the 2nd period of the game on March 15th.
Getty Images
Rookie season/Name/Position
1966-67/Bobby Orr/D
1967-68/Derek Sanderson/C
After Bobby Orr and Derek Sanderson earned the Calder Trophy in 1967 and 1968, Boston Bruins fans did not have to wait long for a pair of championships. They won the Stanley Cup in 1970 and 1972.
Gooden and Strawberry certainly underachieved given their potential. But in light of the history of award-winning rookie teammates, they stand out as one of the few championship pairs.
Honorable mention
NBA
Baltimore Bullets
Rookie season/Name/Position
1967-1968/Earl Monroe/G
1968-1969/Wes Unseld/C
Portland Trailblazers
Rookie season/Name/Position
1970-1971/Geoff Petrie/G
1971-1972/Sidney Wicks/F
Buffalo Braves
Rookie season/Name/Position
1972-1973/Bob McAdoo/F/C
1973-1974/Ernie DiGregorio/G
NFL
Green Bay Packers
Rookie season/Name/Position
1971/John Brockington/RB
1972/Willie Buchanon/CB
Chicago Bears
Rookie season/Name/Position
2000/Brian Urlacher/LB
2001/Anthony Thomas/RB
NHL
New York Rangers
Rookie season/Name/Position
1952-53/Gump Worsley/G
1953-54/Camille Henry/C
MLB – American League
Washington Senators
Rookie season/Name/Position
1958/Albie Pearson/OF
1959/Bob Allison/OF
Seattle Mariners
Rookie season/Name/Position
2000/Kazuhiro Sasaki/P
2001/Ichiro Suzuki/OF
MLB – National League
San Francisco Giants
Rookie season/Name/Position
1958/Orlando Cepeda/1B
1959/Willie McCovey/1B
Chicago Cubs
Rookie season/Name/Position
1961/Billy Williams/OF
1962/Ken Hubbs/2B
Correction: A previous edition of this article incorrectly stated the 1967 Detroit Lions made the NFL playoffs, and the NHL had 14 teams during the Boston Bruins 1969-70 Stanley Cup championship season.