On November 30, 1961, Billy Williams of the Chicago Cubs was selected as the National League Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. The outfielder hit 25 home runs and drove in 86 runs that year, and was selected on 10 of the 16 ballots cast by the writers. The runner-up in the voting, Braves catcher Joe Torre, received five votes from the writers.
Maybe the most underrated player of his generation.
The other vote went to the legendary Jack Curtis of the Cubs, who went 10-13 with a 4.89 ERA and was apparently dating a BBWAA member’s daughter.
It’s who you know…