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McCovey makes Sanchez’s Rookie of Year case real
- Updated: September 20, 2016
Gary Sanchez may not know much about Willie McCovey. But between now and November, he’s sure to learn a lot.
Having emerged as the most productive newcomer during his 48-day stay with the Yankees, Sanchez should have a new favorite player when American League Rookie of the Year Award ballots are cast at the end of the regular season.
That would be Stretch McCovey, the power-hitting first baseman who was Rookie of the Year in the National League in 1959 to begin a career in which he’d be a six-time All-Star, an NL Most Valuable Player (1969) and a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
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McCovey was stuck in Triple-A behind Orlando Cepeda until July 30, 1959. He played in only 52 Major League games, but he was still a unanimous choice among the 24 Baseball Writers’ Association of America voters.
So don’t say what a lot of us have been saying the past few weeks — that Sanchez can’t be a serious candidate because the Yankees left him at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre until August, after they had traded away Carlos Beltran, Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller and Ivan Nova.
Sanchez had played a few Major League games the past two seasons, but he never had a chance to unseat Brian McCann as the regular catcher until this run, which began on Aug. 3. The Dominican-born 23-year-old has been a sensation, hitting .327 with 16 home runs and 30 RBIs in 41 games, with 13 left to play.
While the Tigers’ Michael Fulmer remains favored to win AL Rookie of the Year, he’s gone 0-4 with a 6.28 ERA in his past five starts. That opens the door to consider Mariners closer Edwin Diaz or the top rookie hitters, and the McCovey precedent says Sanchez should not …
